Beyond the Dinosaurs: Sky Dragons Sea Monsters Mega-mammals And Other Prehistoric Beasts [Hardcover]

Howard Zimmerman (Author), Bryon Preiss (Illustrator), Jan Sovak (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Dinosaurs were not the only incredible creatures to live and rule Earth's prehistoric past. Flying reptiles filled the skies for 100 million years. Deadly marine reptiles, some over 50 feet long, swam and hunted in the ancient oceans. And long after the extinction of the dinosaurs, other astonishing reptiles and giant, lethal mammals stalked the earth.

From the saber-toothed tiger, who makes our African lion seem like a kitten, to the woolly mammoth, whose tusks were large enough to swing from, to Diatryma, a massive 12-foot flightless bird who could hunt down small horses, to Quetzlocoatlus, with its wingspan as wide as a small airplane's, this book showcases the remarkable creatures that roamed the world along with -- and after -- the dinosaurs.

Beyond the Dinosaurs! is filled with over fifty full-color paintings of these strange and fabulous beasts by the world's top illustrators of prehistoric animals. It also contains information about each animal, exploring where and when it lived, what it ate, and its particular attributes. Additionally, there is a listing of the best sites to visit on the World Wide Web for more information about these fantastic animals. It's a treasure trove of information about some of the most astonishing creatures that ever roamed our world.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Just about everyone is familiar with the awe-inspiring dinosaurs of long ago: Tyrannosaurus rex, brontosaurus, pterodactyl. But they weren't the only tough guys in town. In fact, before, during, and after the Age of Dinosaurs (also called the Mesozoic era), creatures beyond our wildest dreams roamed the earth, paddled the seas, and flew through the sky. Howard Zimmerman, author of Dinosaurs! The Biggest Baddest Strangest Fastest, shares some incredible facts about these bizarre reptiles and mammals. Take, for example (before it takes you!), the Diatryma, a giant flightless bird (up to 9 feet tall) with thickly muscled legs, three large clawed toes on each foot, and a huge, powerful, hooked beak. Or the monstrous, sea-dwelling Kronosaurus, over 45 feet long, its 10-foot-long skull filled with needle-sharp teeth. Then there was the ferocious Hyaenodont, a mammal that, like modern hyenas, fed on the bodies of dead animals, as well as hunting and killing its own prey.

Zimmerman divides this oversize volume, lavishly drawn by the world's top illustrators of prehistoric animals, into three main sections: Pterosaurs: The Sky Dragons; Marine Reptiles; and Mega-Mammals and Other Prehistoric Beasts. Each description is fairly succinct, easy to follow, and packed with facts and details about the animals' size, eating habits, looks, and when and where it lived. Zimmerman also includes a listing of Web sites for additional information. Utterly fascinating, this book will keep kids--and adults--mesmerized for hours. (Ages 7 and older) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Dinophiles will want to check out Beyond the Dinosaurs!, Howard Zimmerman's follow-up to Dinosaurs! The Biggest Baddest Strangest Fastest in the same tall, skinny format. Vivid descriptions of beasts that coexisted with dinosaurs, among them the flying Quetzalcoatlus "the size of a small airplane" with its 40-foot wingspan accompany color illustrations by a variety of artists. Scenes of predators with prey and similar moments of high drama dominate.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689841132
• ISBN-13: 978-0689841132
• Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,629,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully illustrated book, June 4, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond the Dinosaurs: Sky Dragons Sea Monsters Mega-mammals And Other Prehistoric Beasts (Hardcover)

"Beyond the Dinosaurs!", by Howard Zimmerman, is an excellent book for children who are fascinated by dinosaurs and other long-extinct creatures. As the title indicates, this book focuses on the other animals that inhabited the world of the dinosaurs. The book is divided into three sections. The first is devoted to pterosaurs (flying reptiles), the second to marine reptiles, and the third to a variety of other creatures (mammals, flightless birds, and mammal-like reptiles).

The large, full-color illustrations include contributions by a variety of different artists. Many of the paintings are exciting action shots showing these creatures hunting, flying, and engaging in other activities.

Creatures depicted include the Quetzalcoatlus (a pterosaur whose wingspan could reach 40 feet), the large-eyed opthalmosaurus (an aquatic lizard), the dinornis (an ostrich-like giant bird), the procoptodon (a giant kangaroo), the woolly rhinoceros, and other marvelous creatures. This is a book that is both fun and educational.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, October 9, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Dinosaurs: Sky Dragons Sea Monsters Mega-mammals And Other Prehistoric Beasts (Hardcover)

We are all familiar with the fact that dinosaurs roamed the Earth millions of years ago. But, they weren't alone. Other creatures, now extinct, lived and roamed the Earth along with them and Howard Zimmerman has devoted his new and terrific book, Beyond The Dinosaurs, to exploring these fantastic prehistoric beasts. He has divided this book into three categories, Sky Dragons (pterosaurs), Sea Monsters (marine reptiles) and Mega-Mammals, and filled each page with a wealth of fun facts and historical information. His text, written in an easy to read, conversational style details when and where each animal lived, its size, how it looked, what it ate, and much more and includes marvelous, action-packed paintings by some of the world's best illustrators of prehistoric animals. Youngsters will be mesmerized as they pore over all the wonderful detail in each picture. From the Quetzalcoatlus, the largest pterosaur with a wingspan of 40 feet, to the Kronosaurus, a 45 foot sea monster, to the Wooly Rhinoceros and Smilodon (Saber-toothed cat), this is a fascinating book that children 9-12 won't be able to put down. Beyond The Dinosaurs includes an instructive introduction, to set the stage, an index, and a list of special web sites kids can visit for even more information about their favorite creatures. This is definitely a book older dinosaur enthusiasts shouldn't miss.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic sequel to the last years hit!, July 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond the Dinosaurs: Sky Dragons Sea Monsters Mega-mammals And Other Prehistoric Beasts (Hardcover)

This art book is almost like a sequel to the last years hit "Dinosaurs!The Biggest,Baddest,Strangest & Fastest!"which I also own. When I saw that one I loved it. Both books are of huge format with excellent art work by some of the world`s top paleoartists. Because the first one was so good,I tried the sequel without doubt of ordering it. And I found it as good as I was hoping for. The first chapter treats pterosaurs,among them the gigantic Quetzalcoatlus,the humorous-looking Batrachognathus and Pteranodon. The second chapter is the funniest and it treats some of my favourite prehistoric animals,like Elasmosaurus with it`s 25-foot neck,the fierce monitor Tylosaurus and the enormous Kronosaurus,the sea king of the mesozoic!The third chapter has beautifull pictures of mammals as the saber-toothed tiger,wooly mammoths,strange-looking rhinoceroses (Brontotherium)and the most frightening bird ever existed,the 10-foot tall Diatryma that looks like a cross between an eagle and a T-rex!

Over all,this one is as good as the first book and a very good complement. I thought there was something missing in the first. And that was the other prehistoric animals. Together,these books are my most famous inspiration source for my story "The Island Forgotten by Time"with all of the famous action motifs of the pictures as well as just beauty. If you own the first,try this. If you don't own them,buy them both!These books are actually children`s books but for a dinosaur fan,it doesn`t matter. For children,buy it for the text. For paleontologists,some of the illustrations are invaluable!So I bought it for the images,not for the text,as I am a seriously interested dinosaur maniac too!