  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 01/01/2016 By drawing upon recent discoveries of the many different kinds of feathered dinosaurs, Guiberson gives children multiple examples of the links between modern birds and their prehistoric counterparts. Descriptions of the appearances and behaviors of 13 different species are accompanied by Low’s carefully researched paintings, depicting beasts ranging from the sparrow-sized Eoalulavis to the 12,000-pound T. rex. Though she makes it clear that scientific knowledge on the subject is still evolving, Guiberson presents the known facts clearly and concisely, listing the species name and English translation for each dinosaur before elaborating on its birdlike features—for example, the red-topped Anchiornis (almost bird) had soft, fluffy feathers and strong flight feathers but couldn’t fly; the Hesperonis (western bird) couldn’t fly and walked awkwardly but had tiny wings and huge feet that helped it move underwater. An intriguing introduction to the evolutionary connection between dinosaurs and birds, as well as the process of ongoing scientific discovery. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. School Library Journal - 01/01/2016 Gr 2–5—Considering the flood of feathery dinosaurs being unearthed in newly found fossil beds, this attractive addition is timely. Guiberson's brief, informative paragraphs of text are accompanied by Low's soft-edged, realistic oil and acrylic paintings, presenting a baker's dozen of feathered (and nonfeathered) critters, all demonstrating the evolutionary path from toothy therapod to the raucous blue jays fussing at backyard feeders. Guiberson provides such wondrous details as the discovery of melanosomes on some fossils, which indicate the actual coloration of the living beast. Who knew Sinosauropteryx had a tail ringed in orange and white? Or Anchiornis a bright red crest? There is no time line on which to orient these new finds in Earth's long history, nor is there a global map to file them in our mental GPS. A long bibliography (comprised mostly of adult titles) is included. Definitely more up-to-date than Dougal Dixon's simple Bambiraptor and Other Featured Dinosaurs (Picture Window, 2008) or Christopher Sloane's excellent How Dinosaurs Took Flight: The Fossils, the Science, What We Think We Know, and Mysteries Yet Unsolved (National Geographic, 2005), this will fill the information gap while more detailed works are in progress. VERDICT Nifty lo-cal fodder for insatiable dinophiles.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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