Sea Giants of Dinosaur Time

Children's Literature

With prehistoric giant sea turtle ancestors, crocodile-like creatures and reptiles larger than tyrannosaurus rex, exploring the world of sea reptiles that lived in the age of the dinosaurs can be daunting even for dinosaur fans. How about having a guide? "Dino" Don introduces the fascinating world of giant sea reptiles that lived and hunted in the world's ocean while dinosaurs roamed the earth. Part of the "Meet the Dinosaurs" series, this book features seven reptiles whose size ranged from a "mere" six feet to as much as fifty feet in length. Since finding fossils in the seas is impossible, the remains of these ocean giants were located on land that was once sea. Illustrations include a world map where these fossils were found plus a timeline. Scientists who study fossils make educated guesses about their behavior. Well-written text explains how sea reptiles hunted, swam, gave birth. Lively illustrations picture them in action. The book even deals with the "Loch Ness monster" and similar persistent legends today. A very simple index and glossary is located in the back of the book. Young readers who are interested in land dinosaurs are sure to enjoy this book in classroom, library or home. 2005, Lerner Publications Company, Ages 6 to 10.
—Judy Crowder

School Library Journal

Gr 2-3-A quick glimpse at eight of the larger prehistoric marine reptiles, ranging in eras from 220 million to 65 million years ago. The simple text presents a time line for these creatures, a global map of fossil finds, and some details of their physiology and distribution. The colorful double-page illustrations on blue backgrounds are accompanied by a paragraph or two of particulars-snippets on size and diet-and, in one case, show the fossil of an Icthyosaurus giving birth. Also included is a reference to Mary Anning and her fossil-finding in England. Less detailed than Enid Fisher's True-Life Monsters of the Prehistoric Seas (Gareth Stevens, 1999), this book will be enjoyed by readers beginning to master nonfiction, and may find a good home in a classroom library.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.