Tyrannosaurus Rex and Its Kin: The Mesozoic Monsters - Hardcover

Grade 4-6-- Tyrannosaurus Rex is probably the most popular dinosaur among children, and now Sattler attempts to do for it and its relatives what her book Pterosaurs: the Flying Reptiles (Lothrop, 1985) did for flying dinosaurs. Ironically, despite the carnivores' popularity, this book makes for less interesting reading that Pterosaurs, partly because much of the information given on these creatures is fragmentary, and partly because Sattler limits her coverage to only those predatory dinosaurs related to T. Rex. Too, Sattler's book, while informative, lacks the imaginative hypothesizing found in Bakker's Dinosaur Heresies (Morrow, 1986) or Predatory Dinosaurs of the World (S. & S., 1988) by Gregory S. Paul, a book which covers a much wider spectrum of predatory beasts in a more creative fashion. Although these two volumes were written for adults, they are full of wonder and creative speculation, elements which which attract children to read more about dinosaurs in the first place. As usual, Sattler does a superb job of presenting factual material in an appealing and accessible manner, but while her book is an excellent dinosaur reference, her failure to indulge in more speculative storytelling makes the text drier than its subject matter would imply. --Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Sattler, the authoritative and popular creator of numerous books on prehistoric monsters, turns her attentions to carnosaurs, the dangerous and massive flesh-eating monsters that dominated the Mesozoic Era. In no-nonsense prose, Sattler carefully lays out the most current information on the habitats, habits and attributes of Tyrannosaurus Rex and its equally dangerous, though lesser-known, relatives. Carnosaur-crazy kids will pore over the fact-filled pages, pausing over the arresting and equally informative watercolor illustrations by Powzyk ( Tracking Wild Chimpanzees ). This superior science book is enhanced by an easily understood time-line of the Mesozoic Era and a useful index and pronunciation guide. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.