The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book (Handy Answer Books) [Hardcover]

Thomas E. Svarney (Author), Patricia Barnes-Svarney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0780807243 | ISBN-13: 978-0780807242 | Publication Date: November 2003

The mighty dinosaurs were the dominant life form on earth for millions of years. But catastrophe awaited. In what amounts to a geological blink of an eye, the dinosaurs disappeared. The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book, Second Edition takes you deep into the world of dinosaurs---a great ride through what is currently known (and being debated) about these creatures and their surroundings. It covers the latest, greatest findings along with the accompanying shifts in dinosaur theory. Because of recent discoveries, there are some great debates: are birds really dinosaurs?; were any warm blooded?; what caused their extinction? Unearth answers to over 600 commonly asked (and just plain interesting) dinosaur questions such as . . . How old is the Earth? What is a dinosaur? What were some of the problems as amphibians moved from water to land? What were the first true dinosaurs like? What were the stegosaurs? What were the tyrannosaurs? Where are extremely large dinosaur bones being found and why? Did some dinosaurs have self-sharpening teeth? What carnivore and herbivore dinosaurs were biggest? Which dinosaur had the longest neck of any animal known? Where and what is the Dinosaur Freeway? Did dinosaurs travel in herds? Did dinosaurs migrate? Did any dinosaurs climb or live in trees? How large was a dinosaur’s brain? What were the major extinctions during the Earth’s long history? Did dinosaurs get blown away by hurricanes? What groups survived the extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period? What dinosaurs are thought to have evolved into birds? What famous dinosaur is nicknamed “Sue”? What are some notable Tyrannosaurus rex found in the United States? How do paleontologists, or even amateur collectors, find dinosaur fossils? Do dinosaur bones ever get “rearranged” after they are mounted?

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—This revised question-and-answer book was not designed for life in a children's room. While some of the answers are simple enough, others are for adults. For example, one of the definitive characteristics of a dinosaur is described as "...an elongated deltopectoral crest on the humerus...and a well-developed ascending process on the astragalus," phrasing that is all but unapproachable without a scientific dictionary. However, dinophiles willing to sift through the text armed with said dictionary will find a lot to satisfy them, including the last chapter, which leads to information on digs, excavation techniques, equipment, fossil preparation, and educational requirements, plus a heap of further readings (many adult) and Web sites. Many small photographs and computer-generated images and some reproductions are scattered throughout, as are information boxes expounding on more common questions. A serious, often scholarly examination of a fascinating topic.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"Simply and accurately written . . . presents material in an easy-to-use and readable format. The title promises handy answers and it delivers them."  —American Reference Books Annual

"Offers even more information that is sure to keep the interest of any dinosaur lover, young and old. “The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book” is a fine addition to any community library science collection."  —Midwest Book Review

"Succinct, well-researched answers, photos and a Further Resource section make this exactly what it says, 'a smart reference.'"  —Dig: The Archaeology Magazine for Kids

"This is a good book for the general reader and for public libraries."  —American Association for the Advancement of Science's Science Books & Films: Your Online Review Guide to Science Resources for All Ages

"This collection of questions and answers about dinosaurs . . . lends itself to finding specific information in short sections. It will fascinate and motivate readers. Whether they read this book at length or just browse through it, readers will find it to be an excellent source of fundamental knowledge about an interesting subject."  —National Science Teachers Association Recommends

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Visible Ink Pr (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0780807243
• ISBN-13: 978-0780807242
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,352,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine addition to any community library science collection, March 3, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book (Handy Answer Books) (Paperback)

The time before humanity's dominance is a topic that intrigues many a reader. Now in an expanded second edition, "The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book, Second Edition" is a question and answer book discussing dinosaurs and the many questions surrounding these legendary beasts. Ancestry, dinosaur habits, and more, Visible Ink Press has expanded on the previous edition and offers even more information that is sure to keep the interest of any dinosaur lover, young or old. "The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book" is a fine addition to any community library science collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Source for all ages on Paleontology And Dinosaurs., March 13, 2009

By 

Jose Lopez "Jose Lopez" (Miami,Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book (Handy Answer Books) (Paperback)

My uncle give me this book several years ago, it had belonged to him,and he liked that and I like it, I think it's really REALLY good book,especially for starters, it is for ALL AGES, this is not a kids book. In the Paleontology field which always expanding, not to mention always something new to pop out, it's always good to have different sources, since dinosaurs name can change, or for Example Another dinosaur that might be bigger than T-REX might have been found. This book is a good illustration book, and lots of good reading up to the time the book was written.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential book to get started in paleontology, January 17, 2008

By 

John Vanek "javanek" (Oklahoma City, OK, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book (Handy Answer Books) (Paperback)

Everybody has been fascinated by dinosaurs at some point in their life. Some of us never get over that fascination. This book is written for us.

There are literally dozens of books written for elementary students with lots of pictures and very little information. There are a number of books targeted at the paleoscience student. But I have found precious few books that fall in between these two extremes. Of those, I would rank this book #1 on the list.

The format of the book (and all the books in this series) is probably one of the best around; question followed by answer. No reading a drawn-out explanation, just the answer. It's not just limited to simple grade school questions either. I found a number of the question really interesting and thought provoking. All of the questions are answered thoroughly without bludgeoning the reader with technical terms or concepts.

This is the book to get started learning more about paleontology/paleobotony. Anyone from 10 - 80 should find this book informative and easy to follow. A real credit to the authors and publishers. I highly recommend this title.