Prehistoric: Dinosaurs, Megalodons, and Other Fascinating Creatures of the Deep Past

by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld (Author) Julius Csotonyi (Illustrator)

Prehistoric: Dinosaurs, Megalodons, and Other Fascinating Creatures of the Deep Past
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
A must-have for dinosaur enthusiasts aged 7-11. Journey back hundreds of millions of years to prehistoric Earth, where you will discover frozen ice-age landscapes, lush prehistoric rainforests, and vast ancient oceans!"A pleaser for fans of all things big, toothy and extinct" (Kirkus Reviews), Prehistoric is full of bold illustrations that allow children to discover the fascinating creatures that used to roam the planet, including awe-inspiring dinosaurs, saber-toothed tigers, and giant insects.Developed in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution, Prehistoric shines a light on our planet's past-and points the way to its future. Clever infographics reveal the secrets of Earth's geology and changing environments. The reader is encouraged to link ancient creatures and places to present-day Earth and issues, such as climate change and deforestation.
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Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

A pleaser for fans of all things big, toothy, and extinct.

Publishers Weekly

In this illustrated guide to prehistory, Zoehfeld travels backward in time, introducing readers to planet Earth's storied past across the prehistoric timeline. Csotonyi's images depict the lumbering and soaring dinosaurs of the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic periods and the mass extinctions (a dramatic spread showing the eruption of supervolcanoes represents the end-Permian extinction). The book also covers the sparse terrestrial animals of the Carboniferous and Devonian periods ("you wouldn't find a single animal with four legs") and the marine life of the Silurian and Ordovician periods, when "all the action was in the sea!" Zoehfeld highlights trilobites as an example of life that appeared during the "Cambrian Explosion," and "mysterious, soft-bodied animals" that appeared oceanside during the Ediacaran period 625 million years ago. Bright images and vivid descriptions provide a compelling resource for readers with an interest in prehistory. Ages 7-11. (Sept.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-6--Travelling back through time from the most recent prehistoric era to almost five billion years ago, this stunningly illustrated and detailed chronology describes the evolutionary development of life on Earth and the relationships between astronomical, climatological, and geological developments and the living creatures that have arisen and thrived in each era of prehistory. Each era is represented by at least one double-page spread (some have two or more), with full-color illustrations of a typical nature scene from that period, as well as detailed depictions of one type of animal common to that era, and a descriptive graphic that explains a geological or climatological condition that impacted the life forms during that era. For example, the Pleistocene period's pages contain an illustration of a giant ground sloth stripping leaves from trees while being watched by an enormous armored glyptodont, a close-up rendering of the skull and teeth of a sabre-toothed tiger, and an explanatory graphic on climate change. A glossary, an index, and a guide to the flora and fauna featured in the stunning illustrations complete the volume. VERDICT This extremely useful reference tool concerning prehistoric life on Earth is highly recommended for upper elementary and junior high library collections as well as science classrooms.--Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"An extremely interesting book that will make you want to learn more about the history of the Earth - this book makes an excellent starting point." - Youth Services Book Review

"An educational book for young adults, about amazing animals that lived in prehistory. Some became extinct; others were the ancestors of modern-day species...filled with fascinating facts about the natural world during prehistoric eras, and enriched with striking, realistic color artwork. A brief glossary and index round out this treasure for public and school library science collections. Highly recommended!" - Midwest Book Review

"This science-based book is full of bold illustrations and small snippets that are easily digestible." - Crackingthecover.com

Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld is the award-winning author of more than 70 books for children. When she is not reading, researching, writing, or editing she loves to spend her free time exploring, doing fieldwork, and preparing and curating fossils for her local natural history museums. She lives in Berkeley, CA.
Julius Csotonyi began illustrating dinosaurs seriously in 1998. Since then he has produced work for 25 publishers and museum exhibits, with a client list that includes National Geographic; Scholastic Inc; the Royal Tyrrell Museum; and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781912920051
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
What on Earth Books
Publication date
September 03, 2019
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF003050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
JNF051100 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Science & Ecosystems
JNF025150 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | Prehistoric
Library of Congress categories
Prehistoric animals
Extinct animals
Animals, Fossil

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