Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-5. In fairly simple language, Markle discusses what scientists have discovered about dinosaurs and how technology is used to research questions such as whether the syntarsus had sinuses and how high the apatosaurus could stretch its long neck. Focusing on individual fossils, which are clearly shown in the accompanying large color photographs, she shows that scientists use microscopes, X-rays, and computer programs as well as their knowledge of living dinosaur descendants and their reasoning skills to evaluate the fossil remains of dinosaurs. She challenges readers to look carefully at the photos and to try to gather information of their own. This well-designed book, with large illustrations and plenty of white space, the book offers a close look not just at dinosaur fossils but at the process of science as applied to a particular field. --Carolyn Phelan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Excellent, large color photos march hand in hand with Markle's readable, informative text, showing how paleontologists examine fossil finds with cutting-edge technologies to discover more about the physiology and lifestyles of animals who vanished some 65-million years ago. From examining traces of nesting materials to estimating the strength of T. rex's mighty jaws, from the possibility that some species had feathers to the probability that others used gizzard stones, the author escorts readers through the complexities of facts, theories, and hypotheses formulated by scientists. The open format is attractive, and the topic a sure hit. Guaranteed to delight dinophiles (who are always seeking new grist for their insatiable mills), this handsome, enlightening addition will gather no dust on library shelves.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
(Primary) In the latest installment in the Outside and Inside series, Sandra Markle applies a fresh perspective to a popular topic. An excellent variety of color photographs provides evidence to support scientists' ideas about how dinosaurs may have looked, acted, and functioned. The unique format-really a guided discussion of the photographs-is an optimal integration of science text and image and is particularly suited to the study of dinosaurs, where there are still many unanswered questions. Markle's conversational tone is very effective. It's like sitting down with a dinosaur expert who happens to be a great teacher, as she explains how to figure out information about an organism from its remains and uses well-chosen analogies and questions to help guide young readers through the interpretations. The photographs and illustrations are particularly striking. While images of fossils will be familiar to dinosaur-loving children, Markle's microphotographs, X-ray images, and computer-generated models introduce them to new methods for studying the objects of their affection. Several photos have labels and arrows to help readers see the structures explained in the text, while others contain more than one specimen for comparative analyses. Though the book is not a comprehensive guide to facts about dinosaurs, its strength is in its explanations of how some of those facts are determined. d.j.f. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In her most challenging outside/inside yet, Markle looks at how scientists use technology to develop theories and answer questions about the dinosaurs: what they looked like, how they lived, why they raised their young. This is science-writing and -reporting at its bestespecially combined as it is here with many outstanding full-color photographs that extend and amplify the topics discussed. Markle often begins with a question: for example, Did Apatosaurus really long neck let it munch leaves in treetops? She then describes and shows how scientists developed a computer simulation program called Dynomorph, which concludes that the neck bones probably locked if the dinosaur lifted its head higher than its back. Which probably means old Apat didnt reach the treetops to browse like a modern giraffe, but merely swung his six-story neck from side to side. Did dinosaurs have feathers? Were they warm-blooded? Did they take care of their young? Eat meat or plants? Fly? Photographs show dinosaur eggs and embryos, a dinosaur intestine, the inside of a fossilized dinosaur bone, a microscopic view of two different dinosaur droppings, and lots more. Dinosaur fans will find the text an invitation to research and a model for further inquiry. Markle concludes with a challenge: Maybe some day youll find new clues or develop new ways to use technology to solve the final mysteries of what dinosaurs were likeinside and out! Outstanding. (glossary, index, other sites for study) (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
