Dinosaur Bones: And What They Tell Us

Gr 2–5—A field guide to 20 unique prehistoric creatures. Each topic is given two spreads, with the information moving from specific to general. In the first spread, a specimen is presented in skeletal form accompanied by facts related to its physical structure. In the following spread, it is then fleshed out in color and discussed in relation to other members of its group or closely related species. Thus, readers gain an appreciation for the various families of dinosaurs. There are the usual favorites, like Tyrannosaurus rex, Ankylosaurus, and Apatosaurus, as well as lesser-known species, such as Psittacosaurus, Scelidosaurus, and Montanoceratops. Flying reptiles and marine reptiles are also included. Scale silhouettes that compare the size of certain dinosaurs to humans are helpful. Colson provides a general chronology of natural history, beginning with life before dinosaurs and concluding with the Ice Age and saber-tooth cats and mammoths. Every folio is a visual feast, brilliantly illustrated by Gray and Kirk. Some images reveal the sheer size and majesty of these creatures. Others show action poses of predators stalking prey. The illustrations vary among color paintings, computer graphics, and color photos of fossils. The text flows around the images, providing readers with material about each creature's anatomy and behavior and the origin of its name. The book concludes with a handy geologic time line that illustrates the movement of the continents.