Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs continue to fascinate young and old alike, and this sumptuously produced oversize book is bound to be a huge hit. Brusatte, a paleontology researcher at Columbia and the American Museum of Natural History, gives a tour of the dino realm, enlisting computer-aided imaging to depict these masters of all they surveyed in almost frightening four-color detail. Measuring 17”×14”, the book is large enough to convey actual size on a few, such as the Microraptor . Brusatte (Field Guide to Dinosaurs ) breaks up his survey into geologic periods and uses family trees, or “cladograms,” to illustrate how various dinosaurs are connected. The author's explanation of how the continents broke apart helps readers understand why T. Rex fossils tend to be found in the American West, and why new species are being found in China. Brusatte gives for each species its scientific classification, a map showing where fossils have been found, basic statistics (length, weight, posture, etc.), and a diagram showing its size compared to humans. The individual essays reflect the current state of knowledge about each species. These “terrifying lizards,” reproduced in all their majesty, will captivate all comers. (June)