The Rise of Mammals (Prehistoric Field Guides)

Rake, Matthew

ISBN 10: 1467763519 ISBN 13: 9781467763516

Publisher: Hungry Tomato ®, 2015

Synopsis

Team up with Ackerley the Acanthostega to travel back 66 million years to the Tertiary and Quaternary periods of prehistoric Earth, when mammals came to dominate the planet. Many of them are now extinct―but not the most powerful of all: humans!

Discover the facts, fossils, and fun science of behind the intriguing mammals of this time period, including killer pigs, the largest land mammal ever, and the earliest humans. The fourth part of the exciting story of life on Earth unfolds through amazing lifelike illustrations and fascinating diagrams, all narrated by a friendly prehistoric guide.

About this title

About the Authors

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. 

Reviews

Gr 4-7-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.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Hungry Tomato ®
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1467763519
• ISBN 13: 9781467763516
• Binding: Library Binding
• Illustrator: Minister Peter
• Number of pages: 32