When Dinos Dawned, Mammals Got Munched, and Pterosaurs Took Flight: A Cartoon PreHistory of Life in the Triassic

by Hannah Bonner

Overview

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 recovery of the planet from the most deadly mass extinction ever, to the first appearance of the dinosaurs. We also get to meet the first mammals, the first pterosaurs (flying reptiles), the first frogs, a host of predatory marine reptiles, early turtles, and the first coral reefs.  With the books' signature blend of humor and clearly presented information, cartoon illustrations help keep the fact-filled material extra fun.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426308628
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/10/2012
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	920L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Hannah Bonner's illustrations have graced many publications, including the bestselling Scholastic Science Dictionary and several award-winning National Geographic Kids books. She is also the author and illustrator of When Bugs Were Big, Plants Were Strange, and Tetrapods Stalked the Earth, which Booklist selected as one of its annually awarded Top 10 Science Books for Youth. To learn more, visit hannahbonner.com.

Editorial Reviews

More standup-style paleontology to follow When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth, and Bugs Began to Swarm (2007). Here Bonner chronicles developments in the Triassic Period, during which life got a fresh lease on the planet in the wake of the massive Permian extinction. She tracks an explosion of biological diversity as the oceans were repopulated, lush forests grew and the dominant kinds of land animals went from clumsy-looking therapsids to sleek archosaurian dinosaurs and proto-crocodiles. Early mammals are already waiting in the wings, and a swelling chorus of insects ("We eat pollen, we drink sap, / We do the hungry insect rap") make up a "bug buffet." In the deep, toothy sharks, ichthyosaurs and other predators put in appearances--hovering, in the illustration, over a tempting platter of neatly arranged fish, clams and cephalopods. The author neatly dishes up a multi-course feast of polysyllabic monikers and tasty tidbits of data ("Later British mammals drank tea and ate scones, but these mouse-size [Morganucodon] ate bugs instead") to go with her cartoon menagerie. The book closes with a serpentine timeline of prehistory (featuring appropriately placed plugs for each of the previous books in the series) and both adult- and child-level leads to further resources. Both casual and confirmed fans will devour this delicious blend of fact and foolery with relish. (pronunciation guide) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews