Hello, I’m Caden Commander and l’m 10 years old and I like dinosaurs.  I hope you like my book.

by:  Caden Commander

How to use this book 

This page will tell you how to use this book.

This means I drew it while I was on one of my adventures.

This is a caption box that will tell you about the animal.

Caption 

By:  Caden Commander

The next page will tell you how long the chapters are.

This shows the size of the dinosaur.  Beside it on the left shows where it was found and what it ate.

Thanks for looking at or buying my book! 

Table of Contents

The Dinosaurs, pages 6-19

Ankylosaurs, pages 20-29

Stegosaurs, pages 30-35

hadrosaurs and Iguanodontids, pages 36-45

Ceratopsians, pages 46-53

Tyrannosaurs, pages 54-63

Therizinosaurs, pages 64-71

Dromeosaurs and Troodontids, pages 72-87

Allosauroids, pages 88-95

Ornithomimosaurs, pages 96-105

Spinosaurids, pages 108-117

Prosauropods and Sauropods, pages 118-129

The Dino Dictionary, pages 130-137

Glossary, pages 140-143

Index, pages 144-148

The Dinosaurs 

Chapter 1

By:  Caden Commander

By: Caden Commander

Welcome!  Are you ready to go on an adventure?  Well then, let’s go!

When did Dinosaurs Live?

Dinosaurs and other extinct animals are not around anymore, but we know about their

lives.  Many people ask, “When did dinosaurs live?”  No one is quite sure.  Some scientists say they lived thousands of years ago.  Others say that dinosaurs lived millions of years ago.  The truth is, it changes every year.

The world looked similar in some ways to how it does today—wide valleys, big lakes, ponds, rivers, and woodlands.  The world was full of  mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians.

Dinosaurs were reptiles, also thought to be 

in between reptiles and birds.

Fossilized Skin and Bone 

When dinosaurs die and are quickly buried, it can preserve their bones and sometimes even their skin!  This is called a trace fossil.  Other trace fossils are feathers, fossilized shell prints, and trackways. 

Edmontosaurus mummy

Archaeopteryx 

Skeleton 

Dinosaurs, the Mysterious Creatures 

A long time ago, a group of reptiles called dinosaurs roamed.  Like all reptiles, they had waterproof scaly skin and young that hatched from eggs, and some had feathers and could glide.  Others could swim and dive.    

Dinosaur means “terrible- lizard.”

Scientists divide dinosaurs into groups based on the shape of their hips:  Ornithischians (bird-hipped) and Saurischians (lizard-hipped).  Ornithischians had two lower hipbones pointing downward and backward.  Saurischians had one lower hipbone pointing downward and forward, and the other downward and backward.  

Iguanadon ( bird-hipped)          T-Rex ( lizard-hipped )

They're Not Dinosaurs

    Some animals that many people say are dinosaurs aren't dinosaurs at all.  For example, some people would call Woolly Mammoth a dinosaur because it's extinct.  Since it has fur and live birth, it cannot be classified as a dinosaur.  Just because an animal is extinct doesn't mean it's a dinosaur.  

    Another mistake is calling Pterosaurs dinosaurs.   No dinosaurs can totally fly without having to use the air for balance which would be more like gliding than flying.  

    Some people also call marine reptiles dinosaurs, but no dinosaurs are fully aquatic.

    Another mistake is classifying other types of reptiles, like crocodiles, as dinosaurs.  Crocodiles have legs to the side of their body, but dinosaurs' legs are directly under the body.

    Birds are a different story.  There are two perspectives--yes and no.  Anyone who is a regular scientist would say "yes".  The "no" would be from the biblically-based scientists because birds were created on the 5th day of creation, and dinosaurs were created on the 6th day.

Family Tree

The dinosaur family tree grows wide.  There are many different types like Ceratopsians, Tyrannosaurs, and Dromaeosaurs. 

Family tree is shown on the next page. 

By:  Caden Commander

Ankylosaurs

Chapter 2

Gastonia (gas-TON-ee-ah)

Gastonia is known for its large-armored “plates” and spikes.  It was in the family known as the armored dinosaurs or Ankylosaurs.  Gastonia was a large plant-eating dinosaur that lived in what is now Utah.  It used its armor to protect itself from predators such as the Utahraptor.

   Found in Utah

   Herbivore 

Ankylosaurus (ank-ki-low-SORE-us) 

Ankylosaurus is the most well-known of this group of dinosaurs.  It was covered in bony “plates” and perhaps side spikes.  Even though a herbivore, it was still a deadly dinosaur.  Many people think that it had good eyesight, but it was actually very weak in sight —like a rhino—and relied on its sense of smell.  Unlike Gastonia and Saurapelta, Ankylosaurus had a large club-like protrusion at the end of its tail. 

   Found in Montana

   Herbivore 

Sauropelta (SOR-oh-PEL-ta)

Sauropelta was another of the great Ankylosaurs with a shoulder spike jutting out of each side and “plates” or knobs running down its back.  The only unprotected spot was its underbelly.  

   Found in Wyoming and Montana

   Herbivore 

Borealopelta (Bor-e-al-o-pelt-a)

Borealopelta is one of the most complete skeletons from the Ankylosaur family.   Found in  one of the most unexpected places, it was discovered at an oil sands mine in what is now Alberta, Canada.  

  Found in Alberta, Canada

  Herbivore

Stegosaurs

 Chapter 3

Stegosaurus (ste-ga-SORE-us)

Stegosaurus is probably the most common of this group. Filmed in Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, its fame has been around for a long time. It had a row of plates along its back and four dagger-like thagomizers, or spikes at the end of its tail. 

   Found in Colorado and China

   Herbivore

Kentrosaurus (Can-tro-SORE-us)

Kentrosaurus is one of the most unfamiliar dinosaurs. It had a shoulder spike jutting out of each side, a row of plates down half of its back, and spikes on the other half.  

   Found in Tanzania

   Herbivore

Hadrosaurs & Iguanodontids

Chapter 4

Iguanodon ( ih-GWAH-nuh-don)

Iguanodontids are large herbivores that have been found on every continent.  Iguanodons lived on two continents, Europe and North America.  This dinosaur was the first dinosaur to be discovered and second to be named and described.  At first, its appearance was much different.  At the time the only fossils were teeth and a "horn."  The "horn" was originally thought to be on its nose, but later discoveries show it to be a thumb "horn" or spike.

   Found in Sussex and Texas 

   Herbivore

Statue of what was originally thought Iguanodon looked like.

Tsintaosaurus (sin-tow-SORE-us)

The Tsintaosaurus was different from most Ornithopods because instead of having a long backward-pointing crest or a flat semi-circle crest, it had a tall round crest that stood up. 

   Found in China

   Herbivore

Parasaurolophus (PAR-a-SORE-oh-LOAF-us

Parasaurolophus had a long backward-pointing crest 

that could make a trumpet-like noise.  Parasaurolophus 

could walk on either its two hind legs or its front and back legs.

    Found in North America

    Herbivore

Edmontosaurus (ed-MONT-oh-SORE-us)

Edmontosaurus was a large plant-eating dinosaur 

that lived in what is now Montana.  It’s thought 

to have had a little crest on its head.

    Found in Montana 

    Herbivore 

Muttaburrasaurus (mutt-a-BUR-a-SAWR-us)

Muttaburrasaurus was an Iguanodontid.  It was the weirdest of its family due to its strange and 

indescribable nose.  Some scientists think the nose might have been used to magnify its bellow. Others believe it might have been used as display, but there's really not a supported use.  

   Found in Australia

   Herbivore

Ceratopsians 

Chapter 5

By:  Caden Commander

Triceratops (tri-SERR-uh-tops)

Triceratops is the most popular and my favorite ceratopsian.  Triceratops had a large frill and had three horns on its head.  Some say the frill was for display while others stick to saying it was used for defense.

    Found in Montana, Wyoming, and Alberta 

    Herbivore 

By:  Caden Commander

Psittacosaurus (si-tak-a-SORE-us)

Psittacosaurus was a little ceratopsian that didn’t look like a ceratopsian either.  It had 

quills on its tail and had cheek spikes, or horns.

    Found in Asia 

    Herbivore     

Pachyrhinosaurus (Pak-ee-rye-no-SORE-us)

Pachyrhinosaurus is a dinosaur from the north. Some scientists think it might have had a layer of fur-like feathers on its back to help it keep warm in frigid winters.  Some scientists also think it had a keratin horn where there's a "knot" in the skull.

    Found in Alberta, Canada,

        USA, and Alaska

    Herbivore 

Pachyrhinosaurus with nose horn and “fur.”

 Tyrannosaurs

Chapter 6

Tyrannosaurus (Tuh-ran-uh-SORE-us)

Tyrannosaurus (T-Rex) is probably the most famous of all dinosaurs.  Discovered by Barnum Brown, it's thought to have had feathers along its neck. Its teeth were the size of bananas, and it had good eyesight and sense of smell.

    Found all over North America

    Carnivore

T-Rex might have hunted at night and in pairs 

Albertosaurus (al-ber-tuh-SORE-us)

Albertosaurus is like T-Rex, but smaller--way smaller--and much more nimble.  The Albertosaurus is named after where it was found--Alberta, Canada.

    Found in Alberta, Canada

    Carnivore

Nanuqsaurus (nah-nuk-SORE-us)

Nanuqsaurus was a type of Tyrannosaur that was thought to be covered in feathers.  As Tyrannosaurus means "Tyrant lizard," and Albertosaurus means "Alberta lizard," Nanuqsaurus means "Polar bear lizard."

    Found in Alaska

    Carnivore

Labocania (lah-boh-CAN-ee-uh)

The Labocania is named after where it was found in a layer of the La Bocana Roja Formation.  It was a vicious, meat-eating dinosaur that, like the T-Rex, would eat small and medium plant-eating dinosaurs.

    Found in La Bocana Roja Formation

    Carnivore

Therizinosaurs

Chapter 7

Nothronychus (NOTH-row-NYE-cuss)

Nothronychus was a bizarre and bird-like dinosaur.  With its name meaning “Slothful claw,” its name goes right along with its appearance--  long claws and feathers. 

   Found in New Mexico

   Herbivore, and possibly ate fish

Beipiaosaurus (bay-pyow-SORE-us)

Beipiaosaurus is one of the smallest Therizinosaurs, and it was different in many ways, as well.  For its size, it had long claws, but when compared to other Therizinosaurs, they were short.

    Found in China

    Herbivore

Therizinosaurus (ther-eh-ZEE-noh-SORE-us)

Therizinosaurus is the largest and most bizarre of all Therizinosaurs.  When scientists discovered this behemoth, the only bones they found were  3-ft long claws that they thought were from a giant turtle.

    Found in Mongolia

    Herbivore, and possibly 

     ate bugs or fish

Therizinosaurus' three long claws.

Chapter 8

Dromaeosaurs & Troodontids

Latenivenatrix (lah-ten-EYE-yuh-NAY-tricks)

Latenivenatrix, once known as Troodon, was the largest Troodontid, whose name means "hiding hunter."  Toodontids are not really Dromaeosaurs, but many confuse them as being the same.

    Found in Alberta, Canada

    Carnivore

Troodon (tru-oh-don)

Troodon was the smartest dinosaur for its size. Possibly covered in feathers, it could have been an omnivore or just a carnivore.  It was also thought to be one of the only nocturnal dinosaurs.

    Found in Montana

    Carnivore or Omnivore

Velociraptor (Vel-los-sah-rap-tor)

Velociraptor is our first Dramaeosaur and the probably the most famous from Jurassic World and Jurassic Park.  Though these two movies misrepresented the raptor by making it oversized and without feathers, its size and body shape are closer to the Utahraptor and Deinonychus.

    Found in Mongolia

    Carnivore

Utahraptor (You-tah-rap-tor)

Utahraptor is one of the biggest and fiercest dromeosaurs.  With a long tail, sharp teeth, powerful legs, and sickle-like claws, there is no reason why this predator cannot work together in a pack or alone. 

    Found in Utah

    Carnivore

Deinonychus (die-NON-i-kus)

Deinonychus is a Dromaeosaur that lived in the continent of what is now known as North America.  Like many of these raptors, it is thought to be feathered.  Deinonychus meant "terrible claw" because of its large sickled claw on its foot.

   Found in Texas

   Carnivore

Microraptor (MIKE-row-rap-tor)

Microraptor is an amazing dinosaur because it’s one of the few dinosaurs that has feathers and could glide.  Microraptor lived in what is now China

   Found in China

   Carnivore

Fossil of a Microraptor, can you find the feathers?

Dakotaraptor (Da-ko-tah-rap-tor)

Dakotaraptor's name (Dakota thief) comes from where it was found, Dakota.  Dakotaraptor is estimated to be the largest known dromeosaur. The most well known fossil from this raptor is its large toe claw.

     Found in South Dakota 

     Carnivore  

Allosauroids

Chapter 9

Acrocanthosaurus (a-krow-kan-thuh-saw-ruhs)

Acrocanthosaurus had 19 curved serrated teeth which lined each side of the upper jaw.  This dinosaur is famous for its footprints found at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas.  It was one of the biggest of all killer dinosaurs and is the largest ever found in the southern U.S.

   Found in OK, TX, and AZ

   Carnivore

Picture of an Acrocanthosaurus footprint from a drought in 2022. 

Saurophaganax (SAWR-oh-FAG-ah-naks)

Saurophaganax means "king of the lizard eaters" and was the biggest of the Allosauroids.  The few bones known of Saurophaganax were excavated in the 1930s but were not studied seriously until the 1990s.  After Don Chure's naming of this dinosaur in 1985, David K. Smith reanalyzed it in 1988 and concluded that it represented a partially big species of Allosauroids.

   Found in Oklahoma

   Carnivore

Allosaurus (AL-oh-SORE-us)

Allosaurus is one of the most famous of the Allosauroids due to the skeleton found, nicknamed Big Al.  Big Al was a juvenile Allosaurus with several injuries including a swollen toe, several broken ribs, and injuries to his right arm.  Allosaurus was officially named by Ophniel Charles Marsh during the "Bone Wars."

  Found in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Portugal

  Carnivore