DINOSAURS EYE TO EYE

Dinosaurs Eye to Eye

By John Woodward

Digital Sculptor Peter Minister

DK Publishing, 2010

ISBN #978-0-7566-5760-4

Nonfiction

Grades 3-7

“The age of dinosaurs began some 230 million years ago, near the beginning of the Mesozoic era. Dinosaurs went on to dominate life on Earth for 165 millions years—a vast span of time that permitted the evolution of a dazzling variety of species.”

This oversized, information-packed book holds a fascinating look at dinosaurs, their evolution and demise, and their relationship among other vertebrate animals. Set within the timeline of the Mesozoic era, the book fills in the story of the appearance of dinosaurs and sets the stage of the Earth on which they lived. Large images of the reptiles with explanatory captions, photographs, and graphics fill each spread and the information is appealing and up to date. From Postosuchus—a massive jawed predator that likely preyed on dinosaurs to the mighty T. rex, dinosaurs roam the pages. A two page glossary and index complete the back matter. The book has an excellent table of contents broken into the three Mesozoic eras.

This book is sure to appeal, particularly to the large group of dinosaur-loving children. The dense text and small size of the captions may interest better readers, but the illustrations and fast facts can intrigue any level of reader.

Activity 1 (older readers)

After reading the book, find five different examples of adaptations that different dinosaurs developed. Write and explain how these adaptations enabled the dinosaur to be better suited to live and compete in its environment.

More about dinosaur adaptations

More about adaptations

Activity 2 (younger readers)

Look up characteristics of reptiles and characteristics of birds. Choose a specific dinosaur and explain how it fit into one of those groups.

Characteristics of reptiles

Characteristics of birds

National Science Standard: diversity and adaptations

Book donated by publisher

MONSTER FLIERS

Monster Fliers From the Time of the Dinosaurs

By Elizabeth MacLeod

Illustrated by John Bindon

Kids Can Press, 2010

ISBN # 978-1-55453-199-8

Nonfiction

Grades 2-6

During the time when dinosaurs walked the Earth, flying birds, reptiles, and one dinosaur soared above them, filling the skies with creatures large and small. Some fur-covered, others with a thousand teeth, many with other distinct characteristics, these flying animals ranged in size from that of a crow to a wingspan of a small airplane. While mostly pterosaurs, or winged lizards, other species also flew.

The book devotes a page or a spread to the specific fliers, beautifully illustrated in great detail. The text provides information about each flier and headings alert the reader to the sort of animal depicted. Each scientific name is followed by a pronunciation guide within the narrative—important to the students who enjoy pronouncing the difficult names correctly.

This fascinating collection takes a few minor liberties as to what constitutes a flier, including gliders and soaring underwater in one instance in the group, in order to include more animals. However, this book is sure to be a hit with dinosaur-loving readers and the odd characteristics of each creature included in this group will delight anyone else.

Activity 1

Identify which of the creatures from the book were birds and which were reptiles. Look up the distinguishing characteristics of birds and reptiles. Then classify six of the fliers from the book and write an explanation about how they exhibit bird or reptile characteristics.

Activity 2

Read the book and find three examples of how the fliers were suited for their habitats. Then identify an adaptation that suited them for living there.

For more information:

Pterosaur information

pterosaur pictures

dinosaur classification

fliers as food

article with good fossil photos

National Science Standards: organisms and environments; diversity and adaptations

Book provided by publisher to TWU’s Librarian’s Choices Review Committee