Dinosaur Empire!: Journey Through the Mesozoic Era (Earth Before Us #1)

by Abby Howard (Author)

Dinosaur Empire!: Journey Through the Mesozoic Era (Earth Before Us #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Earth Before Us
This first in a three-book, middle-grade, graphic novel series centering around scientific investigations throughout time helps readers learn about the creatures of the Mesozoic Era.
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Kirkus

A change of pace from the typical blood-and-guts approach to the topic, populous enough to sate even the most rabid dinophiles. (glossary) (Graphic informational fantasy. 9-11)

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6--An in-depth look at dinosaurs, geography, and evolution, presented through an appealing framing device. After Ronnie fails her dinosaur quiz, she travels back in time with her neighbor Miss Lernin, a paleontologist, for a firsthand lesson. The two visit four different time periods: the late Triassic, the late Jurassic, the "early-ish, almost middle Cretaceous," and the late Cretaceous. Miss Lernin educates Ronnie on the geography, climate, vegetation, and animal life of each era. Howard details characteristics of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, covers similarities and differences among different species, and offers information on evolution, convergent evolution, and mutations. Names of species are in bold print and accompanied by a phonetic pronunciation. The simple, cartoon-style color illustrations are detailed enough to indicate differences among species. The conversation between Miss Lernin and Ronnie is fairly easy to follow, but the inclusion of a calendar between different eras to indicate the passing of time may be confusing, as each "day" represents millions of years. The last few pages include "Cool Animals from Other Times" and a drawing of a scientific family tree. VERDICT A great addition to graphic novel or dinosaur collections.--Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Library, WA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Howard, creator of the Junior Scientist Power Hour webcomic, ventures into children's books with a highly entertaining (and equally informative) comic; first in the Earth Before Us series, it investigates the emergence and evolution of dinosaurs. After flunking a quiz on dinosaurs, Ronnie has the chance to retake it, and she gets unexpected help from her neighbor, anthropologist Miss Lernin, who whisks her away to the Mesozoic era via a TARDIS-like recycling bin. What follows is an information-dense but fast-moving exploration of how scientists have come to understand life in that period (dinosaurs, as well as mammals, insects, and sea life), clearly and amusingly explained through the duo's dialogue. Smartly, Howard's full-color cartoons (seen in b&w by PW) keep the visual details minimal, since much is still unknown about these creatures. Howard's goal is to inform, but she doesn't skimp on jokes ("Don't you dare alter the course of history!" shouts Miss Lerner as Ronnie prepares to flatten the evolutionary predecessor of wasps and fire ants). A glossary and animal family tree conclude a tour of prehistoric animal life that's impressive both for its scope and execution. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Abby Howard
Abby Howard is the creator of the comic website Junior Scientist Power Hour. Before becoming a full-time artist, Howard studied evolutionary biology at McGill University.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781419736223
Lexile Measure
840
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Harry N. Abrams
Publication date
September 03, 2019
Series
Earth Before Us
BISAC categories
JNF003050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
JNF037050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Fossils
JNF062030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Science & Nature
Library of Congress categories
Dinosaurs
Time travel
Graphic novels
Cartoons and comics
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Animals / Dinosaurs & P
Paleontology
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels
Mesozoic

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