National Geographic Dinosaurs (For the Junior Rockhound)

From Publishers Weekly
aul Barrett's National Geographic Dinosaurs, illus. by Raul Mart¡n, catalogues more than 50 of the "terrible lizards." A "time bar" running along the outside of the page indicates the period for each particular dinosaur; a "Fact File" provides the animal's genus, classification, weight and measurements; and a graph compares the dino's size to humans. Other sections focus on the Mesozoic through the Cretaceous period, paleontology and dinosaur behavior. Over 300 full-color photographs and 90 photorealistic illustrations add dimension. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Gr 5-9-This overview includes nearly 200 pages of well-organized, attractively presented information. The opening chapters offer a chronology of the age of dinosaurs, a brief history of key discoveries, and lots of information about the creatures' habits and characteristics in general. The heart of the book is the 50 or so profiles of individual dinosaur genera, divided into the two major groups (bird-hipped and lizard-hipped). Each one includes size, location, and era, as well as basic information and intriguing facts. While not a comprehensive dictionary of species, the entries offer a wealth of information. The attractive layout makes this a good resource for both browsing and for more in-depth research. The uncluttered "profiles" feature one main illustration of the dinosaur, along with a few smaller captioned illustrations. A time line, fact file, and map for each species appears consistently on the edge of the page. Interspersed among the introductory chapters and profiles are over a dozen dramatic, full-page and two-page scenes, vividly capturing selected species in action. Several recent discoveries are mentioned, and current theories are clearly distinguished from accepted fact in such areas as classification, evolutionary factors, and behaviors. Though not quite as visually exciting as David Lambert's DK Guide to Dinosaurs (DK, 2000) or as comprehensive as Douglas Dixon's The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures (S & S, 2001), this title fills a need for reference materials for older students.Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, ORCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 6-10. In this lushly illustrated, comprehensive text, Barrett provides an overview of just about anything young readers might need on the subject of dinosaurs. He defines the species; moves step-by-step through the stages of their existence; describes how archeologists dig, dress, and prepare their finds for exhibit; and relates how dinosaurs lived and moved. And that's just in the first 60 pages. The remainder of the book takes a closer look at individual species, introducing something unusual about each. Illustrations, maps, and fact boxes will make comparisons easy. A colorful sidebar thermostat highlights the span of time the species lived. Back matter considers theories about dinosaur extinction and takes a look at how dinosaurs have been portrayed in motion pictures. Buy this in multiple copies--if budget permits--for reference and circulation. Roger Leslie
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description

Here is everything young readers want to know about dinosaurs and their world—in one magnificently illustrated, up-to-date family reference. Through dramatic graphics and age-appropriate text, this authoritative volume charts the discovery of all the main types of dinosaurs and reveals the latest details on how these creatures most likely looked, behaved, defended themselves, found food, cared for their young, and interacted.

Stunning murals, based on scientific evidence, depict various dinosaurs in their habitats—beautifully complementing the color photographs, paintings, charts, and maps. Some 53 major types of dinosaurs are described, representing a wide range of physical structures, sizes, and lifestyles.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dinosaurs ruled the earth for 160 million years before their sudden and still mysterious extinction. In the 192 pages of National Geographic Dinosaurs, fact-filled text from dinosaur expert Paul Barrett helps answer questions such as What were dinosaurs really like? How big were they? What did they eat? and How did they interact with each other? More than 50 dinosaur profiles flesh out the details behind the fossil record. Range maps show where dinosaur evidence has been found all over the world. Size charts show how much larger -- or smaller -- dinosaurs were compared to humans. And lively descriptions of each dinosaur genus make the fascinating facts stick in your mind.

Stunning mural artwork by Raul Martin goes beyond the informative and speaks to the imagination. Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous scenes seem vividly real. Allosaurus chases his prey through luminously lit water. Pterosaurs swoop through purple-misted skies, and Iguanodons haunt the marshy forest. Reconstructing dinosaurs and their world is the work of painstaking research and excavation, informed imagination, and constant discovery. National Geographic brings it all together in its first full-length dinosaur reference. Open the pages and let the world of the dinosaurs come to life!

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Paul Barrett's National Geographic Dinosaurs, illus. by Raul Mart!n, catalogues more than 50 of the "terrible lizards." A "time bar" running along the outside of the page indicates the period for each particular dinosaur; a "Fact File" provides the animal's genus, classification, weight and measurements; and a graph compares the dino's size to humans. Other sections focus on the Mesozoic through the Cretaceous period, paleontology and dinosaur behavior. Over 300 full-color photographs and 90 photorealistic illustrations add dimension. ( Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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