Dino Wars: Discover the Deadliest Dinosaurs, Bloodiest Battles, and Super Survival Strategies of the Prehistoric World [Hardcover]

Jinny Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 1 and up

The strengths and weaknesses of each dinosaur are skillfully assessed as they are pitted against their enemies to bring realistic prehistoric struggles to life in the perfect illustrated book for the young dinosaur lover!

Who was the hunted and who was the prey and what secret weapons did each dinosaur possess? Dino Wars answers all this and more! In Dino Wars, readers can find out which dinosaur would have ended up as dinner in a tremendous struggle between Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops, or who the winner might have been in the land and air battle when Pterodactylus swoops down on a herd of grazing Kannemeryeria. In this colorful, illustrated book the biggest and baddest battles of prehistory are graphically brought to life. Each dinosaur is expertly drawn and rated in terms of speed, agility, armor, strength, general scariness and special skills-and then pitted against its most ferocious enemy.

With thousands of facts on over 150 species and 200 illustrations, kids can indulge in ancient gore and learn the science and history behind their favorite creatures: evolution, habitats, physical characteristics and eating habits. While entertained by the excitement of the dinosaur wars, kids will also learn the real facts about prehistory.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–In a WWF smack-down format, Johnson presents a series of colorful confrontations. After delineating a spectrum of era-based combat zones, she goes on to enumerate individual assets (strength, agility, armor, etc.) and rated danger levels (ranging from a paltry 2.7 for Scutellosaurus aka Studs to a high of 8.5 for Tyrannosaurus aka Rex). The featured matches span the ages from Permian predinosaurian Moschops vs. Lycaenops through a Jurassic Kentrosaurus vs. Allosaurus bout to a late Cretaceous battle between T. rex and Triceratops. In between these face-offs is a roster of would-be contenders, complete with realistic illustrations, vital statistics, distinguishing features, combat histories, and asset ratings. Included are marine reptiles, pterosaurs, crocodilians, and chelonians as well as the star players. Full of informative tidbits in explanatory captions and brief paragraphs of text, eye-catching with its colorful illustrations, and enticing in its combative concept, this title is not for the demander of in-depth data. However, for the dinophile, it is absolute pin-power on the page.–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. Let's face it. For many kids, much of dinosaurs' appeal stems from the way that they could attack each other with fearsome bodily weapons. Johnson's book celebrates this aspect of the great beasts by numerically rating dinosaurs according to their strength, armor, speed, agility, scariness, and special skills. Each dinosaur is given a nickname, reminiscent of pro wrestlers. Thus, Apatosaurus is pegged "Crusher," and Iguanodon becomes "The Jabber." Every few pages, readers are treated to an account of a dinosaur fight, usually with a well-armored plant eater trying to stave off a fearsome predator. Despite the gimmicks, a lot of information is imparted, and the book is loaded with appealing full-color illustrations. A final note about theories of dinosaur extinction and a glossary conclude a title that is sure to be appreciated by many dinosaur fans. Todd Morning
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810957981
• ISBN-13: 978-0810957985
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #567,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WANT A DINOSAUR SCOUTING REPORT COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGHT TO START YOUR OWN DINOSAUR PLANET?, March 31, 2006

By 

Heather L. Parisi "Robert and Heather Parisi" (St. Augustine, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dino Wars: Discover the Deadliest Dinosaurs, Bloodiest Battles, and Super Survival Strategies of the Prehistoric World (Hardcover)

IN A NUTSHELL: GETS KIDS INTERESTED IN LEARNING - READING & RESEARCH

This wonderfully illustrated hard-cover scouting report is our ticket to the dinosaur fantasy league of the mind. This 2005 publication is now only 7.18, and it looks like a $30. book. Dino Wars takes the intrinsic interest we seem to be born with, in dinosaurs, and literally strikes while the iron is hot by mating this interesting topic with a terrific theme that is inventively executed, and totally fascinating to children of all ages -- even baby boomers like me.

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT:

Take Dinosaurs, and the plethera of annual pro sports scouting reports that entertain, and provide insight to sports fans from year to year, add a gladiator/ pro-wrestling lilt, and you've got "DINO WARS".

Traditionally, this most exciting topic, within the study of paleontology, has been incidentally and accidentally ruined from the get-go for kids. Simply putting the topic in a very dry setting [like the reference department in the small print section], and ignoring the intellectual curiousity that children bring to the educational table, is how adults have successfully hidden the awesome subject of dinosaurs, and natural history from our curious young. Occasionally, a Steven Spielberg will bring us a "Jurassic Park" or the BBC will allow us to actually experience the "Walking With Dinosaurs" series. In essence, those films illustrated literally, how dinosaurs could be a compelling subject for children of all ages. Now, with Dino Wars, that compulsion is being turned into a magical learning and reading tool, by inserting that same brand of excitment into an educational book that previously has only been experienced through epic films.

THE RESULT IS ---- THE CGI OF THE IMAGINATION [how is the book organized]

1]- First, Sets-up "RULES FOR ENGAGEMENT"; 6 criteria, that when averaged, equal every dinosaurs: "DANGER LEVEL"!

----- These criteria are called "BATTLE TACTICS" and include;
STENGTH, ARMOR, SPEED, AGILITY, SCARINESS & SPECIAL SKILLS - all equally weighted and explained in producing the "DANGER LEVEL."

2]- Defines "THE COMBAT ZONES"; Paleozoic, Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Eras.

3]- Organized by Era, dinosaur match-ups fill the rest of the text, all completely color illustrated, and also include illusrated detailed text before each Eras' combatants. The match-ups are chronological, organized by Era, but also include the "Ruling Reptiles" that pre-dated the dinosaurs by about 100 million years.

Logic, and predictable reason permeates this text throughout. Consistent organization which also utilizes systematic illustrations, and comparisons lends a critical structural integrity to the entire work, making it both highly coherent, and subtly simple to use as either a guide or text. In essence, the same format, and kind of information is available in the same level of detail for each, and every dinosaur, and each and every Era, from cover-to-cover.


BOTTOM LINE:

Anyone, but children especially will be drawn to, excited by, and will benefit from, Dino Wars. First, Dino Wars takes full advantage of a child's fundamental preference for combining cool illustrations with reading material. Second, it truly promes and kindles the imagination. Third, it instills the interest and rudimentary techniques for sorting information, and investigating it in a manner that may lead a child to develop interests in academic pursuits and research of all kind.

CLOSING THOUGHTS:
THE CREATION OF EXCITEMENT & INTEREST IN DINOSAURS HAS FINALLY EVOLVED INTO BOOKS!

I was so impressed by this volume, which I have read alongside other non-fiction dinosaur material, that frankly I can't figure out why this book isn't on everybody's shelf. Simply stated, "Dino Wars : The Dinosaurs' Biggest, Baddest Battles" by Jinny Johnson, is essentially the "Chased By Dinosaurs" of children's books. I hope, and look forward to more from this very promising author.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting idea, January 1, 2007

By 

Reed J. Richmond "reader/writer" (Bellville, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dino Wars: Discover the Deadliest Dinosaurs, Bloodiest Battles, and Super Survival Strategies of the Prehistoric World (Hardcover)

This is a very different way to present information on dinosaurs for young people. Kind of a "versus" story on dinosaur predators and prey. The picture of T-Rex (on the cover) with three fingers on its hands is inaccurate and distracting.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Huge Hit!!!!, August 7, 2006

By 

Mid-Mo Shopper (Central Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dino Wars: Discover the Deadliest Dinosaurs, Bloodiest Battles, and Super Survival Strategies of the Prehistoric World (Hardcover)

Excellent book. My 10 year old had requested this book for his recent birthday. I was hesitant because the price at the local bookstore was so high. Amazon came through though and I purchased it for less than half of what it was selling for locally. My son was thrilled with the book. He picked it up and read it for hours on his birthday.