Extinct animals are some of the most fascinating creatures. Not only do we know they existed based on fossil evidence, but we’re left to speculate a great deal on how they lived, what they looked like, and where they fit into the grand scheme of nature.
That mystery is what intrigues so many of us to learn more. Fossils and paleontology are often thought of as “difficult’ or “complex,” though.
While they are intricate fields, they aren’t inaccessible to the average person who knows nothing about Latin names or the geological epochs of history. Anyone can dive into ancient animals to the extent that they want and get a lot out of the journey.
You’ll find a variety of books in the list below, all of which are tailored to different audiences and different periods in time. We hope there are one or two books on the list that pique your interest and get you excited about ancient animals.
Let’s dive into the list.
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Check Amazon- 94 pages.
- Recommended for readers ages 6 through 8.
- A fossil guide and resource for children.
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Check Amazon- 370 pages.
- A study of the animal species that followed the extinction of the dinosaurs.
- A helpful resource for undergraduate researchers.
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Check Amazon- 240 pages.
- An illustrated guide to prehistoric mammals.
- A Princeton University Press publication.
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Check Amazon- 208 pages.
- Customers recommend this for readers ages 3 through 8.
- Features over 1,000 images of fossil fragments, full skeletons, and CGI renderings of dinosaurs.
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Check Amazon- 368 pages.
- An expansive book covering exciting discoveries in the paleontological world.
- A relatively new and updated book, having been published in 2019.
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Check Amazon- 32 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 3 through 6.
- A DK Big Book publication, part of a series of four.
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Check Amazon- 524 pages
- Hailed as the ultimate dinosaur biography by Scientific American
- Written by Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist on the faculty at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland
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Check Amazon- 533 pages.
- Authored by a young paleontologist proving to be at the forefront of the paleontology world today, Steve Brusatte.
- Washington Post calls it, "A masterpiece of science writing."
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Check Amazon- 204 pages.
- Recommended by School Library Journal for students in the 10th grade or higher.
- Covers over 60 animals that are now extinct.
Pros and Cons of A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the 10 Best Books About Extinct Animals
1. Fossils for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Dinosaur Bones, Ancient Animals, and Prehistoric Life on Earth by Ashley Hall
Fossils for Kids is a perfect introductory book for any child with a budding interest in fossils. It’s a paperback, but it’s also available for free with Kindle Unlimited!
This 94-page book is geared toward readers in the six to eight age range and truly serves as a primer for all of the fundamental aspects of paleontology. The book covers all ancient animal life ranging from dinosaurs to plants to mammals.
It’s also equipped with clear and insightful images to aid many of the book’s passages. You might even find this useful as an adult who’s never taken much time to learn about ancient animals.
What a great way to learn something new alongside your child!
A couple of reviewers said that the book was boring.
Pros and Cons of Fossils for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Dinosaur Bones, Ancient Animals, and Prehistoric Life on Earth by Ashley Hall
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is the ideal introductory book for kids interested in fossils. | A couple of reviewers said that the book was boring. |
| It’s available in paperback and Kindle formats. | |
| This 94-page book is geared toward kids six to eight years old. | |
| It’s a primer for the fundamentals of paleontology and covers all ancient animal life from dinosaurs to plants to mammals. | |
| It includes clear, insightful images to illuminate many passages. |
- 94 pages.
- Recommended for readers ages 6 through 8.
- A fossil guide and resource for children.
2. After the Dinosaurs: The Age of Mammals by Donald R. Prothero
After the Dinosaurs: The Age of Mammals is a 370-page exploration of the period in time when dinosaurs vanished and the earth was ripe for the evolution of mammals.
As small rodent-like creatures, mammals slowly inched their way up the food chain when their former masters (dinosaurs) were no longer present.
This book illuminates some of the wildly bizarre animals that occupied the earth at that time, detailing how those creatures danced through the Cenozoic Era and laid the foundation for our modern world.
You’ll also learn about the transition of the climate and its impact on animals over time. You can find this in hardcover form or you download it on Kindle.
A few reviewers said that this book was outdated and that “science has moved on.” Several others said that it was more about global climate change over the past 65 million years than the evolution of mammals.
Pros and Cons of After the Dinosaurs: The Age of Mammals by Donald R. Prothero
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This 370-page book explores the period after dinosaurs had vanished and the earth was ripe for the evolution of mammals. | A few reviewers said that this book was outdated and that “science has moved on.” |
| The first mammals were small, rodent-like creatures that slowly worked their way up the food chain to fill the gap left by dinosaurs. | Several reviewers said that it was more about global climate change over the past 65 million years than the evolution of mammals. |
| The book features some of the bizarre animals that existed during that time. | |
| You’ll also learn about the transition of the climate and the impact it had on animals over time. | |
| It’s available in hardcover and Kindle formats. |
- 370 pages.
- A study of the animal species that followed the extinction of the dinosaurs.
- A helpful resource for undergraduate researchers.
3. The Princeton Field Guide to Prehistoric Mammals by Donald R. Prothero (Author), Mary Persis Williams (Illustrator)
The Princeton Field Guide to Prehistoric Mammals is another comprehensive guide to mammalian life after the dinosaurs. It’s a little more concise, however, coming in at around 240 pages.
This text is unique in that it’s extremely detailed while containing beautiful illustrations that help you get a sense of what these animals might have really been like.
You’ll learn about evolution, get a sense of the spectrum of ancient animal life, understand mass extinctions, unpack climate change, and much more.
Also, expect a guidebook on hundreds of species and practical comparisons to modern and ancient animals.
Several reviewers said that they didn’t like the illustrations.
Pros and Cons of The Princeton Field Guide to Prehistoric Mammals by Donald R. Prothero (Author), Mary Persis Williams (Illustrator)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This comprehensive guide to mammalian life post-dinosaurs is more concise than the previous title coming in at around 240 pages. | Several reviewers said that they didn’t like the illustrations. |
| This extremely detailed text contains beautiful illustrations of what these animals might have been like. | |
| Learn about evolution, the spectrum of ancient animal life, mass extinctions, climate change, and more. | |
| This guide will introduce you to hundreds of species and practical comparisons to modern and ancient animals. |
- 240 pages.
- An illustrated guide to prehistoric mammals.
- A Princeton University Press publication.
4. Prehistoric ABC: Extinct Animals Album From A to Z by Roman Uchytel and Alexandra Uchytel
Prehistoric ABC is a children’s guide to essential ancient animals. This paperback book is just 36 pages long and includes only 26 animals.
That said, books with too many ancient animals can be overwhelming to people new to paleontology. Prehistoric ABC covers one animal for each letter of the alphabet.
Kids will get insight into the diets, habitats, predators, and lifestyles of the respective animals. There are also “whiteboard” illustrations that help to give children a simple understanding of the particular animals in question.
Some reviewers were displeased with the size and scope of the book.
Pros and Cons of Prehistoric ABC: Extinct Animals Album From A to Z by Roman Uchytel and Alexandra Uchytel
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This children’s guide to essential ancient animals is 36 pages long and only includes 26 animals. | Some reviewers were displeased with the size and scope of the book. |
| This book contains one animal for each letter of the alphabet. | |
| Children will gain insight into the diets, habitats, predators, and lifestyles of each animal. | |
| There are also “whiteboard” illustrations that provide children with a simple understanding of the animals depicted. |
- 36 pages.
- An A-to-Z introduction to prehistoric animals for young learners.
5. The Dinosaur Book by DK and John Woodward
The Dinosaur Book is a hardcover (and Kindle) text that navigates the dinosaur world’s most important characters. Expect 1,000+ images and diagrams. This is a heavily visual book, but there are clear and vivid descriptions of each animal.
Images include illustrations as well as CGI-generated images of dinosaurs based on fossil evidence. Note that this book explores dinosaurs, mammals, and other forms of life alive hundreds of millions of years ago.
A few reviewers felt that this book was poorly laid out.
The Dinosaur Book by DK and John Woodward
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book, which is available in hardcover and Kindle formats, navigates the dinosaur world’s most important characters. | A few reviewers felt that this book was poorly laid out. |
| You’ll find over 1,000 images and diagrams, including clear and vivid descriptions of each animal. | |
| The book includes illustrations as well as CGI-generated images of dinosaurs based on fossil evidence. | |
| The book explores life forms that were alive hundreds of millions of years ago, including dinosaurs and mammals. |
- 208 pages.
- Customers recommend this for readers ages 3 through 8.
- Features over 1,000 images of fossil fragments, full skeletons, and CGI renderings of dinosaurs.
6. Dinosaurs — The Grand Tour: Everything Worth Knowing About Dinosaurs from Aardonyx to Zuniceratops by Keiron Pim (Author), Fabio Pastori (Illustrator), Jack Horner (Contributor)
Dinosaurs — The Grand Tour is an expansive book that covers new and exciting discoveries in the paleontological world. You can expect to learn things about dinosaurs that you’ve never heard of, but that doesn’t mean they’re not exciting.
Modern fossil discoveries uncover new and exciting dinosaurs every year, and some of these ancient creatures are more breathtaking and interesting than the ones (Stegosaurus, T. rex) that we all know and love.
The book is 368 pages and includes a dinosaur’s size, diet, environment, and notable discoveries. Published in 2019, this modern book gives us a more up-to-date idea of scientists’ ideas about how these animals looked as well.
Several reviewers said that they were disappointed that this book didn’t feature enough illustrations.
Pros and Cons of Dinosaurs — The Grand Tour: Everything Worth Knowing About Dinosaurs from Aardonyx to Zuniceratops by Keiron Pim (Author), Fabio Pastori (Illustrator), Jack Horner (Contributor)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book includes new information from recent fossil discoveries. | Several reviewers said that they were disappointed that this book didn’t feature enough illustrations. |
| It’s 368 pages and includes each dinosaurs’ size, diet, environment, and notable discoveries. |
- 368 pages.
- An expansive book covering exciting discoveries in the paleontological world.
- A relatively new and updated book, having been published in 2019.
7. The Big Book of Dinosaurs by DK
The Big Book of Dinosaurs is an extremely well-reviewed book. It has more than 2,000 reviews on Amazon, with more than 86% of those reviews coming in at 5-stars.
It’s geared toward young readers ages three through six. It contains 32 pages and navigates the dinosaur world visually with minimal text. Still, expect to find fun facts and stimulating written ideas about dinosaurs.
It’s a great book for new readers or simply those who enjoy flipping through a large book to marvel at illustrations of creatures from the past.
Some reviewers were disappointed with the length of this book.
Pros and Cons of The Big Book of Dinosaurs by DK
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is highly rated (4.8/5) on Amazon with over 2,000 reviews. | Some reviewers were disappointed with the length of this book. |
| It’s geared toward readers ages three through six. | |
| It contains 32 pages and presents the dinosaur world visually with minimal text. | |
| You’ll find fun facts and stimulating ideas about dinosaurs. | |
| It’s the ideal book for new readers and those who enjoy flipping through a large book to marvel at illustrations of extinct creatures. |
- 32 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 3 through 6.
- A DK Big Book publication, part of a series of four.
8. The Rise and Reign of the Mammals by Steve Brusatte
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us is a comprehensive book on the transition from the age of the dinosaur to the age of the mammal.
The change of power took place around 66 million years ago in the midst of a mass extinction event. Early mammals were unlikely heroes, sitting low to the ground and looking much like rodents, but they crept up the food chain to produce the spectrum of mammalian life on earth now.
This is a book for adults, coming in with 528 pages and exploring a lot of historical and scientific content. If you have a budding interest in the history of mammalian life, this is an excellent place for you to start.
It’s available in hardcover and Kindle formats, so you can choose the medium that suits you best. The Washington Post called it a “masterpiece of science writing.”
One reviewer said that there weren’t enough illustrations: “I enjoy the book but found it difficult to keep track of the many creatures with no illustrations to guide me.”
Pros and Cons of The Rise and Reign of the Mammals by Steve Brusatte
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a comprehensive guide to the transition from the age of the dinosaur to the age of the mammal. | One reviewer said that there weren’t enough illustrations: “I enjoy the book but found it difficult to keep track of the many creatures with no illustrations to guide me.” |
| It’s written for adults, has 528 pages, and explores a lot of historical and scientific content. | |
| It’s available in hardcover and Kindle formats. | |
| The Washington Post called it a “masterpiece of science writing.” |
- 524 pages
- Hailed as the ultimate dinosaur biography by Scientific American
- Written by Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist on the faculty at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland
9. The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte
Written by the same author as the previous item on this list, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World is a similarly excellent book on the arch of dinosaur life on earth.
If you want a comprehensive understanding of life from that time, you could pair this book with The Rise and Reign of Mammals. Author Steve Brusatte was called one of the “stars of modern paleontology.”
Think of this book as a “biography of the dinosaurs.” It’s an excellent read on Kindle or Audiobook and is also available in paperback. Expect a palatable blend of scientific information and storytelling.
It is 524 pages chock-full of the details that form dinosaurs’ entire journey on earth as it’s understood by scientists.
A few reviewers said that the portions of this book that had to do with Brusatte’s life were “juvenile.”
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book was written by the author of the previous selection. | A few reviewers said that the portions of this book that had to do with Brusatte’s life were “juvenile.” |
| It provides a comprehensive look at the age of dinosaurs. | |
| It’s available in Kindle, Audiobook, and paperback formats. | |
| It’s 524 pages of information on the dinosaurs’ history on earth from a scientific perspective. |
- 533 pages.
- Authored by a young paleontologist proving to be at the forefront of the paleontology world today, Steve Brusatte.
- Washington Post calls it, "A masterpiece of science writing."
10. Extinct Animals: An Encyclopedia of Species That Have Disappeared During Human History by Ross Piper
Available on hardcover and Kindle formats, Extinct Animals: An Encyclopedia of Species That Have Disappeared During Human History covers a lot of territory in the extinct-animal realm. In the process, it illuminates the extensive history that human beings have on earth.
Hundreds of thousands of years ago, humans contended with strange and mysterious animals that are no longer here. This book covers 60 of those animals and discusses how they might have played a part in human life, as well as what human beings might have done to contribute to their demise.
Further, you’ll find information about animals that your great-grandparents might have encountered but are no longer on earth today. From details on the dodo bird to facts about the American terror bird of one million years ago, you’ll get a great deal of interesting information.
The only negative reviews had to do with the high price of this book in hardcover.
Pros and Cons of Extinct Animals: An Encyclopedia of Species That Have Disappeared During Human History by Ross Piper
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This encyclopedia covers 60 extinct animals and discusses the role they may have played in human life as well as what humans may have done to contribute to their demise. | The only negative reviews had to do with the high price of this book in hardcover. |
| You’ll also find information on animals that may have been alive during your great-grandparents’ lifetime but are now extinct. |
- 204 pages.
- Recommended by School Library Journal for students in the 10th grade or higher.
- Covers over 60 animals that are now extinct.
What’s the Right Extinct Animals Book for You?
This list contains books for just about everybody. Whether you’re looking for a coffee table book to flip through or an in-depth study on extinct animals, there’s something for you here.
Naturally, children should start with simple dinosaur books and work forward into slightly more in-depth books like the Smithsonian’s Dinosaur Book or Dinosaurs—The Grand Tour.
Adults who want a deep understanding of ancient animal life and the extinct animals that used to inhabit our world should lean toward items “2” and “3” in this list. These books move through the age of the dinosaurs and the age of mammals in such a way that gives you a working understanding rather than bits and pieces of interesting facts.
Those books require a little more focus, but they’ll leave you with a deeper appreciation of the ancient world.
The 10 Best Books About Extinct Animals — For Children and Adults FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the top five popular extinct animals?
Extinct animals draw up a lot of interest, so it’s hard to make a list of the most popular ones. That said, five that stand out as extremely popular are saber-toothed tigers, woolly mammoths, Neanderthals, dodo birds, and Irish elk.
The most popular extinct animals tend to be those that human beings interacted with at some time. Homo sapiens interacted with all of the animals in the list above.
How many species have gone extinct recently?
It’s estimated that roughly 900 species have gone extinct over the last 500 years. Not all of these were caused by human activity, although humans have had a significant impact on the extinction of many species.
Interestingly, Our World in Data suggests that most of these recently extinct animals are mollusks.
Why did the dinosaurs go extinct?
Surprisingly, we aren’t exactly sure. There’s scientific speculation surrounding the extinction of the dinosaurs. The leading theory is that a massive asteroid struck the earth and caused a series of environmental shifts, making the world uninhabitable for almost all dinosaurs.
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