"In the style of When Bugs Were Big and When Fish Got Feet this book discusses all the exciting developments of the Triassic Age, from the split of Pangaea into Gondwanaland and Laurasia, to the first appearance of the dinosaurs. There were pterosaurs (flying reptiles), the first flowering plants, humongous sea creatures, early turtles, and the first coral reefs. Early mammals also appeared in the Triassic, and there were several dramatic extinction events. With the books' signature blend of humor and clearly presented information, cartoon illustrations help keep the fact-filled material extra fun"--
Record details
ISBN:9781426308635 (lib. bdg.)
ISBN:1426308639 (lib. bdg.)
Physical Description:print 44 p. : col. ill., col. maps ; 27 cm.
Publisher:Washington, DC : National Geographic Children's Books, [2012], ℗♭2012.
Content descriptions
Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (p. 44) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Welcome to the Triassic: Surviving the big one ; The return of the forest ; The Triassic planet -- The Triassic explosion: Sun and fun on the Tethys ; Marine madness ; Lords of the land ; The Archosaurs take over ; Dinosaurs dawn ; Munch, munch, munch, plants for lunch ; A marvelous menagerie ; A sea change ; Morphing into mammals -- A changing world: Extinction sandwich -- A time line of life on earth -- Our Tetrapod family tree.
Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2012 July #1 It might be assumed that a book about two mass extinctions during the Mesozoic era may be too scary or too complex for children. Yet this book is neither, and it reads like a natural history museum with a strong sense of artistic whimsy. Bonner, who both wrote the highly detailed text and drew the illustrations, presents prehistoric life in a truly appealing way. She uses developmentally appropriate graphics and tongue-in-cheek puns to describe prehistoric life far beyond just dinosaurs. Hungry insects rap about their next Triassic meal, extinctions are explained as food analogies, and a cartoon likeness of Africa cries about her breakup with the Americas to explain the Pangaea drift. Top-notch illustrations in the appendixes clarify more complicated concepts. This book may attract a bigger readership than just dino-fanatics and goes deeper and broader in scope than a typical litany of dinosaur species. It is proof that complexity does not have to be boring. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.
Horn Book Guide Reviews : Horn Book Guide Reviews 2012 Fall Bonner combines excellent scientific explanations with slapstick humor to explore the development of early dinosaur, reptile, and mammal life in the Triassic period, as well as the geological and ecological conditions that supported survival. Some of the colorful cartoon illustrations are straightforward pictures of dinosaurs in their habitats; others are in comic-strip format, adding humor while still highlighting facts. Bib., glos., ind.
Book
