Bonner, Hannah When Dinos Dawned, Mammals Got Munched, and Pterosaurs Took Flight: A Cartoon Prehistory of Life in the Triassic
Gr. 4-6 48 pp. National (National Geographic Books) 2012
Bonner combines excellent scientific explanations with slapstick humor to explore the development of early dinosaur, reptile, and mammal life in the Triassic period, as well as the geological and ecological conditions that supported survival. Some of the colorful cartoon illustrations are straightforward pictures of dinosaurs in their habitats; others are in comic-strip format, adding humor while still highlighting facts. Bib., glos., ind.
Subjects: Prehistoric Life; Prehistoric life–Dinosaurs; Cartoons and comics
Fern, Tracey Barnum’s Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World
Gr. K-3 40 pp. Farrar/Ferguson 2012
Illustrated by Boris Kulikov. Barnum Brown was an eccentric dinosaur hunter who, at and around the turn of the last century, amassed a peerless collection of fossilized skeletons for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The colorful narrative bubbles with Barnum’s irrepressible fervor; bright, saturated paintings bring the landscapes of the cultured city and Wild West to vivid life. Bib.
Subjects: Prehistoric Life; Biographies; Prehistoric life–Dinosaurs; Fossils; Brown, Barnum; Paleontology; Museums
Hartland, Jessie How the Dinosaur Got to the Museum
Gr. K-3 40 pp. Blue Apple 2011
Hartland traces the preparation of a diplodocus fossil for exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. With each step, from discovery of the dinosaur remains through transport to the museum to assembly of the fossil and production of its installation, the text provides accessible information about the overall process. Eye-pleasing illustrations incorporate humor while detailing the behind-the-scenes work.
Subjects: Prehistoric Life; Paleontology; Museums; Prehistoric life–Dinosaurs; Fossils; Scientists
McGowan, Chris Dinosaur Discovery: Everything You Need to Be a Paleontologist
Gr. K-3 48 pp. Simon (Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing) 2011
Illustrated by Erica Lyn Schmidt. Profiles of major dinosaur species are presented in field guide–like format. Details include vital statistics, history, and colorful artistic interpretations of both what the animals may have looked like and of their fossil remains; captioned labels point out specific important features. Creative home experiments encourage readers to explore meaningful scientific concepts such as fossil formation and dinosaur physiology. Glos., ind.
Subjects: Prehistoric Life; Paleontology; Prehistoric life–Dinosaurs; Fossils; Scientists; Science projects
Sloan, Christopher Baby Mammoth Mummy: Frozen in Time
Gr. 4-6 48 pp. National (National Geographic Books) 2011
Engaging text supported by maps, diagrams, photographs, and illustrations captures the excitement and significance of the 2007 discovery of a fully preserved baby woolly mammoth. Firsthand accounts, scientific details, and even mythology blend well, effectively demonstrating the collaborative efforts that yielded new insight into the Ice Age in general and the creature itself, along with predictions for its present-day descendants. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
Subjects: Prehistoric Life; Prehistoric life–Mammoths; Fossils; Paleontology; Scientists; Mummies
From the October 2012 issue of Nonfiction Notes from the Horn Book.
