Dinosaurs Walked Here and Other Stories Fossils Tell [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Patricia Lauber (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Discusses how fossilized remains of plants and animals reveal the characteristics of the prehistoric world.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5 Within each fossil lies a story of what that fossil once was, and how that fossil was made. Lauber's book is a key to those stories, explaining in a clear, readable style the processes of fossil formation and new scientific theories derived from the fossil record. Like Lauber's Tales Mummies Tell (Crowell, 1985), the book focuses on recent discoveries rather than reiterating outdated information. Lauber includes current theories about dinosaurs based on fossilized dinosaur eggs, tracks, and bones. She also explains how a variety of different types of fossils were formed. The clarity of Lauber's style is matched by the exquisite color photographs and drawings that illustrate the book. It is aimed at a slightly older audience than Aliki's Fossils Tell of Long Ago (Crowell, 1972), but younger children will certainly enjoy listening to the text and looking at the pictures. This stunning book is science at its finestit is captivating, beautifully designed, and it both answers and evokes questions. Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Pub . Lib .
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Bradbury Press (August 31, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027545105
• ISBN-13: 978-0027545104
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,687,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, August 16, 2001

By 

Frederick S. Goethel "wildcatcreekbooks" (Central Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dinosaurs Walked Here and Other Stories Fossils Tell (Hardcover)

This book is very well written and covers the subject of fossils in wonderful manner. The information is precise and on target.

In addition, this book is loaded with a great number of excellent photgraphs, many of which are in color and illustrate the text perfectly.

I can only say its a shame this book is out of print!!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a stroll in Jurassic Park, November 28, 2004

By 

Kris (Oxnard, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dinosaurs Walked Here and Other Stories Fossils Tell (Hardcover)

This little book (56 pages with an index) will make you think. The book seems to target young readers, high school age, but adults can benefit, too.

Two things impressed me. First, the vast ages (thousands to hundreds of millions of years) of life on the planet, and our little flicker of 75 plus years compared to that.

Second, the fact that paleontologists, and other scientists, are only making educated guesses about most of what they suppose happened during those past eons.

Though she does not emphasize the point, Lauber makes it clear through her phrases, that scientists are only proposing hypotheses about dinosaurs. These phrases are such as, "Other paleontologists agree...." "Perhaps further digging will settle the question and tell more about these big dinosaurs..." "Earth scientists now think........."

Clearly, much of what is purported to be true in this field is based only on still questionable hypotheses. This is another thing I learned from this little book.

Paleontology, the study of old things, is a field that may not appeal to too many people. Sure, people like to imagine dinosaurs roaming around, fighting each other, chasing people in a Flintstonesque or Jurassic Park world, because then it has some relevance to their worlds. Mostly, however, the world of dinosaurs seems to have little relevance to today's world.

To her credit, Lauber does not try to dramatize the dinosaur world, as Hollywood has done. But maybe she should have, to make it more interesting? As described in this book, the field is stable, about like the moving continents, which she describes in the last chapter. The continents are shifting on their tectonic plates at a rate of approximately one inch a year.

The back cover of the book tells us that Lauber won several awards for a 1987 book she wrote about volcanoes. She won awards from the American Library Association and the 1987 Newbery Honor Book award. "Dinosaurs" was written the same year, 1987.

Now, what I'd like to know is, "What kind of people actually do become professional paleontologists?" That is relevant, is it not?

Diximus.