Dinosaurs

   For many of us the fascination with dinosaurs goes back to our early childhood. One of the biggest attractions surely is the fact that they are no longer here and that creatures so fantastic and so incredible could suddenly and dramatically disappear. What happened to them all those millions of years ago is still an unknown. The public watches as the scientists battle it out, theories fly to and fro, and the mystery remains, as yet, still a mystery.

   What is truly remarkable is the way in which paleontologists have been able to piece together so much information when they really have so little material to work with. It is believed that we have found only a small percentage of the total number of dinosaur species that existed. We have unearthed a thigh bone here, a skull, a tooth there. Often no more than half an animal of a single species defines it. And yet, with the patience that surely deserves half a dozen medals, these scientists and enthusiasts pick away at rock, peer down microscopes, trudge for miles in the baking heat, and come up with the most wonderful ideas and deductions. Due to their persistence and perseverance they have found eggs, nests, babies hatching from eggs, a dinosaur heart, dinosaur "poop", footprints, and all sorts of other treasures which they have used piece together the history, physiology, and even the behavior of the animals to which they belonged.

   Nowadays we have the wonders of the computer age at our command; technology which would no doubt would have made the mouths of those early "Fossil Hunters" water if they could only have used it. In a very real sense we can now bring the dinosaurs to life on a computer screen, programming in equations and statistics taken from the data found in the fossil records.

   In the books selected below we have chosen to highlight some of the best dinosaur books available. What we have looked for are books that show how complex and advanced dinosaurs were. They inhabited all the major regions on the earth and adapted to many different environments. We have tried to find the books which discuss the new theories and ideas and which have the enthusiasm and eagerness which surely was what drove the very first fossil hunters to ask the questions: "Why?" "How?" and, "I want to know more."

Contributor: Marya Jansen-Gruber
Book Reviewer and Writer
mjansengruber@mindspring.com

Reviews

Agustinia and Other Dinosaurs of Central and South America
Dougal Dixon
Illustrated by Steve Weston and James Field
   Millions of years ago, South America was not joined to Central and North America, with very different dinosaurs living in each area. These dinosaurs ranged in size from one that was as small as a chicken to one that was larger than an elephant. Eight of them are briefly described, with the focus on size, habitat, diet, and/or defenses, including Eoraptor, one of the first dinosaurs. Short, simple sentences and large type, along with the easy reading level, are just right for the intended audience. Several features helpful for young readers are included: a red or green square by the name of the dinosaur to indicate if it was a meat- or plant-eater, a graphic comparison to an adult human or an elephant, and pictures and text comparing the dinosaur to a modern-day animal with some similar characteristics. Occasional sidebars, such as the one comparing Alvarezsaurus to a modern ostrich, provide additional information as well as introducing the concepts of adaptation and evolution. Pronunciation guides, a short glossary, an index, and a link to a website featuring more information about the dinosaurs covered in the book are included. (Two of the three sites are excellent; one is not appropriate for this age reader.) Like others in the "Dinosaur World" series, the first page is an overview of the habitat, and the last discusses why they are extinct. While the information presented is brief, the geographic presentation and the emphasis on comparisons make these valuable for young paleontologists. 2007, Picture Window Books, $17.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Peg Glisson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4048-2263-4
ISBN: 1-4048-2263-1
ISBN: 978-1-4048-2269-6
ISBN: 1-4048-2269-0

Aletopelta and Other Dinosaurs of the West Coast
Dougal Dixon
Illustrated by Steve Weston and James Field
   Produced in the U.K., this "Dinosaur Find" series has been written by Scottish geologist and dinosaur-researcher Dixon, author of several other dinosaur books for children. Saurians are classified (in addition to their feeding habits) by the geographical areas of North America where they roamed millions of years ago; each volume starts with a brief description of that region in certain prehistoric eras. After introducing a variety of ancient inhabitants, a "Where Did They Go?" page offers several hypotheses about the dinosaurs' disappearance. Of the eight creatures included in this volume, some (Saurolophus, Lambeosaurus) will be known to enthusiasts; others, like Labocania, Panoplosaurus, and Aletopelta may be less familiar. Each creature's description is accompanied by a photo of an animal the author believes to occupy a similar ecological niche today: fierce predator Labocania, for example, is paired with the present-day timber wolf. Large square pages display dramatic dinosaur images--some are digital, some are acrylic paintings; especially eye-catching is one of a huge, toothy Albertosaurus ripping into a beached carcass. Useful features are a size comparison (in silhouette) to a chicken, a man, or an elephant for each dinosaur and a guide to the pronunciation of its name. The super-large text--a recent trend in similar informational books--may put off older readers, while the repeated use of like for as is annoying, but the animated film--look, the wide variety of dinosaurs, and the novelty of a regional approach will undoubtedly catch the attention of younger aficionados. 2006, Picture Window, $23.93. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4048-2744-8
ISBN: 1-4048-2744-7

Alphabet of Dinosaurs
Barbie Heit Schwaeber
Illustrated by Thomas Buchs ... [et al.]
   The graphics in this extravagant book are wonderful. They show dinosaurs with attitude, dinosaurs delicately nosing eggs, dinosaurs springing through a Jurassic landscape. The names are a smorgasbord of sounds--C is for Ceratosaurus, K is for Kentrosaurus, R is for Rhabdodon, and W is for Wannanosaurus. The old favorites, Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus Rex are all there, too. The poems that accompany the alphabet are less successful, unfortunately. Forced rhymes and extended lines disrupt the rhythm of the language. However, the information is itself appealing to children who relish knowing all they can about these marvelous creatures. The book comes with a CD that puts the rhymes to music and repeats them several times for young listeners. The book also has a tear-out poster of the alphabet letters, with smaller graphics of the creatures next to the letters they represent. The book was printed in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution; a clever "M is for Museum" shows a skeleton in the Smithsonian. The glossary gives a further description of each dinosaur. 2007, Soundprints, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Diane Carver Sekeres, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59249-724-9
ISBN: 1-59249-724-1

Amazing Dinosaur Facts
Leonie Bennett
   Find out which dinosaur was longer than three school buses and which one was about the size of a crow. These facts and more are found on the pages of this book in the "I Love Reading: Dino World!" series. The simple text provides information about the basic physical characteristics of the creatures from long ago. Along with the colorful illustrations are pronunciation guides for the names of the dinosaurs. The diagrams help illustrate the sizes of the ancient reptiles by comparing them to more commonly known items. The glossary in the back of the book has illustrations and photographs with the descriptions. With support, the young reader may learn how to use the informational text's features of the table of contents and index. Further exploration about dinosaurs is provided in a couple of additional resources listed in the back, including the publisher's website. The website has additional information and unlabeled links to other sites about dinosaurs. 2008, Bearport Publishing Company, $19.96. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59716-546-4
ISBN: 1-59716-546-8

Ankylosaurus Fights Back
Laura Gates Galvin
Illustrated by Adrian Chesterman
   Sixty five million years ago during the Cretaceous period, Ankylosaurus called Earth their home. These creatures were low to the ground and long and wide--kind of like a bus. Their bodies were covered with plates and spikes, but as readers of this book learn, their most deadly weapon and greatest protection was the bony club at the end of their tails. This big creature ate plants and the plants produced lots of gas. They were also slow moving and in this story the Ankylosaurus is unaware of the Tyrannosaurus rex coming up to make a meal of him. Once alerted he goes into action and even though Tyrannosaurus rex is bigger, Ankylosaurus holds his own. A foldout poster four pages long has a great scene of the upcoming battle on one side and a picture glossary on the other. A good choice for those dinosaur-crazy kids in your family--for school use the poster could be put on the wall. 2007, Trudy Corporation /Smithsonian Intuition, $6.95. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59249-680-8
ISBN: 1-59249-680-6

Armored and Dangerous
Howard Zimmerman
   Plant-eating dinosaurs that were not small enough to hide or fast enough to run away were protected with an armor-like exterior against the meat-eating dinosaurs. Young readers will read brief information on how eight different dinosaurs protected themselves from becoming easy prey. The general description of each armored dinosaurs is followed with a question. The response to the question provides further information about the dinosaur's protective, physical armor. Some of the features of this informational text are the colored illustrations, insets, scale diagrams, and pronunciation guides. In the back of the book, there is a world map that indicates where the armored dinosaur fossils were located. In addition there is a timeline that places the dinosaurs in the period when they existed. To read for further information about these dinosaurs, there are some suggested books and the publisher's website. On the website, there is a simple crossword puzzle along with some unlabeled portals to websites that have more information about dinosaurs. Those readers who are interested in other prehistoric animals from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods may find the other five books in the "Dino Times Trivia" series fascinating too. The format for the series is similar however the theme of each book is different along with the featured prehistoric reptiles. 2009, Bearport Publishing, Ages 5 to 8, $21.28. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung
ISBN: 978-1-59716-712-3
ISBN: 1-59716-712-6

Bambiraptor and Other Feathered Dinosaurs
Dougal Dixon
Illustrated by Steve Weston & James Field
   This addition to the "Dinosaur Find " series examines the general characteristics of bambiraptor and seven other feathered dinosaurs including the microraptor, toodon and beipiaosaurus and what they have in common with today's modern birds. Each two-page spread introduces a new dinosaur with one page dedicated to the illustrators' rendering of that species in its natural surroundings. A caption on each picture page adds facts that are not found elsewhere in the text. For each dinosaur, we are given the pronunciation, a symbol as to whether it is a meat eater or plant eater and a paragraph of information specific to that dinosaur species. Although the book is intended for grades K-3, the text is written at a level better understood by a slightly older child There is a size comparison chart on each two-page spread that has a silhouette of the dinosaur next to that of either a chicken, an adult person or an elephant. A picture of a modern-day animal with a caption relating it to the dinosaur help the reader see similarities between the two. "The modern meerkat looks cuddly, but it is a fierce little fighter, like Bambiraptor once was" and "The modern aardvark scratches its way into termite nests, just as Mononykus might have done long ago" are examples of these captions. The book has a table of contents, an index and a glossary, which would be easier to use if the words contained in the glossary were shown in bold when they appear in the text. For further research, we are referred to the FactHound website and given a code to type in. This publisher-maintained website offers a safe and reliable way to find other websites related to topics introduced in each book. While the school librarian may not buy the whole series, this book will be appreciated by early school-age dinosaur enthusiasts so it might be worthwhile to pick several of the titles to add to the elementary collection. 2008, Picture Window Books, $18.95. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Chris Newsham (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4048-4013-3

Bird-footed Dinosaurs
Robin Birch
   It seems like new dinosaurs and facts about these creatures are revealed almost daily. Certainly there are many, many more than when I first learned about these creatures that roamed and ruled the earth millions of years ago. Kids never seem to get enough and even though these names are polysyllabic, they seem to roll off their tongues (for those of us less gifted there is a pronunciation guide). This series "Dinosaur World" features a major and often familiar dinosaur name and its relatives. The format is similar in each book-an introduction and explanation how scientists have learned about dinosaurs by studying fossils and bones to create skeletons. Iguanodon was one of the members of the family of bird-footed dinosaurs. The dinosaurs as introduced are pictured next to a mature human being to give a sense of scale-hopefully it will not lead to kids thinking that dinosaurs and people existed at the same time. The illustrations have text superimposed and in some cases these call-outs provide additional information, but in most cases it repeats a sentence or phrase from the text. One of the more interesting bird-footed dinosaurs is the Maiasaura which had a hard beak like a duck's bill and built nests of mud for their eggs. Each book in the series ends with a list of the dinosaurs' names and their meanings, a glossary and a short index. 2009, Chelsea Clubhouse/Chelsea House Publishers, Ages 5 to 8, $23.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 978-1-60413-405-6

Bony-skinned Dinosaurs
Robin Birch
   It seems like new dinosaurs and facts about these creatures are revealed almost daily. Certainly there are many, many more than when I first learned about these creatures that roamed and ruled the earth millions of years ago. Kids never seem to get enough and even though these names are polysyllabic, they seem to roll off their tongues (for those of us less gifted there is a pronunciation guide). This series "Dinosaur World" features a major and often familiar dinosaur name and its relatives. The format is similar in each book-an introduction and explanation how scientists have learned about dinosaurs by studying fossils and bones to create skeletons. Stegosaurus is an example of a dinosaur whose body had plates and spikes at the end of its tail. The illustrations have text superimposed and in some cases these call-outs provide additional information, but in most cases it repeats a sentence or phrase from the text. The dinosaurs as introduced are pictured next to a mature human being to give a sense of scale-hopefully it will not lead to kids thinking that dinosaurs and people existed at the same time. One of the more interesting hard-headed dinosaurs is the Ankylosaurus which had plates on all but its underbelly and a bony club at the end of its tail. It most likely used this club as defense and its body was encased like a suit of armor. Each book in the series ends with a list of the dinosaurs' names and their meanings, a glossary and a short index. 2009, Chelsea Clubhouse/Chelsea House Publishers, Ages 5 to 8, $23.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 978-1-60413-404-9

Brachiosaurus and Other Dinosaur Giants
Jinny Johnson
Graham Rosewarne
   A large (though slender) format and pages with white backgrounds give books in the "Dinosaurs Alive!" series an open, almost airy look, focusing the eye on Rosewarne's stretched-out monsters patterned in unusual colors and designs. The widely spaced font makes the text easy to read; each volume starts with an overview of dinosaur time periods and ends with a short exploration of a related dinosaur topic. In Brachiosaurus, along with an X-ray view of Brachiosaurus's bones, readers will encounter some familiar creatures like Diplodocus, Apatosaurus, and Alamosaurus, as well as lesser-known Mamenchisaurus, Seismosaurus, and Amargasaurus. Long-necked, slow-moving giants all, these sauropods traveled in herds and fed off leaves from the treetops. Especially bizarre were Seismosaurus, with its whiplike tail and unbelievable 131-foot length, and Amargasaurus sporting a row of spines from tail to neck. Since scientists don't really know skin colors, the artist shows Brachiosaurus as turquoise, Camarasaurus covered with yellow spots, and Mamenchisaurus with a flock of tiny, red flying reptiles perched on its neck-well, why not? The final spread, accompanied by color photos, touches briefly on fossils and the work of dinosaur experts. With its wide variety of dinosaur types and, especially, its imaginative illustrations, this series should be fun for beginning paleontologists. 2008, Smart Apple Media, Ages 7 to 10, $27.10. : Barbara L. Talcroft
ISBN: 978-1-59920-065-1

Chungkingosaurus and Other Plated Dinosaurs
Dougal Dixon
Illustrated by Steve Weston & James Field
   Written by dinosaur expert Dougal Dixon, this addition to the "Dinosaur Find" series examines the general characteristics of Chungkingosaurus and seven other plated dinosaurs, as well as how they lived in the prehistoric world and what they have in common with today's animals. Each two-page spread introduces a new dinosaur, and one of the pages is dedicated to the illustrators' rendering of that species in its natural surroundings. A caption on each picture page adds additional facts that are not found in the text. For each dinosaur, Dixon provides the pronunciation, an indication of whether it is a meat-eater or plant-eater, and a paragraph of information about that species. Although the book is intended for grades K-3, the text is written at a level that will be better understood by a slightly older child. A size comparison chart on each two-page spread shows a silhouette of the dinosaur next to that of a chicken, an adult person, or an elephant. A picture of a modern-day animal with a caption relating it to the dinosaur, helps the reader see similarities between the two. For example, we learn that "[t]he modern hedgehog can defend itself against attackers by using its spikes, just like Lexovisaurus once did" and that "[l]ike Stegosaurus once had, the modern alligator lizard has neck armor." The book contains a table of contents, an index and a glossary, which would be easier to use if the words contained in the glossary were bolded in the text. For further research, we are referred to the FactHound website and given a code to type in. This publisher maintained website offers a safe and reliable way to find other websites related to topics introduced in each book. While school librarians may not choose to buy the whole series, they might select a few from the series for their collections. These books are sure to be appreciated by early school-age dinosaur enthusiasts. 2008, Picture Window Books, $18.95. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Chris Newsham (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4048-4014-0
ISBN: 1-4048-4014-1

Crafts for Kids Who Are Learning About Dinosaurs
Kathy Ross
Illustrated by Jan Barger
   This is one of the most imaginative craft books to come along in a very long time. What dinosaur-loving child would not love a Parasaurolophus Puppet or a Spinosaurus Magnet? Colored pencil illustrations accompany each step of the well-laid-out instructions in this book. Each project has a "Here is what you need" and "Here is what you do" section and includes pronunciation keys for each dinosaur's name along with ideas for further play. All of the projects should be done with adult supervision or in a classroom setting since there is cutting in nearly every one. Most projects also require measuring and lining up angles that would be frustrating to very young children; however, children six and up would enjoy the resulting projects. An "Introductory Page" or "Information" or "Resource Page about Dinosaurs" following the projects would have been a welcome addition. Many of the dinosaurs named are quite unusual, but informative blurbs only follow some of the projects. This book is part of the "Crafts for Kids Who Are Learning About..." series. 2008, Lerner Publishing Group, $25.26. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Debra Lampert-Rudman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-6809-4
ISBN: 0-8225-6809-8

D Is for Dinosaur: A Prehistoric Alphabet
Todd Chapman and Lita Judge
Illustrated by Lita Judge
   This book combines poetry, prose, and detailed illustrations to create an interesting and informative dinosaur alphabet. Each letter of the alphabet is accompanied by a simple four-line poem musing about some aspect of dinosaurs. The poem is illustrated by a two-page spread illustration. The poem is further elaborated by sidebars of prose detailing interesting facts about aspects of dinosaur life such as adaptation, nest-building, and twelve-year-old fossil hunters. This book can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. It can be read from cover to cover in one sitting as a poetry book or sections of prose can be used for more in-depth study. The youngest dinosaur scholars will enjoy simply studying the beautiful illustrations by themselves. However you choose to use it, this book will make a great addition to any dinosaur unit. 2007, Sleeping Bear Press, $17.95. Ages 8 to 14. Reviewer: Caroline B. Hopenwasser (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-58536-242-4
ISBN: 1-58536-242-5

Danger in the Desert: True Adventures of a Dinosaur Hunter
Roger Cohen
   "Sterling Point Books," a series of biographies, which mostly cover explorers and warriors, includes this story of Roy Chapman Andrews, scientist and discoverer of dinosaur and mammal fossils in the early twentieth century. Some say that Andrews was the inspiration for fictional adventurer Indiana Jones. Handsome, dynamic, and ambitious, he certainly led an exciting life. Douglas Preston of New York's American Museum of Natural History--Andrews's sponsor--wrote: "Andrews was an accomplished stage master. He created an image and lived it out impeccably." Imagist or not, Andrews delivered the goods, leading expeditions to study whales and becoming a whale expert. The museum then funded trips to China and Mongolia, where Andrews assembled impressive scientific teams, who discovered dinosaur eggs (not known at the time), the prehistoric mammal Baluchitherium, and dinosaurs Protoceratops, Oviraptor, and Velociraptor. He became a celebrity, wrote books, lectured, and led several more expeditions, until revolution and war put an end to exploring in Mongolia; by 1934, Andrews had become director of the Museum of Natural History. Author Cohen, who has lived in Mongolia--where he interviewed some Mongolians who knew of Andrews--keeps the action flowing with highlights of the explorer's career (little is told of his personal life), supplemented by several maps and black-and-white photographs (including Andrews's caravan of Dodge motorcars) from the Museum's collection. Visual appeal would have been enhanced by color photos of the areas and people, but prospective paleontologists could easily be intrigued enough to read some of Andrews's own books and pursue further research. 2008, Flying Point Press/Sterling, $6.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4027-5706-8

ISBN: 1-4027-5706-9

Dinosaur Babies
Leonie Bennett
   Dinosaur eggs came in different sizes and shapes depending on the type of dinosaur. Yet even more fascinating is the photograph of the baby dinosaur skeleton which is shown in the palms of a person's hands. Throughout the book, there are illustrations and photographs. The illustrations are colorful and they include the labels with the pronunciation for the names of the different dinosaurs. The text is kept at a simple level. There is brief information about the size, care, and feeding of the dinosaur babies. With support and guidance, beginning researchers may learn how to use the table of contents and index in the book. There is an illustrated glossary in the back of the book. Those beginning researchers wishing to learn more information are provided with additional resources about baby dinosaurs. The Internet site provides sources for more information and links to other websites. In order to know where the links go to, the young researcher will need to select one of the eight, unlabeled, colorful panels. Furthermore, the additional texts in the series "I Love Reading: Dino World!" have other dinosaur topics for the dinosaur aficionados to read and enjoy. 2008, Bearport Publishing Company, $19.96. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59716-544-0

ISBN: 1-59716-544-1

Dinosaur Eggs Discovered!: Unscrambling the Clues
Lowell Dingus, Luis M. Chiappe, and Rodolfo Coria
Illustrations by Stephanie Abramowicz
   This is not the first book that I have read about the discovery of dinosaur eggs, but it certainly is one of the most thorough in its coverage and readability. The setting is Patagonia in Argentina, which has become a fossil hunting paradise. The team in this book made many trips to the area to better understand what types of dinosaurs laid eggs, what they may have looked like, whether the parents took part in protecting or raising their young, who their predators were, and why there were so many eggs in this particular area. The hypotheses presented were substantiated by field and laboratory research and it makes for fascinating reading. The painstaking work and the deductions of these experts led to artists being able to create an image of what this dinosaur looked like and how it probably lived. The scientists concluded that these Titanosaurs traveled in herds, returned to the same nesting grounds, and did protect their young, probably from the new dinosaur that they discovered--Aucasaurus. In addition to learning a lot about dinosaurs, the authors have provided an excellent explanation of the work in the field and the years that it takes to prove theories and finally publish papers in scientific journals. Budding paleontologists would do well to read and have for themselves a copy of this book. 2008, Twenty-First Century Books/Lerner, $30.60. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-6791-2
ISBN: 0-8225-6791-1

Dinosaur Fossils
Leonie Bennett
   Dinosaur fossils help scientists learn about the creatures of long, long ago. This book of the "I Love Reading: Dino World!" series describes what a fossil is and how it came to be. The text is kept relatively simple. There are colorful illustrations of dinosaurs along with photographs of the different types of fossils. Pronunciation of the dinosaur names are on the labels. Young readers may begin to learn how to use informational text features such as the table of contents, glossary, and index. The glossary includes illustrations and photographs with the words. To extend their learning about fossils, there are additional books to explore along with a website where there is a simple crossword puzzle that may be downloaded or completed while online. The website has links to other sites about dinosaurs although the eight portals are unlabeled as to where they lead. This series has other titles that are helpful resources for more information about dinosaurs. 2008, Bearport Publishing Company, $19.96. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59716-555-6
ISBN: 1-59716-555-7

Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara
James Gurney
   Imaginary journal entries and elaborate illustrations take the reader on a journey from Waterfall City to the mystical kingdom of Chandara on the lost continent of Dinotopia in 1869. Arthur Denison and his faithful companion Bix, a diminutive Protoceratops with exceptional ability in translating languages, embark on a journey that takes them to strange settlements, all of which contain people and intelligent dinosaurs interacting together. The first one they encounter is composed of ships that have been cut in half and stood on end to provide housing and business establishments. In another, they meet a philosopher who rides a huge dinosaur with chicken-like features. Arthur and Bix face danger from flesh eating dinosaurs as they traverse the jungle, and almost perish from thirst as they cross the desert. When they finally reach Chandara, they discover that the emperor is not what they expected, but they are made to feel welcome and decide to stay on for an unspecified period of time. Radiant paintings provide the major thrust of the story. Some are impressive two-page spreads; others appear with pages of text, and some are intricate diagrams of dinosaurs and artifacts. Readers who have enjoyed Gurney's previous books will welcome these further adventures in Gurney's fanciful realm. 2007, Andrews McMeel Publishing, $29.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7407-6431-8
ISBN: 0-7407-6431-4

Discovering Ichthyosaurus
Rena Korb
Illustrated by Ted Dawson
Content consultant, Kenneth Carpenter    Hong has a father who is a paleontologist. His father takes him on trips with him to discover dinosaur fossils. This time he is on a family vacation with his parents, and Hong discovers a tooth while exploring the beach. He investigates further, which his father has taught him to do, based on what he knows about dinosaurs, and he finds fossils in the cliff. The fossils relate to the tooth he just found. His father teaches him about the dinosaur responsible for these fossils. His father touches on how to preserve the bones and what to do if fossils are found. Throughout the realistic story, there are facts about the ichthyosaurus written on the bottom of pages. Each of the facts relate to what Hong is thinking about the fossils and the dinosaur it relates to. At the back of the book, there is a small quiz about the tools that a paleontologist uses. This will help educators note whether their audience has understood the story. The glossary also will help the reader comprehend words they are unfamiliar with. The pictures throughout the story are realistic and match the words accurately. This factual story is part of the "Dinosaur Digs" series. 2008, Magic Wagon, $27.07. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Rachel Miller (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-60270-107-6
ISBN: 1-60270-107-5

Discovering Velociraptor
Rena Korb
Illustrated by Ted Dawson
Content consultant, Kenneth Carpenter
   Hong, is living his adventures through his father, who is a paleontologist. Hong's father takes him on his trip to the Gobi Desert. On the way, his father and he discuss clues to find velociraptor fossils. Hong uses tips from his father on where to find these fossils. After a few days, he finds a jawbone and his father challenges him to figure out which dinosaur if came from. Hong uses his knowledge of dinosaurs to figure this out. The team of paleontologists go through the process of preserving the bones with Hong. Throughout this informative text, there are facts at the bottom of the pages about the velociraptor. These facts relate to what is happening in the story. The pictures show the reader what the actual process is in piecing together fossils and bones. Children who are interested in dinosaurs will relate easily to this factual fiction story. The beginning of the story gives a little history of the velociraptor, which also relates to the story about Hong. This is a fantastic realistic story of how paleontologist's do their jobs. It will really trigger the interests of children who are even slightly interested in dinosaurs. This is part of the "Dinosaur Digs" series. 2008, Magic Wagon, $27.07. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Rachel Miller (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-60270-110-6
ISBN: 1-60270-110-5

Dougal Dixon's Amazing Dinosaurs: The Fiercest, the Tallest, the Toughest, the Smallest
Dougal Dixon
   Struthiomimus that were thought to look like ostriches, long-necked sauropods that swallowed stones to aid in digestion, and long-legged hypsilophodonts known as the gazelles of the dinosaur world fill the pages of the informative book. Arranged by meat eaters, plant eaters (long-necked and two-footed) and armored, eighty different kinds of dinosaurs are profiled. Each well-designed page features full-color drawings with facts and figures neatly contained in boxes. Dramatic illustrations show some dinosaurs in their natural environment and others in attack mode. The fierce Triceratops, the 10-ton Argentinosaurus, the wide-eyed, gentle mother Oviraptor, and more are included. Common facts about dinosaurs are included, as well as new information such as the fact that there were cold-climate dinosaurs, that big meat eaters lived in South America and Africa, and that some dinosaurs were brighter than previously thought. Formation of fossils and the discovery process are briefly explained. A glossary, index, and, bibliography are appended. Dinosaur aficionados will eagerly embrace this latest endeavor from a respected authority on the subject. 2008, Boyds Mills Press, $19.95. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59078-537-9
ISBN: 1-59078-537-1

Encyclopedia Prehistorica. Mega-beasts
Robert Sabuda & Matthew Reinhart
   For young kids who love dinosaurs, here is a way to introduce other creatures who lived in prehistoric times. More than 35 pop-ups feature saber-toothed cats, bears, woolly mammoths, sky lizards and many more creatures. As in other pop-up books by Sabuda and Reinhart, this includes pop-ups within pop-ups, which can mean that as many as four or five appear on a spread. A good example is the page featuring the indricotherium, the largest mammal known to have walked the planet. Opening the smaller insets reveals another huge mammal called a brontothere (thunder beast) which traveled in herds. Another tab on the page opens up to reveal "some hulks from down under." There are some marsupials, including a husky kangaroo and a diprotodont, which was like a giant wombat. The tab also reveals the giant moa; a flip of the page brings to light three more beasts. The text is informative, explaining when and where these creatures roamed the earth. The tongue-twisting names are all supplemented with phonetic pronunciation guides, and kids will delight in reeling off these polysyllabic names. While targeted at a child audience, this book needs to be handled with care and will have as much appeal to adult collectors of moveable books as to the younger set. 2007, Candlewick Press, $27.99. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2230-5
ISBN: 0-7636-2230-3

Extreme Dinosaurs! Q & A
Smithsonian; [written by Sarah L. Thomson]
   This book was written for young readers with little prior knowledge of dinosaurs. From it, they will learn basic information, such as the difference between a plant eater and a meat eater, what a fossil is, and where they are found. There are also correct pronunciations for particular dinosaur names located on several pages. Through the question and answer format, the reader will learn many interesting facts which will help them to explore even deeper into the world of dinosaurs. Soon, our young dinosaur researchers will have the basic knowledge and vocabulary used by paleontologists, so they can dig deeper into why scientists believe asteroids killed the dinosaurs by surfing the Smithsonian site or accessing other suggested links mentioned throughout the book. Here is an example of how old world text-publishing links with new world Internet technology to bring a more broad and fascinating world to readers. For its suggested audience, the Smithsonian nailed the appropriate format, providing action-packed photos, mesmerizing captions, and large, simple copy. Two things make this book different from other reference books. One is the "Meet the Paleontologist" section, in which Dr. Matthew Carrano answers questions ranging from what he does to why he does it. The other is the "Fun Facts" section at the end of the book that tells about the Smithsonian and Natural History museums. 2007, HarperCollins Publishers, $6.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Julia Beiker (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-089967-7
ISBN: 0-06-089967-0
ISBN: 978-0-06-089971-4
ISBN: 0-06-089971-9

Feather Brain
Maureen Bush
   Lucas loves dinosaurs. His shirts sport pictures of dinosaurs. His bedroom is filled with them. So, naturally, Lucas spends his birthday money on more--a book on making model dinosaurs and a dinosaur-making kit. When his packages arrive, he tears into them, devouring the information in the book and planning out his first model-making project. The dinosaur-making kit, however, is a huge disappointment. It is just a test tube full of clear liquid with an instruction sheet. Lucas tosses it aside. Following the book's instructions, he decides to make a stegosaurus. As he begins layering the papier-mâché, he notices the test tube, reads the instruction sheet, and decides to give it a try, using one-third of the solution on his stegosaurus model. When the model dries Lucas is amazed and proud at how life-like he was able to make it. But when he returns from school and the dinosaur is not where he left it, he realizes life-like doesn't adequately describe what he has. The dinosaur is alive. Lucas is thrilled, and he and "Stegy" become best friends, But when Lucas makes a sinornithosaurus, a feathered monster, as his next project he gets more than he bargained for. This contemporary fantasy in which a dinosaur wreaks havoc in the life of a friendless fourth-grade boy is written in clear, concise language and will appeal to those just starting to discover chapter books, as well as reluctant readers. 2008, Orca Young Readers/Orca Book Publishers, $7.95. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Pat Trattles (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-5514-3877-1

Fighting Dinosaurs
Monica Hughes
   Large or small, plant-eater or meat-eater, fast or slow are just some of the descriptions of the ferocious dinosaurs. Throughout the book are brightly colored illustrations that show some of the features that are described briefly in the text. Basically, the information covers how the different dinosaurs survived amongst the others. The illustrations are labeled with the names of the dinosaur, along with the pronunciation of each name. The glossary features four physical characteristics of some of the dinosaurs and includes illustrations with the description. Guided with support, young readers may begin to learn how to use informational text features such as the contents page and index. For those dinosaur enthusiasts wishing for more information about these ancient reptiles, there are a couple of book titles and a website listed in the back of the book. Also, there are seven additional dinosaur books in this series, "I Love Reading: Dino World!" to explore. 2008, Bearport Publishing Company, $19.96. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59716-545-7
ISBN: 1-59716-545-X

Finding the First T. Rex
Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Illustrated by Jim Nelson
   This nonfiction book about Barnum Brown, the first man to discover Tyrannosaurus Rex, is well-presented for the younger reader. It is clear but still covers the controversy and political tussles museums have about funding and attendance. It is interesting for children to see what a monumental and time-consuming task it was over a hundred years ago to unearth the bones and transport them across country, not to mention put them all together in a display. In addition to learning about the discovery of the first Tyrannosaurus Rex, readers will learn about the behind-the-scenes workings of a museum and the race to be the first with a showy new exhibit. The story is also about the good in human nature since, after all, the American Museum of Natural History decided to sell one of its two coveted T. Rex skeletons to its rival, the Andrew Carnegie Museum, just in case the New York museum was bombed during World War II and one of the most amazing dinosaur skeletons found to date was destroyed. Both skeletons can still be seen at the respective museums. Part of the "Stepping Stones" series. 2008, Random House, $3.99. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Kathryn Erskine (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-84662-5
ISBN: 978-0-375-94662-2
ISBN: 0-375-84662-X
ISBN: 0-375-94662-4

Fossils
Sally M. Walker
   This book is part of the "Early Bird Earth Science Series." How clever of the author to have the first page challenging the readers to find the twelve listed words in the book as they read about fossils. There are five concise chapters with excellent photographs and descriptions found on every page. The text is to the point and is written in simple sentences. There is even a phonetic spelling for words that the author thought might be difficult for a reader to pronounce. The last sentence of each chapter provides the opening of the next chapter. The last chapter actually ends with two questions: "Do you have a favorite fossil?" and "What kind of story does it tell you?" What a great way to urge the reader to do further research and/or provide a prompt for discussion. At the end of the book, the reader will find a reading list, glossary, and an index. There is also a unique section addressed to adults that provides information, questions, and suggestions for methods of sharing this book with a child. A lot of thought has gone into the format of this book, and it would be an excellent selection for a nonfiction book. The vocabulary, shorter sentences, and summarizing chapters make this perfect for low-level readers, budding scientists, and students who have never found nonfiction interesting. There is a lot going on in this book, and it will appeal to both girls and boys. 2007, Lerner Publications Company, $25.26. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-5945-0
ISBN: 0-8225-5945-5

Giant-o-saurs
Nancy White
   What eats meat with its eight-inch teeth? A 49-foot long Giganotosaurus! Not all of the gigantic dinosaurs were carnivores; the Brachiosaurus was an herbivore. Young dinosaur fans may enjoy reading the brief descriptions about these two, huge dinosaurs and six other large dinosaurs that roamed around different parts of the world during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Young readers may need some guidance with the features of informational text along with content vocabulary. The scale diagrams provide an estimation of how large these dinosaurs were; the sizes of the dinosaurs are compared with an approximately, six-foot tall human. Each full layout is about one of the eight dinosaurs. A brief description is followed with a question and response. The response provides further details about an aspect of the dinosaur's description. Color illustrations are a part of each spread. Readers will find a table of contents, pronunciations guides, simple glossary, and index in the book. Those children wishing to pursue more information about dinosaurs are provided with additional book titles and a website which are found in the back of the book. This book is part of the "Dino Times Trivia" series; six books comprise the set. With a similar format of presentation, each book covers different prehistoric animals under a different theme. 2009, Bearport Publishing, Ages 5 to 8, $21.28. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung
ISBN: 978-1-59716-711-6
ISBN: 1-59716-711-8

Hard-headed Dinosaurs
Robin Birch
   It seems like new dinosaurs and facts about these creatures are revealed almost daily. Certainly there are many, many more than when I first learned about these creatures that roamed and ruled the earth millions of years ago. Kids never seem to get enough and even though these names are polysyllabic, they seem to roll off their tongues (for those of us less gifted there is a pronunciation guide). This series "Dinosaur World" features a major and often familiar dinosaur name and its relatives. The format is similar in each book-an introduction and explanation how scientists have learned about dinosaurs by studying fossils. The triceratops belongs to the family of dinosaurs with hard bone covering its heads and they tended to be herbivores. The pictures are based on the bone structures that have been discovered and a guess as to what the coloration may have been. Most of the hardheaded dinosaurs depicted blend in with the vegetation which they ate. The illustrations have text superimposed and in some cases these call-outs provide additional information, but in most cases it repeats a sentence or phrase from the text. The dinosaurs as introduced are pictured next to a mature human being to give a sense of scale-hopefully it will not lead to kids thinking that dinosaurs and people existed at the same time. One of the more interesting hard-headed dinosaurs is the Psittacosaurus which has many characteristics shared with today's parrots and many of these dinosaurs lived in herds. Each book in the series ends with a list of the dinosaurs' names and their meanings, a glossary and a short index. 2009, Chelsea Clubhouse/Chelsea House Publishers, Ages 5 to 8, $23.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 978-1-60413-403-2

How to Draw Ferocious Dinosaurs
Aaron Sautter
Illustrated by Cynthia Martin
   The "Drawing Cool Stuff" series includes eight titles, each based on a different topic. Dinosaurs are great subjects to draw because they are such varied and fascinating creatures. A small number of supplies are needed in order to draw dinosaurs. Unlined paper, pencils and erasers are the basic supplies. Colored pencils and markers are good tools to embellish the line drawings. Five-step instructions begin with using simple geometric shapes to block out the drawings. The Apatosaurus head and neck is blocked out as two ovals and a long, curved rectangle. Step 2 transforms the geometric shapes into the outline of a head, neck and body. Step 3 adds defining lines and facial expression. Step 4 adds even more detail. The final step adds areas of value to define the form of the Apatosaurus. Once the basic dinosaur is drawn, instructions are provided for a parent and a child dinosaur eating leaves. The process of the five steps remains the same for each of the ten sets of instructions. Directions for drawing flying dinosaurs, fighting dinosaurs, running dinosaurs, and a ferocious T. Rex head are included in this how-to manual. 2008, Capstone, $23.93. Ages 6 to 12.
ISBN: 978-1-4296-00767
ISBN: 1-4296-0076-4

Iguanodon and Other Plant-Eating Dinosaurs
Jinny Johnson
Graham Rosewarne
   A large (though slender) format and pages with white backgrounds give books in the "Dinosaurs Alive!" series an open, almost airy look, focusing the eye on Rosewarne's stretched-out monsters patterned in unusual colors and designs. The widely spaced font makes the text easy to read; each volume starts with an overview of dinosaur time periods and ends with a short exploration of a related dinosaur topic. In Iguanodon, along with an X-ray view of Iguanodon's bones, readers will encounter some familiar creatures like Parasaurolophus and Maiasaura, as well as lesser-known Ouranosaurus, Muttabarrasaurus, and Leaellynasaura. Toothy plant-eaters all, these ornithopods traveled in herds, often had distinctive calls, and sometimes, spiky thumbs for defense. Especially exotic were Lambeosaurus with his helmet-like crest and Ouranosaurus, sporting a tall serrated sail on his back. Since scientists don't really know skin colors, the artist shows Parasaurolophus as pink and green, Lesothosaurus striped green and yellow with a black head, and Scutellosaurus in bright blue with darker spots-well, why not? The final spread, accompanied by period prints, touches briefly on some early dinosaur discoverers (forgetting to mention Mary Anning, who uncovered an ichthyosaur in 1810). With its wide variety of dinosaur types and, especially, its imaginative illustrations, this series should be fun for beginning paleontologists. 2008, Smart Apple Media, Ages 7 to 10, $27.10. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
ISBN: 978-1-59920-067-5

Kingfisher Knowledge: Dinosaurs
Nigel Marven
Debra Lampert-Rudman (Children's Literature)
   This title was written by naturalist, filmmaker, and wildlife consultant for BBC's "Walking with Dinosaurs" television special, Nigel Marven. This beautifully detailed and illustrated book explores the world of dinosaurs in full detail, even dispelling the myth that dinosaurs are extinct! Evidence of this is on page 23 in a discussion about "feathered dinosaurs" and their relationship to birds. There are four chapters, including "World of Dinosaurs," "Eurasia," "The Americas," and "Africa & Australia," followed by a "Timeline," and an extensive "Glossary," "Index," and "Acknowledgements" section. Each chapter has a concise "Summary" page, including a "Go Further" section filled with interesting websites and definitions of words related to that particular chapter. Throughout the book there are "Meet the Expert" boxes featuring men and women paleontologists, curators, and geologists working around the world. This book is part of the "Kingfisher Knowledge" series. 2007, Kingfisher Publications, $12.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Kristin Harris (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7534-6102-0
ISBN: 0-7534-6102-1

Long-necked Dinosaurs
Robin Birch
   It seems like new dinosaurs and facts about these creatures are revealed almost daily. Certainly there are many, many more than when I first learned about these creatures that roamed and ruled the earth millions of years ago. Kids never seem to get enough and even though these names are polysyllabic, they seem to roll off their tongues (for those of us less gifted there is a pronunciation guide). This series "Dinosaur World" features a major and often familiar dinosaur name and its relatives. The format is similar in each book-an introduction and explanation how scientists have learned about dinosaurs by studying fossils and bones to create skeletons. Brachiosaurus was one of the largest dinosaurs to roam the earth and it stood fifty feet high. The dinosaurs as introduced are pictured next to a mature human being to give a sense of scale-hopefully it will not lead to kids thinking that dinosaurs and people existed at the same time. The illustrations have text superimposed and in some cases these call-outs provide additional information, but in most cases it repeats a sentence or phrase from the text. One of the more interesting long-necked dinosaurs is the Diplodocus which was one of the longest and used its long tail like a whip for protection. Each book in the series ends with a list of the dinosaurs' names and their meanings, a glossary and a short index. 2009, Chelsea Clubhouse/Chelsea House Publishers, Ages 5 to 8, $23.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 978-1-60413-406-3

March of the Ankylosaurus
Rex Stone
Illustrated by Mike Spoor
   This book in the "Stepping Stones" series details another quick and fun adventure of Jamie and Tom in a secret world of dinosaurs near the coast where they live. Those who enjoy the "Magic Treehouse" series will likely be happy to have another series of adventures that happen in an alternate universe but where the children return safely home at the end, without any parental knowledge of their exciting experiences. The heavily-illustrated series will keep even the most reluctant readers engaged. Characters are introduced as if on a video game screen with much information so that viewers can play the game which, in this case, is reading. The text itself varies according to how dire the situation is or if the boys are viewing a computer screen. The inclusion of maps and information on real life useful topics, such as how to tie a knot or get out of quicksand, make these books educational as well as entertaining. 2008, Scholastic, $4.99. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Kathryn Erskine (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-54505379-2
ISBN: 0-54505379-X

Pachycephalosaurus
Michael P. Goecke
   The Pachycephalosaurus can be considered a relatively young dinosaur for several reasons. The first is that it existed in the more recent Cretaceous period around 65 million years ago. This is opposed to the older Triassic Period 245 million years ago. Secondly, the first fossil of the pachycephalosaurus was not discovered until 1938, and the most complete fossil skeleton of the pachycephalosaurus was found in 1994. Every other page in this book contains a large bright photograph. The opposite page has one to two paragraphs of large lettered text. Even though there is not a great deal of words, the vocabulary may be challenging for beginning readers. This book is part of the dinosaur series "Buddy Books," named perhaps so that it can be read and enjoyed with a reading buddy. The comprehensive appendix makes this an ideal book for anyone who needs to research the pachycephalosaurus or anyone who is simply interested in learning more about this interesting and unusual creature. 2007, Abdo Publishing, $22.78. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Denise Daley (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59928-699-0
ISBN: 1-59928-699-8

Pet-sized Dinos
Natalie Lunis
   Not all dinosaurs were gigantic like the Brachiosaurus or Apatosaurus. During the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, there were some dinosaurs that were the size of today's domestic dogs and cats. Eight small, pet-sized dinosaurs are featured in this informational text; the table of content lists the names of the dinosaurs in this text. Brief descriptions of each dinosaur are accompanied with colorful illustrations. The descriptions are extended with a single question followed with the answer. There are insets that provide additional information about the dinosaurs. Readers will find pronunciation guides and meanings for the dinosaur names. There are scaled diagrams to illustrate the approximate size of the dinosaur compared to an approximately six-foot tall adult. In the back of the book is a map that shows where the fossils of these tiny dinosaurs were discovered. There is a time line to show the times that the dinosaurs existed. Young researchers may need some support in using the informational text features and the content vocabulary. Those readers looking for more information about the dinosaurs will find additional resources (books and publisher's website) listed. This book is part of the "Dino Times Trivia" series of six texts. 2009, Bearport Publishing, Ages 5 to 8, $21.28. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung
ISBN: 978-1-59716-710-9
ISBN: 1-59716-710-X

Raptor: The Life of a Young Deinonychus
Michel Henry
Illustrations by Rich Penney
   The dinosaur on the cover looks nothing like ones seen in books fifty years ago. These deinonychus are brightly colored and vicious. They eat meat so they are constantly on the hunt for other animals. This story is based on research and conjecture, but it purports to accurately describe the life of a particular raptor. There is a struggle to survive and test one's strength against other males in the herd. Deinonychus and his rival Stripe defer to their leader who is responsible for the well being of the herd. Eventually, Deinonychus finds a mate and together they raise their young. When the herd leader is killed in a forest fire, it is Deinonychus who becomes the new leader. It is a tough world, and the pictures are filled with blood and gore as these raptors kill off weaker animals and feast on their flesh. The note at the end of the book explains how the artist selected the colors and backgrounds for his scenes and notes that some of the behavior depicted is based on the actions of reptiles and birds, the closest living descendants of these raptors. 2007, Byron Preiss/Harry N. Abrams, $15.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).

   Follow the life and activities of this prehistoric creature as he hunts, finds a mate and struggles to survive the savage world he is a part of. Though quite graphic in some scenes, which will probably delight young boys and make some girls squirm, it is not overt. The illustrations are terrific by themselves, Penney has captured an untamed feisty and sometimes brutal creature with a sense of realism. It's almost as if the pages were drawn from memory. Besides learning about deininychus, we are also introduced to some other creatures that roamed along side of them: Pleurocoelus, Tenontosaurus, Hypsilophodons, to mention three. Following the text is a map depicting the world in the Late Cretaceous period providing projections of early land masses, oceans and seas. Also included are a helpful glossary, bibliography and an interesting 'Artists Note.' Don't miss it, because the artist explains his reasons for the way he presented the dinosaurs in the book. A colorful addition to everyone's dinosaur collection about a lesser known species: deinonychus, this title will be difficult to keep on library shelves. It might be best to order two. 2007, Harry N. Abrams, $15.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8109-5775-6
ISBN: 0-8109-5775-2

Really Big Dinosaurs and Other Giants
Monica Hughes
   How big is really big? As high as a six-story building? As heavy as fourteen elephants? As long as a school bus? Read to find out which dinosaurs meet these measurements in this book from the "I Love Reading: Dino World!" series. Along with the brief and simple text on the pages are the colorful illustrations. There are graphics to model how large the dinosaurs were by illustrating the comparisons. The pronunciation guides are helpful with the names of the different dinosaurs and ancient reptiles. Young researchers would benefit from support and guidance in learning to use the different organizational elements of the informational text such as the table of contents, index, and glossary. A helpful part of the glossary is the illustration that is next to the definition and pronunciation guide for each word. Also, there are suggested titles of additional dinosaur books for those researchers seeking to explore more information. The publisher's online site provides additional websites to investigate. 2008, Bearport Publishing Company, $19.96. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59716-543-3
ISBN: 1-59716-543-3

Ridin' Dinos with Buck Bronco
As Told to George McClements
   Come on down to the Mesozoic Ranch, where Buck Bronco is only too willing to teach you all you need to know about saddling up and riding the dinosaurs there. After giving tips on choosing one to match your personality, he instructs the reader on tacking up (unless you have glue on your britches), mounting (you may need a ladder for a kentrosaurus), and choosing your riding pace. Of course, after the ride, you need to water, groom and feed your mount. Why is Buck so eager to share these tips? He is looking for some adoptive parents for all those eggs that are hatching! Humorous, brightly-colored mixed media collages, occasionally labeled, add to the enjoyment of this tall tale. Large enough to be an effective story-time selection, this will please both dino and cowboy aficionados alike. 2007, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Peg Glisson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-15-205989-7
ISBN: 0-15-205989-X

Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp
Carol Diggory Shields
   Before the prehistoric animals come out to play on a Saturday night, there is some serious preparation and anticipation that must occur. Once they arrive, some of the various animals bounce and dance while others provide the music. "Pentaceratops stood up to perform; And blasted a tune on his favorite horn. They played in rhythm, they sang in rhyme; Dinosaur music in dinosaur time!" Shields' rhythm will be contagious as children join the party along with their favorite prehistoric creatures. Brightly illustrated by Scott Nash, the animals come alive as they scurry around to get ready for the party. They only get more rambunctious as they arrive to find music, food and fun. When the volcanoes begin to blow, providing a "fireworks show," the dinosaurs "danced up the first earthquake!" staying up "well past the late Cretaceous." Used as a read-aloud, this book will inspire children to join in as they dance with animals at the dinosaur stomp and give adults the chance to teach about these wonderful animals. 2008, Candlewick, $6.99. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Naomi Williamson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3887-0

Savage Slashers
Natalie Lunis and Nancy White
   Imagine a toe claw that is 12 inches in length along with razor-sharp teeth on a 20-foot long creature! The Utahraptor is just one of the eight, meat-eating dinosaurs that are described from the Cretaceous period, over 65 million years ago. Young dinosaur researchers eager to learn about these prehistoric carnivores may find the brief descriptions in the book fascinating. For each layout, the dinosaur is briefly followed with a question. The response to the question expands on the information given. Readers may find the description in the inset interesting also. There are brightly color illustrations along with a scale diagram to provide an estimation of the size each featured raptor. In the back of the book there is a map that locates where the dinosaur fossils were found in the world along with a time line of when the raptors lived. Readers who are interested in further information about the raptors will find a couple additional book titles and the publisher's website. Young researchers interested in other prehistoric creatures may wish to explore the other texts in this series called "Dino Times Trivia." The format of the other texts in the series is similar to this one but different in theme. 2009, Bearport Publishing, Ages 5 to 8, $21.28. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung
ISBN: 978-1-59716-709-3
ISBN: 1-59716-709-6

The Search for Antarctic Dinosaurs
Sally M. Walker
Illustrations by John Bindon
   Travel to the coldest continent, Antarctica, with paleontologist Dr. William Hammer and his crew to look for the remains of a new dinosaur known as the Cryolophosaurus ellioti. From the descriptions of the ice- and snow-covered continent, the reader can infer some of the perils and hazards during the search for fossils in Antarctica's summertime air temperatures of -25 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. The author's discussion of the crew's preparations help readers understand the harsh nature of the setting that the scientists face while exploring. The work of the paleontologists covers the discovery, the removal, the laboratory work, and the display of the dinosaur fossils. Also, the book covers the information that the scientists gained about the dinosaur's environment. The illustrations compliment the text. In the back of the book are a glossary of terms and a list of resources including websites for further information. Part of the "On My Own Science" series. 2008, Millbrook Press/Lerner Publishing Group, $25.26. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-6749-3
ISBN: 0-8225-6749-0

Supercroc: Paul Sereno's Dinosaur Eater
Paul Sereno and Natalie Lunis
   Imagine finding the skull and bones of a crocodilian in the middle of the Sahara desert. Aside from being a distinctive discovery, it tells us that the climate in this region was once very different. This creature lived in water and, based on the fossilized evidence, was similar although not a direct ancestor of today's crocodilians. This monster was forty feet long, and it was strong. Its jaws had a bite force of 18,000 pounds, stronger than a T. Rex, and it also preyed upon other dinosaurs. This discovery by Paul Sereno was not the first in that area but the fossil was the most complete and, after considerable study and analysis, the artist and scientist were able to reconstruct "super croc." The creature is frequently on tour and is used to introduce people to life as it was 110 million years ago in Niger. The closing pages describe Africa, the dinosaurs that lived during the same period as super croc, and offer definitions and pronunciation guides in the glossary, a listing of places to obtain more information, and an index. This well-written book should appeal to older kids who have not lost their interest in dinosaurs. 2007, Bearport Publishing, $23.96. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59716-255-5
ISBN: 1-59716-255-8
ISBN: 978-1-59716-283-8
ISBN: 1-59716-283-3

T. Rex and the Mother's Day Hug
Lois G. Grambling
Illustrated by Jack E. Davis
   Grambling's text and Davis's cartoon-like exaggerations showing Mamma T with earrings and her son dressed for play in cargo shorts make it clear this is yet another tale in which the most ferocious of dinosaurs is presented more as an endearing menace than a full grown terrible tyrant. In this case, young T. wants to give his mother something very special for Mother's Day, although she insists she would be happy to settle for a big hug. T. remembers how some previous efforts turned into disasters but nonetheless paints up his mother's car in a fashion that clearly gives her pause; however, he also gives her a big hug, which is supposed to make everything all right. Young children who like a bit of mischief are likely to enjoy the first go through, but there is not much substance to return to, so you might as well wait for the paperback. You might also find a way to put the story to good use by using it to trigger a discussion about giving or getting unwanted presents. 2008, HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry (Children's Literature).

   It's Mother Day, and instead of buying Mama Rex a gift, her son T. Rex decides to do something for her. The problem is he does not know what to do. Mama Rex says that what would make her happy is a Mother's Day hug, but T. Rex wants to do more. As he comes up with idea after idea, he recollects that he has already done each of them. Besides Mama did not seem to like it when he wallpapered the dining room or redecorated the living room to look like a rainforest. When Rex does come up with a new--and equally destructive--idea, he enlists his friend's help. He presents his gift to Mama Rex and does what comes naturally to him at last, giving her what she wanted most of all--a hug. The bright magenta endpapers set the tone for this creative and fun picture book. It is an inside look at how domesticated dinosaurs live, complete with kitchen wallpaper with images of bacon, steak and drumsticks, bug juice as a toast topping, and the like. It quickly becomes a game to find all the little bugs drawn on every page. Kids will like this book not only for the dinosaurs and detailed pictures, but also because it answers what to get your mom for Mother's Day--something simple that is always appreciated. This is the third book about "T. Rex." 2008, Katherine Tegen Books /HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Renee Farrah (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-053126-3
ISBN: 978-0-06-053127-0
ISBN: 0-06-053126-6
ISBN: 0-06-053127-4

A T. Rex Named Sue: Sue Hendrickson's Huge Discovery
Natalie Lunis
   I visited Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago, but I really did not know much about the history of her discovery. Lunis describes Sue Hendrickson's discovery on the final day of her expedition to the badlands of South Dakota. This was not the first major discovery by Sue--she had previously found a piece of amber with a perfectly preserved insect more than 45 million years old. She became hooked on fossil hunting. What made her find exceptional was the discovery of the largest and most complete T. Rex. It was a heady time, but also one of considerable work as the bones were carefully excavated wrapped and transported. What happened next was also a bit of a surprise. There were law suits as different parties laid claim to the dinosaur bones. After five years the case was decided and the bones were put up for auction. Not only was Sue big but she garnered a really big price--$7.6 million was what the Field Museum paid. Full color photographs track the saga of Sue, and near the end of the story both Sue the discoverer and Sue the T. Rex are on display. The closing pages include additional dinosaur facts, a glossary, places to learn more, and an index. A book that can be enjoyed by young readers as well as those who may not be reading on grade level. 2007, Bearport, $23.96. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59716-259-3
ISBN: 1-59716-259-0
ISBN: 978-1-59716-287-6
ISBN: 1-59716-287-6

Tadpole Rex
Kurt Cyrus
   Cyrus uses evocative, well-chosen words in deftly rhymed couplets to tell the tale of a tiny tadpole in a long-ago swamp filled with huge dinosaurs. Rex may be small, but inside he is "fearless, with fire in his blood--" despite hiding in the mud as he grows. With a "Floop!" and a "Fleep!" he grows arms and legs. His "Ribbet!" startles the other dinosaurs. But then Rex wisely hunkers down, "his inner tyrannosaur corked within." Now all the dinosaurs are gone, but "hoppers and croakers are here to stay." And deep inside, "they all have an inner tyrannosaur." Cyrus's use of scratchboard produces strong, black outlined images, particularly of the hunting dinosaurs and the jungle environment. Some of the close-ups are a bit frightening. The colors of scales and of Rex's watery world are effectively created digitally, resulting in shimmering effects, murky pools, and in the end the contemporary colony of frogs. That scene is followed by an imaginative close-up of a frog's red eye with a curled up dinosaur inside, symbolizing the evolutionary connection. A note fills in the past of frogs from dinosaur days and adds the current risks to their survival. Humor enriches this serious story. 2008, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-15-205990-3

Terry Takes Off
Jonathan Emmett
Illustrated by Peter Rutherford
   Terry, a young Pterodactyl, has a secret. He is afraid to fly. Somehow, he manages to hide his fear from his friends. Then, one day, his curious peers decide to explore a mountain high above them. The problem of having a secret fear is likely to be familiar to young readers. The lesson--that one needs to face one's fears, especially if doing so will help others--is woven into the story. The mountain is actually a volcano. Terry's friends slip and slide down its slippery slope, sure to disappear into its smoking depths, until he overcomes his fear and saves them, in an act that demonstrates quick thinking and courage. The color illustrations support the story well and add to the book's appeal. This book is part of the "Read-it! Chapter Books" series, a tiered series designed for children who are just starting to read. It would be a good addition to an elementary reading program and/or library. 2007 (orig. 2003), Picture Window Books/Coughlan, $19.93. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Hazel Buys (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4048-3132-2
ISBN: 1-4048-3132-0

Triceratops and Other Horned and Armored Dinosaurs
Jinny Johnson
Graham Rosewarne
   A large (though slender) format and pages with white backgrounds give books in the "Dinosaurs Alive!" series an open, almost airy look, focusing the eye on Rosewarne's stretched-out monsters patterned in unusual colors and designs. The widely spaced font makes the text easy to read; each volume starts with an overview of dinosaur time periods and ends with a short exploration of a related dinosaur topic. In Triceratops, along with X-ray views of Triceratops's and Stegosaurus's bones, readers will encounter an amazing variety of frilled, horned, and armored beasts, with names like Sauropelta, Tuojiangosaurus, and Saichania. Spiky plant-eaters all, these boned and plated creatures looked fierce, but usually preferred to munch and stay out of trouble. Especially exotic were Torosaurus, with the largest known skull of any land animal, and Lexovisaurus, who had a sharp spike on each shoulder. Since scientists don't really know skin colors, the artist shows Chasmosaurus with a bright orange frill ringed with black knobs and Triceratops in bright blue with black horns-well, why not? The final spread, accompanied by delicate paintings, touches briefly on some of the many plants devoured by hungry reptiles. With its wide variety of dinosaur types and, especially, its imaginative illustrations, this series should be fun for beginning paleontologists. 2008, Smart Apple Media, Ages 7 to 10, $27.10. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
ISBN: 978-1-59920-064-4

Tyrannosaurus and Other Mighty Hunters
Jinny Johnson
Graham Rosewarne
   A large (though slender) format and pages with white backgrounds give books in the "Dinosaurs Alive!" series an open, almost airy look, focusing the eye on Rosewarne's stretched-out monsters patterned in unusual colors and designs. The widely spaced font makes the text easy to read; each volume starts with an overview of dinosaur time periods and ends with a short exploration of a related dinosaur topic. In Tyrannosaurus, along with an X-ray view of Tyrannosaurus's bones, readers will encounter some familiar creatures like Allosaurus and Giganotosaurus, as well as lesser-known Albertosaurus, Yangchuanosaurus, and Carcharodontosaurus. Enormous meat-eaters all, these tyrannosaurids and allosaurids fell on their prey with vicious teeth and claws. Especially bizarre were Baryonyx, who resembled a crocodile, and Spinosaurus with tall bones along its back, possibly supporting a sail. (These last two are classified as spinosaurids.) Since scientists don't really know skin colors, the artist shows Allosaurus with turquoise, red, and pink on its head, and Spinosaurus in white with orange stripes and spots-well, why not? The final spread touches briefly on possible causes of the dinosaurs' extinction: perhaps a meteor or climate change. With its wide variety of dinosaur types and, especially, its imaginative illustrations, this series should be fun for beginning paleontologists. 2008, Smart Apple Media, Ages 7 to 10, $27.10. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
ISBN: 978-1-59920-063-7

Tyrannosaurus Drip
Julia Donaldson
Illustrations by David Roberts
   With jolly rhymed couplets Donaldson takes us back to prehistoric times. On one side of a river live vegetarian duckbill dinosaurs. On the other side a mean Tyrannosaurus couple would love a bellyful of duckbills, but they can't swim. When a stray duckbill egg lands in the mother T's nest, she hatches it along with her other two. The T's are horrified when the duckbill won't eat meat. They call him "Drip." Left behind when they go hunting, Drip decides to run away. He swims across the river to join the friendly duckbills, and realizes that he is one of them. That night, a storm fells a tree across the river, making a bridge for the T's. Drip saves the day and becomes a hero. Roberts invents forests and swamps that are appropriate settings for the gentle green duckbills with round bellies and long, hose-like snouts, as well as the massive red T's with aggressive teeth and clutching claws. The visual contrast reinforces the text. The large book barely contains the huge creatures. Comedy dominates the emotional content, however, providing an antidote for the potential mayhem and message of peace. Don't miss the sketches on the end pages and the tidbit on the back of the cover. 2007, Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-312-37747-2
ISBN: 0-312-37747-9

Tyrannosaurus Rex
Helen Frost
   Tyrannosaurus Rex is probably the best-known dinosaur. Kids love to learn all they can about them! This nonfiction beginning reader encourages children to read the book along with the narrator. Each word is highlighted as it is enunciated, which provides visual cues for the fledgling reader. An option exists that allows the highlighting to continue without the narrator's voice once the child no longer needs that support. The DVD includes all of the typical features of a nonfiction work, such as a table of contents, a glossary and an index. In addition, it has all the features of a beginning reader, such as short, direct sentences, word repetition, few words per page, and a nice balance of new and familiar known words. Colorful illustrations provide an extra level of support for the reader. The DVD is simple to use and allows the child to access information about dinosaurs on the computer while still interacting with written words. Good for use at home or in the classroom, this DVD both encourages independence and provides much-needed support. For adventurous and inquisitive students, a list of Internet sites for further exploration is provided. Reading Level: Grade K-1; Interest Level: Grade PreK-2. 2007, Pebble Plus/Capstone Press Interactive, $22.45. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-7907-1
ISBN: 0-7368-7907-2

Uneversaurus
Professor Potts
   The mean, green, pointy-toothed dinosaur looking directly out on the first page will certainly grab the attention of any reader. In the lower left-hand corner there is a cool and calm Professor Potts who poses the question that is pondered here: "So how do we know what they looked like?" After a brief explanation of dinosaur fossils, Professor Potts hypothesizes about their skin color. He discusses camouflage and shadings in relation to the climate, terrain, and vegetation. He discusses the possibility of using color as a warning, or to suit their mood, or the possibility that their color might have faded as they grew old. Simple language and clear analogies help the reader gain a deeper understanding of the topic. Small boxes of text add humor and sometimes difficult vocabulary words, such as "prismatics." Eye-catching from front cover (with an eye that changes to a dinosaur) to the end, this will introduce preschool dinosaur fans to the topic, but it will also appeal to primary grade budding paleontologists. It is a welcome addition to the nonfiction dinosaur books for this age group. The "Spot the Dinosaur!" page at the end provides the names of the dinosaurs included in the book and encourages readers to go back to locate them. The final endpapers are intended as coloring pages with a warning to photocopy or trace the picture if this is not a personal copy of the book. 2007, David Fickling Books, $16.99. Ages 4 to 10. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-385-75119-3
ISBN: 0-385-75119-2

Velociraptor and Other Speedy Killers
Jinny Johnson
Graham Rosewarne
   A large (though slender) format and pages with white backgrounds give books in the "Dinosaurs Alive!" series an open, almost airy look, focusing the eye on Rosewarne's stretched-out monsters patterned in unusual colors and designs. The widely spaced font makes the text easy to read; each volume starts with an overview of dinosaur time periods and ends with a short exploration of a related dinosaur topic. In Velociraptor, along with an X-ray view of Velociraptor's bones, readers will encounter some familiar creatures like Ornithomimus and Oviraptor, as well as lesser-known Deinonychus and Caudipteryx. Agile, swift, sharp-clawed all, these theropods raced after prey, were probably feathered, and chewed or gulped their victims (some had teeth; some didn't). Especially exotic were tiny Bambiraptor, who killed with one bite, and Caudipteryx sporting a fan of tail feathers that might have been used for courting. Since scientists don't really know feather colors, the artist shows Oviraptor as royal blue and white, Compsognathus marked like a giraffe, and Struthiomimus with a red eye, pink wattle, and black stripes-well, why not? The final spread, accompanied by a color photo, touches briefly on the relationship between dinosaurs and birds. With its wide variety of dinosaur types and, especially, its imaginative illustrations, this series should be fun for beginning paleontologists. 2008, Smart Apple Media, Ages 7 to 10, $27.10. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
ISBN: 978-1-59920-066-8

What Happened to the Dinosaurs?: A Book About Extinction
Rebecca Olien
   Dinosaurs are an appealing subject for youngsters. This book's presentation allows students to learn how people know about extinct dinosaurs, what happened to them, helps determine if they could they come back, and much more. Eager low-leveled readers will be glad to take in the information. Scientific inquiry is again the focus of page two and its subject of the ivory-billed woodpecker. Because the inquiry is not one that students need to carry out for a set time they can continue turning the pages in this book. Extinction theories are presented and give students an opportunity to come to their own conclusions to answer the book's title question. Extra information is found in the form of "Did You Know" questions, and bright, detailed photos and illustrations add to the appeal of this total package. Several pages allow readers to think about their own role in extinction. A glossary, index page, and extra sources make up the end matter. This book is a necessary in any classroom studying about dinosaurs and learning about scientific inquiry. Part of the "Why in the Worlds" series. 2007, Capstone Press, $21.26. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6378-0
ISBN: 0-7368-6378-8

When Dinosaurs Came with Everything
Elise Broach
Illustrated by David Small
   Fridays are boring to a little boy who has to accompany his mom as she does her errands all around the town. It is just one more boring Friday as they stop at the bakery and discover that with every purchase of a dozen doughnuts, the customer will receive a dinosaur. Not a toy, not a picture, not a sticker of a dinosaur, but a living, breathing triceratops. The dinosaur follows the lad and his mom to the doctor's office where the boy is given the gift of a stegosaurus. Everywhere they go, the boy is presented with another dinosaur. They follow him though town and, as he looks around, he sees his friends also accompanied by the large creatures. Yes, it is dinosaur-giveaway day. Finally, Mom decides to skip some of her errands and, after they arrive home, all the dinosaurs the boy has already collected take up residence in the backyard. Mom soon realizes that they can help with chores and all is well. The watercolor-and-ink illustrations capture the messiness of childhood, as well as the body language and the facial expressions of both Mom and boy, adding to the fun in reading this story. 2007, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, $16.99. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
   A young boy's boredom while shopping with his mother is radically changed to delight on a day when dinosaurs, real ones, are given away with every purchase. A triceratops follows them from the bakery, a stegosaurus comes with the doctor visit. All over town, it seems, delighted kids and horrified mothers are accompanied by their accumulated dinosaurs. After a pterosaur is added at the barbershop, our young narrator persuades his reluctant mother to take them all home, where he shows his new pets how to play in the yard. After some thought, his resourceful mother puts them to work and allows them to invite friends over to play. The delightful dream-come-true fantasy ends when "I knew everything would be just fine." Large pages are needed to hold the details of the frenetic activities of the lively dinos. Small's watercolor and ink, cartoon-y illustrations emphasize the comic aspects of this fantasy. One dinosaur helpfully uses its beak to clean out gutters; another offers its long neck as a slide into the pool. The artist keeps the anatomy honest while taking all the fright out of the beasts. 2007, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-86922-3
ISBN: 978-0-689-86922-8

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