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Apatosaurus and Other Giant Long-Necked Plant-Eaters (Prehistoric World)

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I remember when there was no such thing as an Apatosaurus, all because of a mistake made at the Peabody Museum at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. In addition to having the Age of Reptiles mural made famous by "Life" magazine, the Peabody had one of the best skeletons in the world of a Brontosaurus. The only problem was that the giant dinosaur skeleton had the wrong head on it (a Camarasaurus head in fact), which was square instead of oblong. Eventually the mistook was discovered and now the "right" head is on top of what is now called an Apatosaurus. If you go to the Peabody Museum compare the skeleton's head with the painting on the wall.

Anyhow, "Apatosaurus and Other Giant Long-Necked Plant-Eaters" introduces young readers to Diplodocus, Omeisaurus, Brachiosaurus and other dinosaurs that were Earth's real-life giants. Virginia Schomp explains when dinosaurs ruled the earth and goes into the daily routine of these gentle giants in a chapter entitled "Lifestyles of the Big and Hungry," which reflects the tone of the book. A final chapter looks at the end of the giants while the back of the book contains a Dinosaur Family Tree broken down from order to genus, Glossary, lists of other research sources, and Index. In between there are illustrations of over a dozen dinosaurs, as well as a photograph of an imposing Barosaurus skeleton. With each painting there is the pronunciation for the dinosaur's name, when and where it lived, as other details young readers will find interesting.

"Apatosaurus and Other Giant Long-Necked Plant-Eaters" provides a basic introduction to the largest of the dinosaurs. Other titles in this series look at "Ankylosaurus and Other Armored Plant-Eaters." "Triceratops and Other Horned Plant-Eaters," "Tyrannosaurus and Other Giant Meat-Eaters," and "Velociraptor and Other Small, Speedy Meat-Eaters." Together they provide a solid understanding of the five main branches in the family tree of the Dinosaurs.