My Book of Prehistoric Times

Children's Literature

Beginning with the geologic history of Earth and ending with the efforts of scientists to classify and preserve fossils, this heavily illustrated volume aims to provide a comprehensive history of prehistoric life. In reality, the focus of the book is the big dinosaurs, a topic to which twenty-four of the book's forty-eight pages are devoted. With a combination of fictionalized vignettes and brief facts, the authors introduce several main classes of dinosaurs and frequently provide interesting insights, such as an explanation of the defense tactics used by plant-eating dinosaurs. Unfortunately, the book is too often marred by sloppy writing, misinformation (paleontologists, not geologists, study dinosaur fossils), and the lack of effective transitions between the book's two-page "chapters." The drawings of dinosaurs provide Jurassic-Park-style scenes of action and gore. Less successful are the drawings of children and scientists engaged in fossil excavation¾perhaps photographs would have provided a better depiction of those people and places that can be seen rather than imagined. A glossary and index (including pronunciation guide) are included. 2001, Tor, $14.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Norah Piehl AGES: 4 5 6 7 8