Customer Reviews

Global Warming and the Dinosaurs: Fossil Discoveries at the Poles

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"Global Warming and the Dinosaurs" is a fascinating child-oriented study of polar dinosaur fossils and other evidence uncovered during the recent International Polar Year studies conducted between March 1, 2007 and March 1, 2009. Questions such as how did the dinosaurs survive the polar winter cycle, with its lack of light and warmth are among those to be studied. Evidence of dinosaur fossils have been found in the Southern Hemisphere in Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, and Patagonia. other dinosaur fossil evidence has been found in the North Polar region in North America, Europe, and Asia. Somehow these specimens of dinosaur life were able to survive the long winter cold and find food and see in the dark. At the time dinosaurs lived in the polar regions, the climate was likely warmer than today. Another difference in the Mesozoic Era when the dinosaurs lived was the land masses of the earth were grouped into two huge super-continents, Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south. Gradually these broke or drifted apart into the continents of North America, Europe and Asia and South America, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia, New Zealand and the Indian subcontinent. "Global Warming and the Dinosaurs" does a thorough job of examining some of the fossil findings and reconstructing specimens of the Polar dinosaurs, complete with color illustrations. Scientific findings from this polar dinosaur study is important today because we are facing a time of global warming that is progressing much faster than ever previously known. "Global Warming and the Dinosaurs" presents a great variety of information in an interesting and entertaining format. It will appeal to students ages 8-12. A list of locations where fossils of polar dinosaurs can be seen is given at the end of the book, along with further information about the International Polar Year.

When we think "dinosaur" few, if any of us, would even remotely place them in the polar regions. Between Norway and the North pole on the island of Spitsbergen, it was discovered that dinosaurs "not only survived within the polar circles, but were indeed adapted to live in these cold and seasonally hard environments." Traces in the form of fossils showed that the area supported the Allosaurus and the Iguanodon, dinosaurs that the young dino fan is very familiar with. During the Mesozoic Era, which included three different periods, the climate shifted and changed during which times "patterns of life [were] altered."

There are challenges living in such a harsh climate. Snakes and lizards were incapable of living in the polar regions, but how did dinosaurs manage? You will learn how they managed to keep warm, how they were able to see in the sunless winter months and you'll learn why the Toodon may have had such a large brain. Scientists aren't the only ones who have discovered fossils. Joan Wiffen was the "first to discover dinosaur fossils in New Zealand." In this book you will be able to take a `round the world trip discovering fossils, and learning about the dinosaurs who inhabited the regions of Alaska, Siberia, Canada, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, and Patagonia.

This was a very informative, well researched and one great book the more serious dino lover will enjoy. Polar paleontology is a topic that I haven't seen addressed in books for this age group. The illustrations are particularly complimentary because they show the dinosaurs in a habitat that we don't normally see in books. For example, a Hypsilophodontid can be seen in a wintry landscape with snowflakes swirling in the atmosphere. The captions give additional tidbits of information. In the back of the book is a very comprehensive index, a brief discussion about the "International Polar Year," and several additional recommended websites to explore. This is an excellent, exciting book you may wish to add to your homeschool, library or personal shelves!

The global warming part of the title, given the current focus, is not really a true description. If anyone has seen the Arctic Dinosaur program on PBS the book is almost like a companion to that, covering the Colville findings in Alaska. But it also covers the Antarctic discoveries as well, some of which is part of the Spirits of the Ice Forest segment of the BBC Walking With DInosaurs program. My four-year-old is prehistoric-obssessed and loves this book! I learned a lot too. (Given that most of what i knew about dinosaurs was from the '80s when I was in elementary school that may not be saying much, but still).
If you've got a budding paleontologist on your hands this is a great addition to your library!
If you really want a GREAT reference book that covers not just dinosaurs but a great selection of plant and animal life starting with the pre-cambrian period and continuing through the rise of humans I would highly recommend Prehistoric Life: The Definitive Visual History of Life on Earth by DK Publishing.