Elem. – The Bone Wars: The True Story of an Epic Battle to Find Dinosaur Fossils

Posted on February 20, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Kurtz, Jane. The Bone Wars: The True Story of an Epic Battle to Find Dinosaur Fossils. Illustrated by Alexander Vidal. Beach Lane, 2023. 978-1-534-49364-3. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-3.

The Bone Wars chronicles the saga of paleontological competition between O.C. Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope in the days of the Bone Wars. Initially friends, the two became fierce rivals after Marsh pointed out to Cope that he had assembled Elasmosaurus with the head on its tail in a recently published scientific paper. The two began competing for discoveries from that moment forward, even resorting to deception and spying to beat the other team. Jane Kurtz acknowledges in her writing that the race to make the next discovery also resulted in many mistakes, broken relationships with friends and other scientists, and ultimately financial stress. Back matter includes notes from both the author and illustrator, as well as a select bibliography and suggested reading list.

THOUGHTS: The story of the competition between O.C. Marsh and Edward Cope is one that young dinosaur fans are sure to enjoy, not only because of all the discoveries the scientists made, but also because of the tale of a friendship gone awry. The illustrations, created by Alexander Vidal, are inspired by paleontologic artwork created in the 1800s. They work with the text to give the reader a sense of the book’s time period and knowledge at the time. Recommended for libraries seeking to draw dinosaur fans into biographies or to add variety to their dinosaur collection.

560.92 Paleontology
Biography

Elem./MG – Ancient Marine Life (Series NF)

Posted on February 5, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Moening, Kate. Ancient Marine Life. Bellwether Media. 2023-2024. $19.95 each or $199.50 for set of 10. Grades 3-7.

2023

Archelon. 979-8-886-87168-5.
Ichthyosaurs. 979-8-886-87169-2.
Megalodon. 979-8-886-87170-8.
Mosasaurs. 979-8-886-87171-5.
Plesiosaurs. 979-8-886-87172-2.
Sea Scorpions. 979-8-886-87173-9.

2024

Basilosaurus. 979-8-886-87840-0.
Dunkleosteus. 979-8-886-87841-7.
Livyatan. 979-8-886-87842-4.
Orthocones. 979-8-886-87843-1.

Discover extinct animal life with the series Ancient Marine Life! Take a deep dive into the past with this series. The reviewer read the title Megalodon. Megalodon – the massive ancient shark, so massive it is the largest to ever live! Read about its body parts, life, and extinction. Discover this predator’s prey and environment and where it lived with this easy-to-read text for reluctant readers.

THOUGHTS: This series, while containing some difficult words, is a great resource for reluctant readers. Small groups of text, detailed and colorful pictures, maps, and other resources are available for young readers in this series.

565-567.9 Fossils & Historic Life

Elem. – Early Animal Encyclopedias (Series NF)

Posted on December 6, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Early Animal Encyclopedias. Abdo Books. 2023. $32.95 each or $197.70 for set of 6. Gr. K-4.

Hinman, Bonnie. Farm Animals. 978-1-09-829042-9.
Hulick, Kathryn. Dinosaurs. 978-1-09-829040-5.
MacMillan, Kathy. Cats. 978-1-0982-9039-9.
Miller, Marie-Therese, PhD. Dogs. 978-1-09-829041-2.
Ventura, Marne. Horses. 978-1-09-829043-6.
—. Sharks. 978-1-09-829044-3.

The reviewer read the book Cats from the Early Animal Encyclopedia series. This book is a beginner’s guide to cats. Cats is an early reader encyclopedia brimming with cat information. The book is organized alphabetically by breed name and discusses the appearance, behavior, and history of said breed. In addition, a map is included to show from where each breed originated. Filled with information, this book is a cat-lover’s dream.

THOUGHTS: This title is a great beginner encyclopedia about cats. Each breed is outlined in the same format, making it easy for readers to find a flow with the information provided. This book is filled with nice photographs and easy-to-read text.

500s-600s Animals

Elem. – Dino Discovery (Series NF)

Posted on November 9, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Anderson, Josh. Dino Discovery. The Child’s World, 2023. $22.95 ea. $275.40 set of 12. 24 p. Grades 2-5.

Armored Dinos. 978-1-503-86521-1.
Dino Relatives. 978-1-503-86523-5.
Duck-Billed Dinos. 978-1-503-86522-8.
Fierce Dinos. 978-1-503-86524-2.
Horned Dinos. 978-1-503-86525-9.
Huge Dinos. 978-1-503-86526-6.
Little Dinos. 978-1-503-86527-3.
Long-Necked Dinos. 978-1-503-86528-0.
Long-Tailed Dinos. 978-1-503-86529-7.
Plated Dinos. 978-1-503-86530-3.
Speedy Dinos. 978-1-503-86531-0.
Toothy Dinos. 978-1-503-86532-7.

The Dino Discovery series features twelve volumes exploring various types of dinosaurs. This reviewer had the opportunity to peruse the volumes on Little Dinos and Long-Tailed Dinos. Each volume primarily focuses on one dinosaur. For example Little Dinos features the dinosaur Compsognathus. The opening chapter of the volume discusses the work of paleontologists and how their examination of fossils has revealed what we know about dinosaurs. The middle chapter of the volume discusses what facts are known about the dinosaur, while the concluding chapter discusses the ongoing search for new information related to dinosaurs. Included within each volume are infographics, photos and illustrations (mostly digital renderings of dinosaurs), a historical timeline, and fun facts. A glossary, sources for additional research (both in print and online), and critical thinking style questions are also included.

THOUGHTS: Dinosaur non-fiction is perennially popular in many school libraries. Elementary libraries looking to expand their dinosaur shelf may wish to consider this series for purchase.

567 Dinosaurs

YA – The Monster’s Bones: The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World

Posted on September 8, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Randall, David K. The Monster’s Bones: The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World. Norton Young Readers, 2023. 978-1-324-06453-4. 192 p. $19.95. Grades 7-12.

This captivating read reveals the birth of American paleontology, the dogged determination behind the discovery of the first T. Rex fossil, and the making of a modern American museum. The title is a bit misleading; while T. Rex is included in all its glory, the real focus here is on the young scientist, enthusiast, and adventurer Barnum Brown. How did a young man born & raised on a Kansas farm and coal mine become an unstoppable world explorer? How did a centuries old fossil, admittedly large, come to capture the imagination of Americans and revolutionize history, science, literature, film and more? Randall succeeds in providing a detailed account of Brown’s life and his surprising skill at locating dinosaur bones. When in 1902 he dug up the first Tyrannosaurus Rex, the world noticed. Put on display in the struggling American Museum of Natural History, led by the wealthy Henry Fairfield Osborn, the colossal one-of-a-kind fossil ignited the public and ushered in support for the fledgling field of paleontology, and a race for who would find the next fossil as well. Brown never stopped and became the undisputed expert on dinosaur fossils. His energy seeps through every page of this book.

THOUGHTS: This young readers’ edition of Randall’s The Monster’s Bones (2022) will draw in readers interested in dinosaurs, American history, and excellent narrative nonfiction. This is a must-purchase for all middle and high school collections.

973 American History

Elem. – Dinosaur Graveyards (Series NF)

Posted on March 27, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Hansen, Grace. Dinosaur Graveyards. Abdo, 2022. $22.95 ea. $137.70 set of 6. 24 p. Grades PreK-2.

Dinosaur Graveyards in Africa. 978-1-0982-0944-5.
Dinosaur Graveyards in Asia. 978-1-0982-0945-2.
Dinosaur Graveyards in Australia. 978-1-0982-0946-9.
Dinosaur Graveyards in Europe. 978-1-0982-0947-6.
Dinosaur Graveyards in North America. 978-1-0982-0948-3.
Dinosaur Graveyards in South America. 978-1-0982-0949-0.

Readers will travel around the world to different contents to explore dinosaur fossils in the new series Dinosaur Graveyards. Each volume explores a different continent. This reviewer had the opportunity to read Dinosaur Graveyards in Africa. The volume opened with a general overview of the concept of dinosaurs and fossils. Each two page spread then profiled a dinosaur group, identified where on the continent their fossils can be found, and gave some basic facts about the dinosaur. The information is accompanied by a digital rendering of the dinosaur, a map identifying where the dinosaur lived, and a photo showing part of the dinosaur fossil or in some cases, a photo of the complete dinosaur skeleton. Back matter includes a table identifying major dinosaur groups and a glossary.

THOUGHTS: Looking to expand your elementary dinosaur collection? Then you might want to consider adding this set to your shelves. The titles are sure to engage dinosaur (or fossil) fans who will enjoy checking out the oversize photos, close up pictures of selected fossils, and reading the dino facts. The online supplemental materials could be incorporated into classroom lessons or for additional research.

567 Fossils Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD

Elem. – The Fossil Whisperer

Posted on February 24, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Becker, Helaine, and Sandra Dumais. The Fossil Whisperer. Kids Can Press, 2022. 978-1-525-30418-7. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

The Fossil Whisperer introduces the reader to Wendy Sloboda, a fossil hunter who unearthed a new species of dinosaur, which was named after her! The book follows Wendy from her early childhood of loving to find new things, into adulthood when she discovered a new species of dinosaur. The end of the book has a short biography on Wendy, as well as more information on how to become a fossil hunter. There is also a timeline of Wendy’s dinosaur discoveries, along with information about the area where Wendy is from (Southern Alberta) and includes more information about the Wendiceratops (The dinosaur that Wendy discovered). A glossary is found at the back of the book as well as a list of books if the reader wants to learn more.

THOUGHTS: This is a great introduction to Wendy Sloboda, especially if the reader loves learning about dinosaurs. Overall a great book for any elementary collection.

Picture Book Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

Elem. – Hello, World! Kids’ Guides (Series NF)

Posted on January 4, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

McDonald, Jill. Hello, World! Kids’ Guides. Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2022. $15.99 ea. $63.96 set of 4. 32 p. Grades K-4.

Exploring Sharks. 978-0-593-56481-3.
Exploring the Solar System. 978-0-593-48204-9.
Exploring Dinosaurs. 978-0-593-56820-0. (available in 2023)
Exploring Insects. 978-0-593-56823-1. (available in 2023)

This nonfiction selection tours our solar system beginning with the sun. The eight major planets and the known dwarf planets are covered. Each planet has a two-page spread with fun facts, a footer indicating the location of the planet in relation to the rest of the solar system, and a sidebar with statistics. The sidebar info-panels give the size, distance, temperature, length of day and year, and number of moons for each planet, in a consistent and organized format. The text is simple but has enough interesting information to keep young readers intrigued without being overwhelmed. Each spread includes a thought-provoking discussion question. Delightful, bold, brightly colored illustrations add to the fun on this engaging trip through the solar system.

THOUGHTS: A very well organized informational text with plenty of intriguing facts for early elementary students. Varied fonts and the whimsical illustrations give the book a fun and exciting feel. My very favorite part of each two-page planetary information spread are the discussion questions. Some questions are pensive queries about favorite things on Earth, or personal preferences for warm or cold environments. Others are STEAM related questions about cloud colors and day length. These questions have an SEL quality that will enhance scientific discussions in the classroom.

523.2 Astronomical Objects and Astrophysics Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD
500s Science

Elem. – Drawing Outdoors

Posted on October 24, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Buitrago, Jairo. Drawing Outdoors. Greystone Kids. 2022. 978-1-771-64847-9. $18.95. Grades K-3.

In many places, schools may have a gym, library, computers, and a playground. Deep in the mountains, however, is an extraordinary school that is a little bit different. It does not have the items a typical school would have. It does have an amazing teacher who leads the class outside on a drawing adventure. What will they draw? Why dinosaurs of course!

THOUGHTS: A unique book about a drawing adventure! What student would not want to go outdoors to draw dinosaurs? A fun story that young dinosaur lovers will enjoy.

Picture Book Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – Eggasaurus

Posted on October 20, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Wagh, Jennifer. Eggasaurus. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. 978-1-534-45006-6. Unpaged. $17.99. K-3.

When Max receives a shipment of dinosaur eggs from Eggasaurus, Inc., his dad tells him he must send them back. However, through a series of miscommunications, Max actually ends up receiving additional dinosaur eggs, gift certificates, and even dinosaur supplies. Ultimately, Max and his dad have to take an alternative approach to dealing with the newly hatched dinosaurs. Written entirely as a series of back-and-forth letters between Max and Eggasaurus, Inc., this comical story will have readers giggling and rooting for Max and his dinosaurs.

THOUGHTS: This would be a great resource to introduce kids to letter writing. Pair it with other classic stories that include letters, such as Drew Daywalt’s The Day the Crayons Quit (2013) or Allan Ahlberg’s The Jolly Postman (1986). Another option would be to hand this story to any dinosaur lover. The hilarious breakdown in communication throughout the story is sure to delight any young reader.

Picture Book Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

Literature Review

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Tag Archives: Dinosaurs