Meet the Dinosaurs: Horned Dinosaurs

Children's Literature

Many dinosaurs had small horns but this particular group had the biggest horns. A world map indicates the locations where fossils of these creatures have been found. Scientists think that some of their coloring may have been similar to the bird beaks that we see today. It is a mystery how these animals lived so many millions of years ago, though fossil remains contain important clues and each new discovery adds more information. Scientists believe that the dinosaurs disappeared after a large asteroid struck the earth and caused clouds of dust, which eventually killed off plant life which then starved the dinosaurs. A glossary and an index are included. This title is part of the series "Meet The Dinosaurs." All the books are short and concise, which make them attractive for a classroom setting or for a short read-aloud. 2005, Lerner Publications Company, Ages 6 to 10.
—Barbara Youngblood

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-Each title looks at several examples of species with similar physical characteristics. The opening pages provide fast facts about the species, a time line, and a map showing where their fossils have been found. Using the present tense, the author describes a series of scenes that demonstrate the qualities of these dinosaurs, as when Ankylosaurus tries to use its armor to survive a Tyrannosaurus rex attack. Other pertinent facts, such as the importance of Ankylosaurus's weight and squatting ability, are woven smoothly into the narrative. The large, colorful illustrations show the animals in action but are also clear enough to distinguish the key features. The lively conversational tone works well for the intended audience and is nicely balanced by the well-organized presentation of facts. Large, double-spaced type and fairly simple sentence structure add to the appeal. Each title touches on fossils and addresses the disappearance of dinosaurs without overwhelming readers with details. Species classification is also kept at an appropriately basic level, sticking to "horned dinosaurs" and their common traits, rather than introducing the term Ceratopsians and looking more closely at species distinctions. These titles meet the perennial need for dinosaur books that offer the right combination of information and action.-Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.