Overview

Come along with Ackerley the Acanthostega to visit the Triassic and Jurassic periods, 203-145 million years ago. Watch the first dinosaurs appear. See them grow in size and numbers to dominate on land, in the air, and in the oceans. Discover the facts, fossils, and fun science behind Earth's earliest dinosaurs, as well as flying reptiles, mighty sea beasts, and the first birds. This second part of the exciting story of life on Earth unfolds through amazing lifelike illustrations and fascinating diagrams, all narrated by a friendly prehistoric guide.

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9781467771955

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Reviews

Starting with the first appearance of life on Earth, this series covers a large span of prehistoric history, highlighting one or two animals with well-chosen facts and useful, eye-catching illustrations. An anthropomorphized animal from the Devonian era introduces the species and appears in each scene as an observer or participant. The writing is conversational but also clear, with informative details that capture readers' attention. Illustrations include action scenes and straightforward species drawings; both support key points of the text effectively. Spreads include three or four text boxes, along with a time line and fact box. Careful, varied layouts avoid overcrowding for the most part, although the haphazard placement of the guide's introductory word balloon is potentially confusing. Information about evolution concerns more the 'what' and 'when' than 'how, ' which is an appropriate treatment for this level. VERDICT: High-quality individual titles stand alone, and the whole set provides a strong introduction to prehistoric life. --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple --Journal With Ackerley the Acanthostega as their guide, readers are given a tour of the Triassic and Jurassic periods and introduced to many of the dinosaurs alive at that time. After a quick look at the evolutionary time line, Ackerley takes to the sea, land, and air, pointing out aquatic beasts like the ichthyosaur and the flying Eudimorphodon. On land, readers see a range of dinos, including a Stegosaurus waging battle with an Allosaurus. The book's tone and layout are inviting, utilizing quick-fact boxes, conversational asides, and dynamic digital illustrations. A confusing adherence to millions within the timescale--2,300 million years ago, rather than 2.3 billion--and incorrectly placed spot illustrations in the time line detract from the text slightly, but kids will still enjoy browsing this volume in the Prehistoric Field Guides series. --Booklist --Journal

Author Information

Matthew Rake lives in London and has worked in publishing for more than twenty years. He has written on a wide variety of topics, including science, sports, and the arts. Peter Minister lives in the UK and works in CGI, which allows him to express himself with a big ball of digital clay in a more creative way than any real clay. His CGI dinosaurs and other animals have appeared in numerous books worldwide.

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