By Mike Barfield (author) , Paula Bossio (illustrator) Part of the The Wild Life series
"This dynamic, illustrated delight excavates the incredible story of earth’s earliest animals from the very beginning (four billion years ago) through to humankind."
Paperback In Stock £10.99 £9.89
View All Editions (1)
Just when it seemed like all fresh avenues for dinosaur-themed non-fiction for children might have been exhausted, along stomps The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals to knock less mighty mortals out of the (Jurassic) park!
Delivered with much energy — courtesy of Mike Barfield’s lively text and Paula Bossio’s brilliantly characterful, comic-style illustrations — it’s a feast of facts and fun as it invites readers to voyage back millions of years to meet the very first ocean-floor-dwelling lifeforms.
We then undertake a journey through the Paleozoic era, Mesozoic era (the dinosaur days), and the post-asteroid Cenozoic era, with detail on the “living legends” that appeared millions of years ago and survive to this day, among them jellyfish, silver fish and horseshoe crabs.
As we’re informed in the intro, The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals “isn’t just a book — it’s a time machine!” It’s also a wonderfully engaging whistle-stop tour through the evolution of animal life on earth.
Take a colourful tour through the prehistoric animal kingdom with this hilarious collection of non-fiction comics from award-winning author Mike Barfield and illustrator Paula Bossio.
Read the full description
From the earliest life forms living under the ocean waves, to the most fearsome dinosaurs, all the way through to early mammals like the woolly mammoth, this book tells the story of what life was really like on early Earth. Discover what these animals looked like, where they lived and how they survived (or didn't) in the most extreme conditions.
Split into three chapters covering the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, the book covers animals and habitats from all over the world, with each one telling its own life story. Also featured are 'Dead Cool' pages showing some of the stranger animals of each period, and 'Living Legends' pages looking at the true survivors who made it through prehistoric times and are still around today.
Written by Mike Barfield and brought to life with quirky comic art from Paula Bossio, this is a funny, accessible guide to the astonishing animals who once thrived in a world that looked very different to the world of today.
Also available in the series: The Wild Life of Animals
' The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals is a smashing non-fiction title with endless use in a primary setting this is a book that is sure to be well-thumbed as soon as it is added to collections.' - School Reading List
Mike Barfield has been wild about the natural world from an early age. His love of nature took him to King’s College London where he gained a first class honours degree in botany and zoology. After a career in comedy writing for TV and radio, he turned to creating award-winning non-fiction for children built on his love of science and finding things out. He is the winner of the Blue Peter Children’s Book Award 2021 in the ‘Best Book with Facts’ category, and has also been shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize, the Association for Science Education Children’s Book Prize (twice) and the De Bary Award for Outstanding Children’s Science Books (twice). is an award-winning writer, cartoonist, poet and performer. Internationally popular, he writes and creates funny non-fiction and activity books for young people, published in over 30 different languages. His cartoon feature 'Apparently' has been running in the pages of Private Eye for many years, while his drawings have been displayed in the V&A Museum, London's Cartoon Museum, and Nigella Lawson's downstairs toilet.
When not busy writing and drawing, Mike performs family-friendly fun-filled shows at schools, libraries and festivals across the country. He has been wild about science and animals from an early age.
Roarsome: Best Children's Books for Kids Who Love Dinosaurs
Dino mania: Comic-book style deep dive into prehistoric animals wins Royal Society Young People's Book Prize 2025
Royal Society Young People's Book Prize 2025 shortlist revealed
the best books for 9-12 year olds · the best books for teenagers
Dylan the Dino Boy Saves Christmas
A Christmasaurus Carol
Dino Knights: Invasion
Triceratops Prehistoric Beasts Uncovered - The Dinosaur Built to Do Battle
Take a colourful tour through the prehistoric animal kingdom with this hilarious collection of non-fiction comics from award-winning author Mike Barfield and illustrator Paula Bossio. From the earliest life forms living under the ocean waves, to the most fearsome dinosaurs, all the way through to early mammals like the woolly mammoth, this book tells the story of what life was really like on early Earth.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-12 years old
The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals features in the following genres: Dinosaurs, The Natural World, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations, Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 7+ readers
Paperback. £9.89, down from the £10.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals was written by Mike Barfield and published by Buster Books an imprint of Michael O'Mara Books Ltd
The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals has 94 pages
Yes it is part of The Wild Life series
£9.89, reduced from £10.99. In Stock.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.