Unearth a Story: 2026 Summer Reading Children's Book List

he books are this list are to align with our 2026 summer reading slogan "unearth a Story". It was chosen to align with our high-interest theme of dinosaurs, paleontology, archaeology. This book list was created for kids ages 5 - 12. They include easy readers, fiction and nonfiction picture books as well as DVDs, and VOX audio books for school age children and are available at the Sussex County Library System.

Updated April 2, 2026
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Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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All about fossils : discovering dinosaurs and other clues to the past
Crane, Cody
Paper Book
What kinds of fossils exist, and where are they found? What are fossils and how do they form? This book answers this question and many more about the fascinating world of fossils. From the discovery of dinosaurs to the information fossils reveal about Earth's prehistoric past, everything readers...
Apex predators : world's deadliest hunters, past and present
Jenkins, Steve
Paper Book
What does it take to be "top dog?" In this illustrated exploration of the animal kingdom, Caldecott Honor winner Steve Jenkins introduces readers to some of the most powerful predators in history, from the Tyrannosaurus rex to the African Siberian tiger. Using his signature cut...
Digging up dinosaurs
Aliki.
Paper Book
Read and find out about dinosaurs in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. How did those enormous dinosaur skeletons get inside the museum? Beloved author-illustrator Aliki's simple, engaging text and colorful artwork bring the long-extinct creatures to life for young...
Dino poet
Angleberger, Tom
Ebook
Dinosaur & other prehistoric creatures atlas
Barker, Chris
Paper Book
Who's ready for a round-the-world trip of epic dinosaur proportions? Pack your bags, and let's go! On this adventure, you'll travel back in time to see more than 40 dinosaurs come to life! The geography book for kids explores each continent, revealing fossil sites and stories on...
Dinosaur atlas : when they roamed, how they lived, and where we find their fossils
Paper Book
Dig into the amazing world of dinosaurs! This one-of-a-kind atlas from National Geographic is packed with eye-popping illustrations, incredible fossil finds, and fascinating maps custom made for kids by the world leaders in mapmaking and exploration. More than 250 million...
The dinosaur book
Woodward, John
Paper Book
Packed with more than 1,000 incredible images and full of fascinating facts, this beautiful children's encyclopedia will bring young readers face to face with some of the most incredible creatures ever to exist! Did you know that archeologists recently discovered the fossils of a...
Dinosaur detectives
Chrisp, Peter.
Paper Book
This introduction to paleontology weaves together facts about fossil hunting with fictionalized first-person accounts from dinosaur detectives.
Dinosaur hunters
McMullan, Kate.
Paper Book
The hunt is on for new information about our favorite prehistoric reptiles!
Dinosaur lady : the daring discoveries of Mary Anning, the first paleontologist
Skeers, Linda
Paper Book
A beautifully illustrated picture book biography of Mary Anning that will enlighten children about the discovery of the dinosaurs and the importance of female scientists, perfect for fans of The Girl Who Thought in Pictures Mary Anning loved scouring the beach near her home in England for...
Magic tree house graphic novel. [1], Dinosaurs before dark
Laird, Jenny.
Paper Book
The #1 bestselling chapter book is now a graphic novel! Magic. Mystery. Time-travel. Get whisked back in time in the magic tree house with Jack and Annie! Where did the tree house come from?      Before Jack and Annie can find out, the mysterious...
Eggasaurus
Wagh, Jennifer
Paper Book
In this funny and winsome epistolary picture book, a young boy who orders a dinosaur egg ends up with more than he--or his dad--bargained for! All Maximus wants is a pet dinosaur--is that really too much to ask? But when his dad tells him he must send the egg back to where it...
The fossil whisperer : how Wendy Sloboda discovered a dinosaur
Becker, Helaine
Paper Book
Wendy has an eye for the unusual and is skilled at finding things that others don't see. On a middle school field trip, she spots one of those unusual things - it's fossilized coral 100 million years old! Wendy's thrilled! And soon, she gets hooked on hunting fossils. She decides to turn her passion...
How do dinosaurs say good night?
Yolen, Jane
Paper Book
Perfect for bedtime reading, children love the laugh-aloud antics of playful dinosaur children who stomp and fuss and jump on the bed in this award-winning New York Times bestseller! How do dinosaurs say good night? Brimming with humor and familiar good-night...
How do dinosaurs say good night?
Yolen, Jane
Paper Book
Perfect for bedtime reading, children love the laugh-aloud antics of playful dinosaur children who stomp and fuss and jump on the bed in this award-winning New York Times bestseller! How do dinosaurs say good night? Brimming with humor and familiar good-night...
How do dinosaurs say good night?
Yolen, Jane
Paper Book
Perfect for bedtime reading, children love the laugh-aloud antics of playful dinosaur children who stomp and fuss and jump on the bed in this award-winning New York Times bestseller! How do dinosaurs say good night? Brimming with humor and familiar good-night...
Iamasaurus
Ylvisaker, Anne
Paper Book
Iamasaurus. I am noodlevorous. One of the genus Ridiculorous. Mothers abhor us. Babies adore us. We romp and we stomp and we chomp on the floras. Turns out kids are not unlike T. rexes. Did you know both creatures share many of the same body parts-maxillae, mandibles, clavicles, ribs....
The magic school bus : in the time of the dinosaurs
Cole, Joanna.
Paper Book
One twist of the dial and the Magic School Bus transforms into a time machine that travels back to the prehistoric age, making pit stops in the Mesozoic Era and meeting dinosaurs along the way. "It's fun and fine science".--The New York Times Book Review. Full color. Includes perforated bookmark...
Peter Lee's notes from the field
Ahn, Angela
Paper Book
Eleven-year-old Peter Lee has one goal in life: to become a paleontologist. But in one summer, that all falls apart. Told in short, accessible journal entries and combining the humor of Timmy Failure with the poignant family dynamics of Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Peter Lee will win readers' hearts....
Sam & Dave dig a hole
Barnett, Mac
CD
A New York Times bestseller! A 2015 Caldecott Honor Book With perfect pacing, the multi-award-winning, New York Times best-selling team of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen dig down for a deadpan tale full of visual humor. Sam and Dave are...
Santiago's dinosaurios
Ri?os Rami?rez, Mariana
Paper Book
2023 International Latino Book Awards SILVER, The Mariposa Award (Best debut author) 2023 Best Books for Kids & Teens starred selection, The Canadian Children's Book Centre Santiago finds a way to connect to his classmates--through...
What is an archaeologist?
Romero, Libby
Paper Book
In this Level 3 reader, you can learn all about how archaeologists unearth history, from Egyptian pyramids to Incan roads, and everything in between. Travel around the world and back in time to learn about one of the coolest careers. Discover what archaeologists do, from digging...
What was the age of the dinosaurs?
Stine, Megan
Paper Book
Travel back to the time when the mighty dinosaurs ruled the earth. The Age of Dinosaurs began about 250 million years ago. In the beginning they were quite small but over time they evolved into the varied and fascinating creatures that captivate our imaginations today. What we...

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