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From water "woodlice" as big as a platter to Diplocaulus withboomerang-shaped heads, from the colossal titanosaur to Neanderthal "cave people," the world of prehistoric animals is mind-boggling. Budding young paleontologists will find everything they need to know to begin their studies with Dorling Kindersley's impressive Dinosaur Encyclopedia and Dinosaur Hunter CD-ROM. Divided into four sections--Fish and Invertebrates, Amphibians and Reptiles, Dinosaurs and Birds, and Mammals and Their Ancestors--the thick volume describes just what kinds of critters have walked, swum, slithered, and flown the earth. Breathtaking photographs, realistic models, and full-page reconstructions of prehistoric environments allow the reader to enter the mysterious landscapes of these ancient behemoths, while comprehensive and easy-to-use text explores how animals evolved, how scientists find and use fossils, and when, where, and how various creatures lived and died. A timeline bar enables readers to determine the geological era in which a given animal lived, fact boxes provide a quick profile of the main creature featured in each animal entry, and a large reference section provides a fossil timeline, paleontological processes, biographies of leading scientists, and tips for the amateur fossil hunter. Wow! All this, and fun to read, too! (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

in the words of evan my 7 yr old
"BRILLIANT"......

EVERY THING ABOUT THIS HE LOVED...
DETAIL,PICTURES,INFORMATION..

I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY 7YR OLD. REALLY A VERY GOOD BOOK
FOR ANY CHILD INTERESTED IN DINOSAURS

EXCELLENT BOOK , THIS IS OUR SEC. COPY DUE TO FIRE
Our son got this book for his ninth Birthday after showing a steady interest in Dinosaur's since he was old enough to play with toy dinosaur's. He had already memorized all their names and habits etc... but this book has taught him so much more, he is always coming up to his mother and I telling us somehing new he learned about them. On his tenth Birthday Nov 1st of 2002, our house burnt down and his first posession that he asked about was if his Dinosaur book is ok, alone with it's CD-ROM. Unfortunatly, it didn't make it. I'm visiting this site today to looking at the price in order save up to replace it for him, as my wife is a house-mom, and I got laid off of work three weeks before his birthday/the fire. I will be back to buy it again maybe sometime in febuary.

Misleading Title!!
The title of this book is misleading, I was expecting hundreds of pages on dinosaurs but that's not what I got!! Nevertheless it has good information on the prehistoric life and evolution of : Fish and invertebrates,amphibians and reptiles,dinosaurs and birds and mammals and their ancestors. The reference section in itself is almost half the book; among other things it includes a geological time chart, biographies of geologists and a good glossary. I really do think that this book should have a different title.

quiet informative , full of pics
this is a great book , especially for beginners to start to learn , it has alot of facts and alot of pictures . this is not a dinosaur book however , it doesent have alot of words , except for words under the pictures . this book is very informative , and a great way to get started to learn . this book helped me greatly in a earth science paper , got a 93 . this book is highly recommended for the beginner , or if your just intrested in learning about the mythic creatures. ... Read more

Book Description

Archaeologists on a dig work very much like detectives at a crime scene. Every chipped rock, charred seed, or fossilized bone could be a clue to how people lived in the past. In this information-packed Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science book, Kate Duke explains what scientists are looking for, how they find it, and what their finds reveal.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Well-conceived and informative
This book is part of the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, which has more than 80 titles. The Stage 1 books explain simple and easily observable science concepts for preschool- and kindergarten-age children. Stage 2 books, which includes this title, explore more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades and include hands-on activities that children can do themselves. "Archaeologists Dig For Clues" is well-conceived and informative, with bright cartoon drawings. It is formatted a little like the "Magic School Bus" books, more for upper elementary kids. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another Quality Book from Usborne
In typical Usborne fashion this book covers the building of the Egyptian pyramids with a thourough body of facts and intricate illustrations for children. The reading level is around fourth grade and up but it would be a great read-aloud for second to third graders as well. I also like the fact that, as noted on the back of the book, the paper is made from trees grown in a "sustainable forest" setting a good example for our kids. ... Read more

Book Description

Published in conjunction with the BBC and based on the Discovery Channel series, Walking with Prehistoric Beasts is a fascinating visual odyssey of the prehistoric era. State-of-the-art computer graphics and simulated nature photography are sure to make a lasting impression on kids (and adults, too!) who love learning about the time before man. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

wow!
I saw the documentary and now I saw the book! Oh my God! This vlume sets new standards for book design/layout, fantastic computer illustrations, photographs etc... Sure some of the information concerning these beasts is guesswork but not much. Remember, many experts within the field of paleobiology have put in their `2 cents worth`and they know what they are talking about. As a fisheries biologist, i enjoyed the idea of a book that deals with the life histories of these animals on a day by day basis. Book of the year!!

Get to know ancient beasts!
A diverse audience from young children to adults will be enthralled with this companion to the television series produced by the BBC and follow-up to Walking with Dinosaurs (DK, 2000). The evolution of life on earth since the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction is illustrated as readers might view this world on a safari. The sequence begins forty-nine million years ago and in six episodes progresses to a year in the life of a mammoth 30,000 years ago. The adventure presents familiar sabre-toothed tigers, mammoths, and primates, as well as the less well-known early whales and hyaenodons. The narrative for each group of animals focuses on a fictional vignette that presents scientific knowledge with captivating creativity. One narrative depicts early horses of the Eocene forest, whereas another highlights the fighting entelodonts. Major fossil finds, analysis of fossil evidence, geological processes, and time lines are interspersed in sidebars for in-depth science. More careful editing of time lines would have corrected a misplaced divergence of apes and hominids as twenty-million years ago rather than four-million years ago, as correctly stated in the text. The colored illustrations are awesome, the stories captivating, and the information comprehensive. A younger or only mildly interested student will probably enjoy the illustrations and narratives but skip the more technical sidebars. This one is a must-buy for any library.

Carnivorous ground-sloth?!
I bought two copies of this book: one for myself and one for a 12-year-old relative. The illustrations are superb, the information secure and grounded on the latest paleontological finds, the narrative intersting...in short, one fine example of BBC expertise in documentary-making. However, there's something that has, I'm afraid, gone astray in Chapter 5, where the author, in order to arrange for a confrontation between a pride of saber-tooth tigers and a giant ground sloth, comes with the idea that ground-sloths scavenged carcasses from predators "to supplement their diet". Now, where did this come from? I've never heard the slightest hint of evidence about that, and I found this particular piece of informed guess-work somewhat aberrant, to say the least. Seems like something atuned to the necessities of more dramatic story-telling of a kind of Pleistocene telenovela - perhaps because ground-sloths lived in what today is Argentina? Outside from this (admittedly small)slip, however, the book deserves to be bought, kept and cherished, from one generation to another.

4 stars for the illustrations
Walking with Prehistoric Beasts, like Walking with Dinosaurs, is a well illustrated written companion to a BBC documentary on fossil animals and their environment. In this case the age of early mammals is the subject of the discourse. As the author himself points out, before the discovery of dinosaurs, the remains of the early megafauna of the ice ages were the great attractions in 19th Century museums and exhibits. These were the dream-team animals that inspired little boys to go into careers hunting fossils throughout the world. The beautiful CGI of the book does more to bring these animals alive than any other collection of images that I've seen, and it makes one appreciate the advances that have been made in this type of characterization.

While I enjoyed the wildlife presented, as with Walking with Dinosaurs, it is not always made clear to the reader that only some things can be known absolutely about these now extinct animals. Much must be extrapolated from what is known of modern descendants and shear guesswork. Not everyone who reads the book will realize that, and I think that more of an effort should have been made to explain why the authorities on the subject believe what they do about the period. For one thing it would have provided a better learning experience and a greater appreciation for the inspired detective work done by paleontologists world wide.

Worth 4 stars for the illustrations alone!

Yikes!
While I don't even believe in the extreme time periods discussed in this book, I found the pictures fascinating. This is the first time some of these animals have been visualized. These may be ancestors of modern mammals, however I don't believe they lived millions of years ago.

What you will find is pictures of the most amazing and scary creatures you have yet to see. You would not, I repeat, would not want to meet a Basilosaurus. I mean, if you think Animal Planet is interesting, you really might enjoy this book.

Cryptozoology which means "hidden wildlife" is a feature. There are some animals that are still hidden and are not really extinct.

The Sabre-tooth World was quite wild. There are great pictures and comparisons to today's more tame felines. While today's domestic cats kill prey smaller than themselves, the long sabre teeth were used to kill much larger prey.

A creative and fascinating explanation. ... Read more

Book Description

Open your eyes to a world of discovery. Step back in time to an age when dinosaurs rules the Earth. Find out about gentle Jurassic giants and the terrifying Tyrannosaurus rex. Marvel at fearsome packs of Velociraptors with their switchblade claws, and spy on herds of Hadrosaurs sporting colorful crests. Dramatic, atmospheric photography provides a wealth of visual information. Packed with facts and written in an accessible style, Eye Wonders are the perfect educational start for young children. Eye Wonder is a groundbreaking reference series specially developed for younger children aged five plus. In a stunning style departure for DK, wonderful photography shows subjects within their natural setting, offering a whole new level of information through powerful images. Vocabulary is accessible to children aged five plus, with the meanings of new, subject--related words clearly explained. The series provides an excellent knowledge base on the natural world for children starting to learn. The combination of breathtaking visuals and informative, accurate text will hook even those children who usually avoid books. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very Informational
I know it's geared towards older kids, but we purchased this book for our then 3-year-old, who LOVES dinosaurs (Walking with Dinosaurs is one of his favorite programs). After a year and a half he stills asks me to read it to him. He loves the pictures, and enjoys learning the different facts. No matter how many times we read it, he still finds questions to ask. We chose it because it actually has the correct pronunciation for each dinosaur featured (something many other books didn't have). I would certainly recommend it to any dinosaur lover, regardless of age. ... Read more

Book Description

Introduction by Dr. Paul Sereno.

Imagine a crocodile almost as long as Tyrannosaurus rex and just as fierce! That’s SuperCroc, the giant Sarcosuchus fossil discovered by Paul Sereno, a National Geographic explorer-in-residence.

Crocodiles and their ancestors are some of the most successful animals that ever lived. At the time of T. rex, crocs ranged in size from 2 feet to over 40 feet long. They lived on land, in swamps, and in the sea. Some, like SuperCroc, were fierce predators. Some were heavily armoredplant eaters. And when all of the dinosaurs (except birds) became extinct, the crocs lived on, becoming the crocodiles, alligators, and gharials of today.

Combining fantastic art and photography with vivid descriptions, Chris Sloan draws young readers into the latest discoveries about the lives of these amazing animals.

Reviews (2)

Enhanced with superbly presented photography
Supercroc And The Origin Of Crocodiles by Christopher Sloan (Senior Editor for Art, National Geographic magazine) is a nonfiction children's picturebook about ancient, gigantic crocodiles of millions of years ago, and their modern-day descendants. Enhanced with superbly presented photography, color illustrations, and amazing facts about these ancient reptiles, Supercroc is an exciting and highly educational read for children ages 8 through 12.

Supercroc is Super!
You are really going to enjoy National Geographic Supercroc and the Origin of Crocodiles. This hardcover with dustjacket new book is written by National Geo's art director Christopher Sloan (Feathered Dinosaurs) with an introduction by Dr. Paul Sereno, discoverer of Sarcosuchus. This beautiful book is packed with photos plus numerous paintings and illustrations from none other than world famous paleo artists Mark Hallett, Doug Henderson, John Sibbick, and National Geographic's talented new wunderkind: Raul Martin. The informative text describes for readers of all ages topics such as the definition of a crocodile, the world of Sereno's "Supercroc" Sarcosuchus and its fossil discovery, a prehistoric history of crocs and their cousins and the differences and similarities they share. You'll be amazed at the variety, from lizard sized saurians to giant Sarcosuchus who fed on dinosaurs. The final chapter titled "The Last Extinction?" discusses how crocs have survived 200 million years but now are seriously threatened by man. A fantastic full color work for all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A highly stimulating educational resource
Peter Ackroyd's The Beginning is an informed and informative nonfiction resource for young adults which superbly organizes and presents our latest scientific understanding of how the Earth was formed, how life evolved, and showcasing an era when humans were at the mercy of the elements and their environment. Brilliant color illustrations and what the latest discoveries in astronomy and paleontology have taught us about the Earth's history fill the pages of this exciting and highly stimulating educational resource. Very highly recommended for school and community library collections, The Beginning is the first title in Peter Ackroyd's new and forthcoming "Voyages Through Time" series from DK Publishing. ... Read more

Book Description

Dinosaurs are extinct now, but you can visit dinosaur skeletons in a museum. There you will meet Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Diplodocus and learn how they ruled the earth millions of years ago. You'll see dinosaurs with over 1,000 teeth, dinosaurs who could swim, meat-eaters and plant-eaters. And, of course, you'll meet the king of all dinosaurs, the gigantic Tyrannosaurus rex.

Reviews (4)

my visit to the dinosaurs review
My visit to the Dinosaurs is a book I would reccommend to any kid. This book is a very good book that has lots of pictures and teaches you a lot about dinosaurs. This book takes you through a dinosaur museum as you follow a young boy and his Father and sister. They give you cool facts that you might not have known about Dinosaurs. they show you all kinds of dinosaurs, small, tall, short and long. They tell you how you find Dinasours and other exciting facts. this book in my mind is deffenently one of my favorite children books.

A Favorite
Both of my sons enjoy this book...over and over and over. Anything about dinosaurs is popular, but this book even provides good educational information.

great for a 5 year old boy
My 5 year old son really enjoyed this book. It has good content at a reasonable length that held his attention. The art work is also good. It is simply a good book!

A wonderful children's introduction to dinosaurs.
Aliki's 'My Visit to the Dinosaurs' is an exciting and scientifically accurate adventure through the dinosaur hall of a museum of natural history. Children from pre-school up will enjoy their tour through this fascinating world through the eyes of a child. The supplemental audo cassettte is well recorded and easy to follow, an excellent way for your little one to learn how to read and increase their vocabulary. Occasional comments by Prof. Franklin Branley, former Director of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City are an added treat. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the origins of life on earth -- from the first bacteria through the age of giant dinosaurs to the coming of humans.

For 4,600 million years, there has been some form of life on Earth. At first, the Earth was a mass of raging fires and volcanoes, so early forms of life began in the seas. Prehistoric Life tells the story of these and the succeeding life forms -- everything from microscopic organisms to early humans. We know about the great diversity of early life through the fossil finds from many different countries. Prehistoric Life describes how these fossils fit together into a giant jigsaw puzzle. Using reconstructions and authentic models, such fascinating creatures from Earth's prehistory as the great dinosaurs, the ferocious saber-toothed tiger, and the giant woolly mammoth, are brought vividly to life. Written by William Lindsay, an experienced paleontologist and author of many best-selling books for children on dinosaurs, Eyewitness Prehistoric Life is an exciting introduction to what life was like many millions of years ago. ... Read more