Raptors, Fossils, Fins and Fangs: A Prehistoric Creature Feature [Paperback]

Bradford Matsen (Author), Ray Troll (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Trilobites, fish with legs, weird prehistoric sharks, and fearsome dinosaurs coexist peaceably in the coolest paleontology book to come along this millennium. Long ago, a fish made its way out of the ocean and onto dry land. It was one small step for a fish, but one giant leap for fishkind—and it led to all sorts of interesting creatures like, well, people. Yes, RAPTORS, FOSSILS, FINS & FANGS dares to say the "e" word to children: that's evolution. That's life. After all, it's the lucky fish who gets the cheeseburger.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6?The ocean was a lively place long before creatures crawled up onto land, but there's relatively little in print about ancient aquatic life. Raptors highlights some of the amazing animals that swam the prehistoric seas, including sharks with jaws like buzz saws, six-foot-long eurypterids with gigantic claws, and an armored fish as big as a house. Troll uses neon pastels on dark paper to create a deep sea murkiness that envelopes all these gnashing fangs and textured scales. Time lines along the bottom of the pages let readers know what era they're in. There's lots of snappy text and rich illustration, but both tend to obscure the science. Slang terms like "way cool" are already dated and give away the voice of an older writer trying too hard to sound young. The chatty tone and humorous asides are more entertaining than informative. Young readers may miss small-print disclaimers at the back of the book, alerting them that not all the animals shown together in the illustrations are contemporaries, and that their coloration patterns may have been different. "For more information read Planet Ocean..." (an adult book on the same subject by the same press and authors), the small print continues. While this book is bound to be popular, readers in search of facts may want to follow the tiny print's suggestion.?Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

BRAD MATSEN has been a merchant seaman, charter pilot, and commercial fisherman, and is currently the senior editor of National Fisherman magazine. He is the author of several books about the Northwest and a documentary for PBS. He lives in Seattle, Washington.
From his treetop studio in Ketchikan, Alaska, RAY TROLL draws and paints fishy images that migrate ’round the globe into museums, onto T-shirts, and into books. Basing his “out of the ooze and born to cruise” images on the latest scientific research, Ray brings street smarts to the world of ichthyology and paleontology. Previous collaborations with Brad Matsen include PLANET OCEAN and SHOCKING FISH TALES. Ray and his wife, Michelle, have two kids.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883672759
• ISBN-13: 978-1883672751
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 0.1 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Dinosaurs > Nonfiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, Troll out did himself., January 9, 2009

By 

Michelle (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Raptors, Fossils, Fins and Fangs: A Prehistoric Creature Feature (Paperback)

This book is just fun. The art is beautiful and Ray Troll does a wonderful job of keeping both me and my little one entertained. I was so impressed with the artistry in this book that I went and bought more of his work.