Dinosaur Empire! (Earth Before Us #1): Journey through the Mesozoic Era

Description

Ronnie is just a normal fifth-grader trying to pass her science class's impossible quiz on the history of dinosaurs . . . until she happens upon her neighbor - Ms. Lernin - a retired paleontologist. With the assistance of Science Magic, Ronnie and Ms. Lernin travel back through time and space to experience the Mesozoic Era firsthand. They visit three important time periods in the development of the Mesozoic Era: the Triassic, the Jurassic, and the Cretaceous. Along the way, Ronnie finds herself face-to-face with real-life dinosaurs and reptiles, like stegosauruses, velociraptors, and thalattosaurs. With the help of her neighbor's trusty knowledge of prehistoric times, she learns the differences between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, as well as between dinosaurs, insects, and reptiles. This insightful and informative graphic novel uses engaging art to bring facts to life, giving kids the tools to understand the evolution of these prehistoric creatures and the important effects this era had on our world today.

Abby Howard is the creator of the comic website Junior Scientist Power Hour. Before becoming a full-time artist, Howard studied evolutionary biology at McGill University, where her deep interest in dinosaurs was born.

"Howard details characteristics of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, covers similarities and differences among different species, and offers information on evolution, convergent evolution, and mutations...a great addition to graphic novel or dinosaur collections."-- "School Library Journal" "The graphic panels teem with (labeled) prehistoric life including, along with dozens of dinos, many early mammals and other contemporaries. Howard depicts nearly all of this fauna with snub noses and such friendly expressions..."-- "Kirkus" "It's an effective way of putting the vast history of the world before humans in perspective; dinosaur nuts (and there are many) will eat it up." -- "Booklist" **STARRED REVIEW** "An information-dense but fast-moving exploration of how scientists have come to understand life in that period (dinosaurs, as well as mammals, insects, and sea life), clearly and amusingly explained through the duo's dialogue."-- "Publishers Weekly"