A Field Guide to Dinosaurs: The Essential Handbook for Travelers in the Mesozoic - Hardcover

Gee, Henry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0785829024 ISBN 13: 9780785829027

Publisher: Chartwell Books, 2012

Synopsis

Renowned dinosaur artist Luis V. Rey and paleontologist and writer Henry Gee use up to the minute research findings to paint a vivid picture of the dinosaurs' world.   Their unique approach gives readers lifelike portrayals of dinosaurs similar to that of naturalists in the wild, observing living animals of our own era. Experience dinosaurs as living, breathing creatures, each kind described "from the field" and shown in breathtaking illustrations Observe dinosaur physiology in full color paintings, anatomical sketches, and a host of fascinating incidental detail, much of it never published outside specialist journals Understand the dinosaurs' environment in terms of the world's changing face throughout the 180 million year extent of the dinosaur dominated Mesozoic Era, with a detailed, full color chart that relates the time span of each dinosaur group At a glance icons convey key information about different dinosaur groups, includ

About this title

About the Author

Henry Gee is a renowned and thought provoking science writer, and the author of In Search of Deep Time and Jacob's Ladder.  Trained as a paleontologist, he is a senior editor of Nature, the weekly journal of science, where many of the dinosaur discoveries described in this book made their scientific debut.

Luis V. Rey is one of the boldest and most highly respected dinosaur artists working today.  His vivid images are based on careful anatomical study, making him a first choice illustrator for many leading dinosaur experts.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-"One thing must be made clear from the start: this is a work of fiction." So states the first line of the extensive, well-written introduction, and should readers skip it and dive headlong into the sumptuous "field guide," they may take for unshakable fact material that, while based on current findings, is largely extrapolation. Gee discusses a wide variety of topics-fur, feathers, color, an "imagined reality," the dinosaur-bird connection, continental drift, and the nature of the Mesozoic world. A time line, an excellent cladogram, instructions for using the "field guide," and a warning regarding the speculative nature of many of the "facts" presented are included. The "field guide" is divided into the Triassic, Jurassic, Early and Mid-Cretaceous, and Late Cretaceous periods, presenting representative dinosaurs from each one. Rey offers a host of small black-and-white sketches and vividly dramatic, brilliantly colored paintings as well. Many of the selected saurians are the "usual suspects"-T. rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and the like-but a horde of the newest finds, such as Masiakasaurus, Amargasaurus, and Muttaburrasaurus, are also included. As in a standard field guide, a global-positioning map for each dinosaur is included, as is information on description and size and paragraphs on distinguishing features, habits, and habitats. Handsome and engrossing, this book should have a large and appreciative audience, especially among fans of the stunning videos of Walking with Dinosaurs (BBC).
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Chartwell Books
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0785829024
• ISBN 13: 9780785829027
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 144
• Illustrator: Rey Luis V.