Encyclopedia Prehistorica : Dinosaurs (by Matthew Reinhart)

It's hard to imagine any dinosaur-loving kid not wanting this book. Robert Sabuda is the reigning king of pop-ups, and this book amply shows why with a profusion of intricate marvels of paper engineering. Each pop-up illustrates the latest thinking about the species depicted, some so cutting-edge (such as the coloring) that they may be controversial. A T-rex appears to lunge out to bite the reader, while an archaeopteryx unfolds its wings and appears ready to fly away, an allosaurus pulls strips of meat from its prey, and an ankylosaurus bops you with its armored tail.

The author employs humorous titles and clear text that uses accessible comparisons (such as to cars, school buses, and cafeteria trays) to convey a lot of information in a short space, and includes pronunciations. Both the language and the delicacy of the pops make it more appropriate for older readers, though little ones will have trouble keeping their hands off it.