Dinosaurs to Dodos

Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr

A little bit of geology, a lot of paleontology, and a raft of evocative illustrations make up this epoch by epoch look at the development of the earth's life forms. Kids will be especially fascinated by the "extinction events" highlighted at the end of each era. What's special about the book is that it doesn't stop with dinosaurs. Seven-foot-tall beavers and twenty-foot giant sloths are equally intriguing. And then there are the lessons to be learned from the poor dodo. Younger children will be enthralled by Sovak's correct, yet imaginative watercolors, while older ones will peruse Lessem's intelligent narrative. A glossary and index are included.

Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Although this book provides a nice gallery of extinct animals, from trilobites to passenger pigeons, it is also useful as an overview of evolutionary life on Earth. Lessem's expertise is on prehistoric creatures, and the realms of dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals are amply represented here, as are less-familiar creatures, such as the ones fossilized in the Burgess Shale, which make Dr. Seuss's menageries look tame. Take for instance Hallucigenia, a creature with so many tentacles and legs that scientists couldn't figure out which end was up. Flying critters, fish, and insects are also included and tidbits of details (for example, pictures showing the land mammals that gradually evolved into whales) make this book good for browsing as well as for homework. The full-color illustrations are lively and realistic, as far as what is known about these life-forms. Students may need to rely on other sources if they are doing research on a particular creature (there's only one page on the passenger pigeon), but this title will certainly whet their appetites.-Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.