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Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages
An award-winning encyclopdia written for young people—dubbed the "Dinosaur Bible" by enthusiasts!
Written by one of the world’s foremost experts on dinosaurs, this award-winning title—honored by the NSTA and the AAAS—is an essential addition to any dinophile’s library, regardless of age! Using casual language aimed at young people and non-scientists, it's a guide to all aspects of dinosaur how we figure out what dinosaurs looked like, how they lived, how they evolved, how they continue to live among us as birds, and much, much more.
It also includes brief entries on all 800+ "named" species of Mesozoic dinosaurs, as well as sidebars by 33 world-famous paleontologists—among them Robert T. Bakker, Jack Horner, Mark Norell, Scott Sampson, and Philip Currie. With 428-pages of lavish, museum-quality illustrations, and an exhaustive Web site maintained by the author of supplemental chapter updates, this the perfect gift that will educate AND entertain for many, many, MANY hours! (And if that isn’t enough, the jacket has a spectacular poster printed on the inside.)
“Written in a casual language both young and adult paleo-nerds will find readable and enjoyable, this volume is seen as the "Dinosaur Bible" by many enthusiasts of the subject, for its sheer completeness and scienciness.” —tvtropes.org
Written by one of the world’s foremost experts on dinosaurs, this award-winning title—honored by the NSTA and the AAAS—is an essential addition to any dinophile’s library, regardless of age! Using casual language aimed at young people and non-scientists, it's a guide to all aspects of dinosaur how we figure out what dinosaurs looked like, how they lived, how they evolved, how they continue to live among us as birds, and much, much more.
It also includes brief entries on all 800+ "named" species of Mesozoic dinosaurs, as well as sidebars by 33 world-famous paleontologists—among them Robert T. Bakker, Jack Horner, Mark Norell, Scott Sampson, and Philip Currie. With 428-pages of lavish, museum-quality illustrations, and an exhaustive Web site maintained by the author of supplemental chapter updates, this the perfect gift that will educate AND entertain for many, many, MANY hours! (And if that isn’t enough, the jacket has a spectacular poster printed on the inside.)
“Written in a casual language both young and adult paleo-nerds will find readable and enjoyable, this volume is seen as the "Dinosaur Bible" by many enthusiasts of the subject, for its sheer completeness and scienciness.” —tvtropes.org
432 pages, Hardcover
First published October 23, 2007
25 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 21, 2022
"Dinosaurs" remains the best introduction to the subject that I've seen, and allows me to keep up with my five-year-old grandson, who knows a lot. It is what he calls a "field guide." It is a gorgeous, accessible book.
did-not-finish
March 22, 2019I started reading this book aloud to my homeschooled kindergartner daughter with the intention to stop whenever she lost interest. After a few months of reading a paragraph or two each day, she has confessed that her interest in dinosaurs is waning, so for now, this is going on my unfinished shelf with the understanding that we may eventually read to the end.
Though there have been new developments in dinosaur science since this book was first published, the fundamental concepts introduced here are still relevant and they are presented in a very accessible and engaging style. Not only does this book teach what a dinosaur is, it also gives a preliminary crash course in a host of important scientific topics: archaeology, paleontology, paleoart, taxonomy, evolution, cladistics, and biology. While indulging my daughter's interest in dinosaurs, she also gained foundational knowledge that will serve her in studying all areas of science throughout the elementary years and beyond.
A feature I especially love about this book is the brief essays at the end of each chapter, written by experts in various dinosaur-related jobs, that sum up the chapters preceding them, and give readers insight into what it is really like to work in the field of dinosaur science. The artwork is also very appealing, and really helped my daughter to understand how scientists interpret the fossils they discover. Though kindergarten is not the intended audience for this book, I was really amazed at how well it suited our purposes this school year, and I plan to use it again when my younger two girls become interested in dinosaurs.
Though there have been new developments in dinosaur science since this book was first published, the fundamental concepts introduced here are still relevant and they are presented in a very accessible and engaging style. Not only does this book teach what a dinosaur is, it also gives a preliminary crash course in a host of important scientific topics: archaeology, paleontology, paleoart, taxonomy, evolution, cladistics, and biology. While indulging my daughter's interest in dinosaurs, she also gained foundational knowledge that will serve her in studying all areas of science throughout the elementary years and beyond.
A feature I especially love about this book is the brief essays at the end of each chapter, written by experts in various dinosaur-related jobs, that sum up the chapters preceding them, and give readers insight into what it is really like to work in the field of dinosaur science. The artwork is also very appealing, and really helped my daughter to understand how scientists interpret the fossils they discover. Though kindergarten is not the intended audience for this book, I was really amazed at how well it suited our purposes this school year, and I plan to use it again when my younger two girls become interested in dinosaurs.
May 12, 2014
If all the text dedicated to describing phylogenies were to be replaced by cladograms, about a hundred pages would vanish from this volume, with no loss of information. Holtz's abjection to the pedantry of phylogenetics turns a wonderful subject, full of mystery and wonder and grandeur, into a tedious one. Much more could have been made of recent advances in the study of dinosaur behaviour, or of recent spectacular finds, or of dino-diseases and injuries, or something - anything but the amount of phylogeny here. Also, every other chapter seems to have a paragraph or two about how wrong Jurassic Park is - give your readers some credit, man, even children know how to weigh the authority of sources. Other than these peeves, the book is good. It is easy to read (perhaps too easy - one might argue a book for junior readers should challenge, not simplify, but Holtz walks this line well) and contains just about as much stuff as you'd find in most other books on the subject. Overall, not bad, but could be better.
Rey's artwork toes another line, this one between 'vivid' and 'gaudy.' Personal preference will dictate your response, but some variety at least would be welcome. There's something about Rey's artwork, at least on the printed page, that seems imprecise or washed out. It hardly recalls the grand, sharp, elegant dinosaur art of yore. Add to this an utter absence of size comparison images (an arguably indispensable feature - 130 feet is just a number, until you see it), and again, this area of the book is not bad, but could be better.
If you're thinking of buying, it is advisable to hang out for the next edition. 7 years is a vast period in science, and enough phylogenetic shuffling has occurred in the interim to invalidate much of the bafflegab already clogging the paragraphs here (to add insult to injury). Plus, in the last 7 years, enough new dinosaurs have been discovered to populate a Pokemon game or two, so the then-admirably-complete genus list at the end is now sadly incomplete. If you really want a hardcopy dinosaur encyclopaedia, then sure, buy the next edition of this book; it is a fine book. For now, though, wikipedia is up to date, cites sources, displays rather than describes cladograms, uses scientific terminology, often includes sections on each animal's floral and faunal context (as well as cool stuff like palaeopathology)--AND has size comparison images. So depending on what you look for in a dinosaur book, this one may have it. It serves as a gentle introduction and is well suited to be beheld and pored over by the young. For older or more experienced readers, alternate sources may be preferable.
Rey's artwork toes another line, this one between 'vivid' and 'gaudy.' Personal preference will dictate your response, but some variety at least would be welcome. There's something about Rey's artwork, at least on the printed page, that seems imprecise or washed out. It hardly recalls the grand, sharp, elegant dinosaur art of yore. Add to this an utter absence of size comparison images (an arguably indispensable feature - 130 feet is just a number, until you see it), and again, this area of the book is not bad, but could be better.
If you're thinking of buying, it is advisable to hang out for the next edition. 7 years is a vast period in science, and enough phylogenetic shuffling has occurred in the interim to invalidate much of the bafflegab already clogging the paragraphs here (to add insult to injury). Plus, in the last 7 years, enough new dinosaurs have been discovered to populate a Pokemon game or two, so the then-admirably-complete genus list at the end is now sadly incomplete. If you really want a hardcopy dinosaur encyclopaedia, then sure, buy the next edition of this book; it is a fine book. For now, though, wikipedia is up to date, cites sources, displays rather than describes cladograms, uses scientific terminology, often includes sections on each animal's floral and faunal context (as well as cool stuff like palaeopathology)--AND has size comparison images. So depending on what you look for in a dinosaur book, this one may have it. It serves as a gentle introduction and is well suited to be beheld and pored over by the young. For older or more experienced readers, alternate sources may be preferable.
May 19, 2010
Celine has this to say:
(This book) is extremely informative and actually not too boring either and introduces a few new ideas like that some dinosaurs might have had primitive feathers. Also really good illustrations.
(This book) is extremely informative and actually not too boring either and introduces a few new ideas like that some dinosaurs might have had primitive feathers. Also really good illustrations.
December 7, 2010
This is the absolute best dinosaur book I have ever read. It is also pretty recent, made in '07. I highly recommend it to dinosaur lovers.
June 23, 2024
if you know me even a little bit, you most likely know that i am a Certified Dinosaur Fan, and i do my best to read at least one dinosaur book a year i'd say, so this is my first entry for this year! and i thought this was absolutely GREAT!!
there is so much to learn in very digestable sections in this book, and even though it's now almost 20 years old (2006 being 18 years ago feels INSANE but anyway!!!) i still thought it was very thought-provoking and relevant. this is the most focus i've ever really seen on dinosaur physiology (probably because all it can be at this point is theory, no matter which theory you're going with), and i also loved the addendums at the end of chapters from other scientists in other aspects of paleontology. and the illustrations were BEAUTIFUL!!! AND ABUNDANT!!!!
in conclusion: i love dinosaurs. i think this is an easy gateway point to learning more about dinosaurs if you are so inclined. thank u
there is so much to learn in very digestable sections in this book, and even though it's now almost 20 years old (2006 being 18 years ago feels INSANE but anyway!!!) i still thought it was very thought-provoking and relevant. this is the most focus i've ever really seen on dinosaur physiology (probably because all it can be at this point is theory, no matter which theory you're going with), and i also loved the addendums at the end of chapters from other scientists in other aspects of paleontology. and the illustrations were BEAUTIFUL!!! AND ABUNDANT!!!!
in conclusion: i love dinosaurs. i think this is an easy gateway point to learning more about dinosaurs if you are so inclined. thank u
November 13, 2015
When I first got my hands on Dinosaurs and cracked it open, I was blown away by the pictures. They are all absolutely gorgeous. I know that the colors of the skin of the dinosaurs is pure speculation, but that doesn't stop me from loving it. Once I calmed down a little, I was able to start reading and found the way that the book was written makes it easy for a layman like me to understand. After all, who wants to read a book about dinosaurs and not have a clue as to what the author is talking about? Not me. I thinks both young readers and adults will be blown away by this book.
If you are a dinosaur lover, this book is a must have. Dinosaurs are extremely intriguing to me. After all, they were on Earth a lot longer than humans have been. They ruled the land with brute strength and ferociousness. I sure am glad that humans weren't around when dinosaurs ruled the Earth because we would not have survived long. But when you read this book, you feel like the dinosaurs could leap off the page right into your room. The information available in this book will keep you reading for weeks and weeks, heck, maybe even years.
Dinosaurs is a book that you can never tire of going through. It is extremely beautiful and packed with a ton of useful information.
If you are a dinosaur lover, this book is a must have. Dinosaurs are extremely intriguing to me. After all, they were on Earth a lot longer than humans have been. They ruled the land with brute strength and ferociousness. I sure am glad that humans weren't around when dinosaurs ruled the Earth because we would not have survived long. But when you read this book, you feel like the dinosaurs could leap off the page right into your room. The information available in this book will keep you reading for weeks and weeks, heck, maybe even years.
Dinosaurs is a book that you can never tire of going through. It is extremely beautiful and packed with a ton of useful information.
December 4, 2018
A note: I read this in short periods scattered across a couple months. I also do apologize for the low output, I've not been reading COVER TO COVER specifically recently.
This book is what its title is, though we do have new dinosaur discoveries (I'm not going to go into what little I know, which is still quite a bit), it really is written so that everyone understands the basic ideas, then moves on to using the terms and the ideas represented by the terms. In other words, it's written for 'Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages'. The order isn't random, and I like that. It's organized by roughly what time each dinosaur group branched off the family tree, and that isn't something I see much. The chapters give a lot of information about that group, and does a great job explaining the features that distinguish the group from any other animal, detailing the evolution, from the first of them to the most advanced.
This book is what its title is, though we do have new dinosaur discoveries (I'm not going to go into what little I know, which is still quite a bit), it really is written so that everyone understands the basic ideas, then moves on to using the terms and the ideas represented by the terms. In other words, it's written for 'Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages'. The order isn't random, and I like that. It's organized by roughly what time each dinosaur group branched off the family tree, and that isn't something I see much. The chapters give a lot of information about that group, and does a great job explaining the features that distinguish the group from any other animal, detailing the evolution, from the first of them to the most advanced.
January 21, 2020
My family was looking for a book that would be like a pokemon encyclopedia only for dinosaurs. My sister picked this out. It is as far away from what we were wanting as possible.
This is more an old fashioned encyclopedia. Full of in depth chapters about every kind of dinosaur. Most of it is in scientific precision. A lot of it was over my head. A lot of the dinosaurs I had never heard of. And I feel like I knew a lot going in.
It took me almost a complete year to finish this because it is hard work. It isn't written to entertain at all.
I did read about things that I didn't know. It would fascinate me. I'm not sure how much of it will stick. I'm sure I've already forgotten a good deal.
If you are obsessed with dinosaurs and want a very serious book about the subject that could make you a lot smarter, then pick this one up!
This is more an old fashioned encyclopedia. Full of in depth chapters about every kind of dinosaur. Most of it is in scientific precision. A lot of it was over my head. A lot of the dinosaurs I had never heard of. And I feel like I knew a lot going in.
It took me almost a complete year to finish this because it is hard work. It isn't written to entertain at all.
I did read about things that I didn't know. It would fascinate me. I'm not sure how much of it will stick. I'm sure I've already forgotten a good deal.
If you are obsessed with dinosaurs and want a very serious book about the subject that could make you a lot smarter, then pick this one up!
August 3, 2019
I am not a dinosaur person at all but this book is gorgeous and enchanting and engaged even me. We have poured over this book for hours and hours this summer. I love the format and the vibrant colors of the artist renderings. The writing style is easy to understand and is very conversational. It’s not bogged down in deep sciency terminology or of a scientific or research article style; my rising 6th grader had no problem understanding what she was reading. We especially enjoyed the articles written by the scientists/paleontologist speaking about their dig or find or field of specialty. My favorite is Robert T Bakker’s talking about being a homicide detective piecing together a crime, albeit a millions of years old one and with ‘bullets’ featuring shed dinosaur teeth! My daughter and I also loved the break down presented via the chapters breaking off the genealogy and family groupings. It definitely appealed to our sense of order. And the charts at the end of the various digs/findings were wonderful and brought a real life to actual sights we could identify. The headings made for very relatable categories (a modern animal of similar weight), a how-to-say or break down (oh that article was an exciting one too! How dinos get their names!), and what the name means.
April 14, 2022
Really enjoyed getting a deeper dive into the various families of dinosaurs and the latest research on each of them, along with side notes about various other life in the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. It opens my mind to think of all the history that our Earth has seen.
July 15, 2019
Одна из лучших научно-популярных книг о динозаврах, что я читал.
Хотя с 2007 года устарела малость, не без того. И иллюстрации там на любителя.
Хотя с 2007 года устарела малость, не без того. И иллюстрации там на любителя.
May 13, 2021
Unfortunately a bit dated in some places due to the advancement of the field, but a fantastic tome for all ages. Plus the author keeps a webpage that covers outdated info in the book!
February 23, 2015
Note: see here for Holtz' corrections/updated information.
"For all ages" means text is written for adults/late teens, with pictures (and a few jokes) for children. The information-density of the book was very low. The artwork is really good though.
Dinosaurs fall into two orders: Saurischia and Ornithischia. The obvious difference is the direction the pubic bone points (confusingly, birds are not ornithischian). What is a pubic bone anyway?.. (to this day, I do not really know)
This was the first book I'd ever read about dinosaurs, and when I got about half way through, I realised that I was no longer learning anything new, and perhaps there's probably not that much (interesting) stuff too learn about dinosaurs... phylogeny is complicated and subtle, and Holtz mostly doesn't even bother to go into the details. Maybe I should have gone for a book which discussed life-in-general in the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous.
The most interesting parts of the book for me (mid-twenties, physics PhD student) were the cladograms, and seeing the gradual evolution of the dinosaurs into birds. I also liked the wing-assisted incline running (WAIR) discussion. The discussion of the KT extinction event was also interesting, but not much detail was given on the science here. I also learned a bit of latin, and know what 'micropachycephalosaurus' means!
The book could have gone into a lot more detail on many things. For example, the respiratory system of dinosaurs and birds: they're very different to the respiratory system of mammals, and this is important to understanding why dinosaur bones have hollow regions for air-sacs.
A section which was missing was a section on the geography of Earth during these periods. Information about how/when Pangaea split into Laurasia and Gondwana, and what the weather was like etc would have been very interesting.
I admire Holtz for starting the book off with the science of palaeontology. Most people accept that dinosaurs existed, but very few people question how palaeontology is done, and how we can be sure we've got our facts right. For children especially, this should be a point to emphasise.
"For all ages" means text is written for adults/late teens, with pictures (and a few jokes) for children. The information-density of the book was very low. The artwork is really good though.
Dinosaurs fall into two orders: Saurischia and Ornithischia. The obvious difference is the direction the pubic bone points (confusingly, birds are not ornithischian). What is a pubic bone anyway?.. (to this day, I do not really know)
This was the first book I'd ever read about dinosaurs, and when I got about half way through, I realised that I was no longer learning anything new, and perhaps there's probably not that much (interesting) stuff too learn about dinosaurs... phylogeny is complicated and subtle, and Holtz mostly doesn't even bother to go into the details. Maybe I should have gone for a book which discussed life-in-general in the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous.
The most interesting parts of the book for me (mid-twenties, physics PhD student) were the cladograms, and seeing the gradual evolution of the dinosaurs into birds. I also liked the wing-assisted incline running (WAIR) discussion. The discussion of the KT extinction event was also interesting, but not much detail was given on the science here. I also learned a bit of latin, and know what 'micropachycephalosaurus' means!
The book could have gone into a lot more detail on many things. For example, the respiratory system of dinosaurs and birds: they're very different to the respiratory system of mammals, and this is important to understanding why dinosaur bones have hollow regions for air-sacs.
A section which was missing was a section on the geography of Earth during these periods. Information about how/when Pangaea split into Laurasia and Gondwana, and what the weather was like etc would have been very interesting.
I admire Holtz for starting the book off with the science of palaeontology. Most people accept that dinosaurs existed, but very few people question how palaeontology is done, and how we can be sure we've got our facts right. For children especially, this should be a point to emphasise.
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
I am not a paleontologist (obviously). I am not, truth be told, even a dinosaur fanatic. What I am is a reader who is always looking to extend my knowledge base on interesting subjects, and this dinosaur encyclopedia fulfills that quest in spades!
Everything you could ever want to know about dinosaurs -- all types, all genuses, all sizes and shapes and colors -- is detailed, extensively, within the pages of DINOSAURS. There are wonderful illustrations by Luis V. Rey, timelines, graphs, rock cycles, detailed drawings of skeletons -- you name it, and this book has it. With an appendix that includes a 48-page Dinosaur Genus List and a Glossary of hundreds of terms, this is pretty much the only encyclopedia on dinosaurs that you're ever going to need.
I'm sure that some scientifically-minded people will yearn to find something that is missing, and they may even find it. But for the general dinosaur lover, this is definitely the book to add to your collection. Although the reading level is too advanced for younger children, those over the age of eight will find plenty to keep them interested and entertained.
DINOSAURS is highly recommended for classroom and home libraries, or as the perfect present for that dinosaur crazy kid on your gift list.
I am not a paleontologist (obviously). I am not, truth be told, even a dinosaur fanatic. What I am is a reader who is always looking to extend my knowledge base on interesting subjects, and this dinosaur encyclopedia fulfills that quest in spades!
Everything you could ever want to know about dinosaurs -- all types, all genuses, all sizes and shapes and colors -- is detailed, extensively, within the pages of DINOSAURS. There are wonderful illustrations by Luis V. Rey, timelines, graphs, rock cycles, detailed drawings of skeletons -- you name it, and this book has it. With an appendix that includes a 48-page Dinosaur Genus List and a Glossary of hundreds of terms, this is pretty much the only encyclopedia on dinosaurs that you're ever going to need.
I'm sure that some scientifically-minded people will yearn to find something that is missing, and they may even find it. But for the general dinosaur lover, this is definitely the book to add to your collection. Although the reading level is too advanced for younger children, those over the age of eight will find plenty to keep them interested and entertained.
DINOSAURS is highly recommended for classroom and home libraries, or as the perfect present for that dinosaur crazy kid on your gift list.
May 4, 2011
If I could, I would give this book 4 1/2 stars. My kids have been really into dinosaurs lately and I wanted to find a book that adequately explains the evolution of dinosaurs (i.e., how all the different groups of dinosaurs are related) and what characteristics make them distinct from each other. The author does an excellent job describing these groups and describing dinosaur paleontology in general. The book is written at about a junior high level, but is very engaging. The art work is gorgeous and really brings the dinosaurs alive.
The only minor thing that bugged me was the artist's interpretation of some dinosaurs. It is generally understood that most, if not all, small theropods had some sort of feathers or proto-feathers, but the artist's effort to make the non-avian theropods look like birds is a bit overboard. For example, he gave turkey wattles to Deinonychus, the dinosaur that the velociraptors in the movie Jurassic Park are modeled after (imagine Alan Grant being attacked by giant turkeys!)
But, that is a minor beef. Overall a great read.
The only minor thing that bugged me was the artist's interpretation of some dinosaurs. It is generally understood that most, if not all, small theropods had some sort of feathers or proto-feathers, but the artist's effort to make the non-avian theropods look like birds is a bit overboard. For example, he gave turkey wattles to Deinonychus, the dinosaur that the velociraptors in the movie Jurassic Park are modeled after (imagine Alan Grant being attacked by giant turkeys!)
But, that is a minor beef. Overall a great read.
December 19, 2007
I know, we have lots of dinosaur books, but not like this one! It is huge, with page-length articles on all sorts of dinosaur behavior. Perhaps its best feature, though, is the full-action illustrations that just pop right off the page. This one book is good for countless hours of browsing fun for even the most rabid dinosaur fan.
May 17, 2013
Absolutely amazing! This was an incredibly detailed and exhaustively researched book. I've always been fascinated by dinosaurs, so this was perfect for me. The illustrations were gorgeous, and I learned about so many species of dinosaurs that I didn't even know existed.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves dinosaurs.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves dinosaurs.
June 7, 2016
Very informative, with writing that makes it interesting. I like the author's enthusiasm, and how he seems to really know his stuff! This book covered the basics, which I needed on my road to becoming a paleontologist. I also love the notes of other paleontologists put into the book. I give it 5/5 for very good information, writing, and colourful pictures!
March 31, 2009
I loved looking at the dinosaur pictures. This book is very colorful & full of great pictures that appeal to all ages. I cant get used to dinosaurs with feathers though. I didnt read this book cover to cover, I mostly looked at the pictures & read about my favorites.
October 7, 2019
A wonderful catalog for any fan of prehistory young and old! Sure, it's over a decade old but with such a witty writing style and the credibility of a wonderful paleontologist who performed an AMAZING T. rex lecture(available on Youtube BTW) this can't go wrong! Ride on!
January 10, 2022
Written by a professional paleontologist, this book outnumbers every other nonfiction. It explains little facts and big ones to, it tells you a lot about dinosaurs and how they came to be. it a great book and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves dinosaurs.
April 13, 2014
If you are interested in learning about dinosaurs and are new to the subject, this is the best first book you should read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews