The Great Dinosaur Discoveries

This elegantly illustrated volume is a journey through more than two centuries of remarkable discovery. Books on dinosaurs are usually arranged by classification or epoch, but this unique work tells the story chronologically, in order of the key finds that shaped our understanding and brought these creatures to life for the public. From the fragmentary remains of giant extinct animals found in the early 1800s to the dinosaur wars in the American West to the amazing near-complete skeletons found around the world today, Darren Naish tells how these discoveries have led not only to the recognition of new species and whole new groups, but also to new theories of evolutionary history. Along the way, we encounter dinosaurs both familiar and obscure-including Tyrannosaurus rex, the giant sauropods, and most recently, the feathered dinosaurs of China. As he describes these significant finds, Naish explains in clear, accessible language, how our ideas about dinosaur appearance, biology, and behavior have developed and changed over time, and what the state of knowledge is today. - Discusses each major dinosaur group - Illuminates the human side of fossil discoveries by describing explorers, scientists, and artists - Beautifully designed pages feature extensive captions, engaging text, and sidebars throughout on select topics of interest - Almost 200 illustrations include historical and contemporary photographs, art works, drawings, and maps

"Books on dinosaurs have generally arranged them in terms of their classification or according to when they lived. This major new book looks at dinosaurs from a historical perspective, from the earliest scrappy finds and best guesses of the early 1800s to the spectacular key discoveries that changed people s minds and brought dinosaurs alive in the public consciousness." "Key finds for each century are examined in chronological order, with information about the dinosaurs themselves interwoven with accounts of their actual discovery and the extraordinary scientists and explorers who found them. On this fascinating journey, we come back to the same sorts of dinosaurs more than once as new discoveries changed ideas on their appearance, biology or behaviour. The amazing new dicoveries in China and South America in the last few years are fully documented, as are the major new finds of the 21st century." --Book Jacket.

A survey of the noted paleontologists who have uncovered and studied dinosaur fossils including information on their findings

What do dinosaurs look like from the inside out? Take a journey with renowned paleontologist Chris McGowan as he examines species from Allosaurus to T. rex! Along with descriptions and depictions of each creature are experiments that readers can do on their own to make sedimentary rock, replicate a fossil, dissect bone structure, and discover how we know about dinosaurs even though they’ve been extinct for millions of years. With Dinosaur Discovery’s accessible and entertaining information and more than twenty-five engaging experiments, aspiring young scientists will be paleontologists in no time!

Get ready to roar with this updated edition of DK's beloved Big Book of Dinosaurs Dinosaurs fascinate young children, and this colorful catalog of those mysterious creatures from the past will keep even toddlers entertained for hours. Children will love spotting and learning to name all the different dinosaurs--from the fierce, meat-eating Tyrannosaurus and the long-necked, plant-eating Diplodocus to the armor-plated Stegosaurus and the tiny, hen-sized Compsognathus.

This classic book explains how dinosaurs fit into the biblical story of creation. Newly revised to reflect recent scientific findings.

Today, any kid can rattle off the names of dozens of dinosaurs. But it took centuries of scientific effort—and a lot of luck—to discover and establish the diversity of dinosaur species we now know. How did we learn that Triceratops had three horns? Why don’t many paleontologists consider Brontosaurus a valid species? What convinced scientists that modern birds are relatives of ancient Velociraptor? In The Story of the Dinosaurs in 25 Discoveries, Donald R. Prothero tells the fascinating stories behind the most important fossil finds and the intrepid researchers who unearthed them. In twenty-five vivid vignettes, he weaves together dramatic tales of dinosaur discoveries with what modern science now knows about the species to which they belong. Prothero takes us from eighteenth-century sightings of colossal bones taken for biblical giants through recent discoveries of enormous predators even larger than Tyrannosaurus. He recounts the escapades of the larger-than-life personalities who made modern paleontology, including scientific rivalries like the nineteenth-century “Bone Wars.” Prothero also details how to draw the boundaries between species and explores debates such as whether dinosaurs had feathers, explaining the findings that settled them or keep them going. Throughout, he offers a clear and rigorous look at what paleontologists consider sound interpretation of evidence. An essential read for any dinosaur lover, this book teaches us to see an ancient world ruled by giant majestic creatures anew.