Button Books £12.99
ISBN 978-1-78708-149-9
The subject matter is of course a big favourite with kids at any time of the year and this 98 odd page book follows the tried and tested Factology route of combining intersting snippets about the lives of our Dino heroes along with graphs, drawings and photos and covers a large amount of information in a fun approach along the way. Only Factology could show from the formation of the world 4.5 billion years ago (Hadean age) all the way through to today in the form of a clock (we are 1 minute to twelve).
First off we have to define what is a Dinosaur and surprisingly it is quite a narrow definition and would rule out anything that was in the ocean or the air and all lizards as well, although it is ironic that the latin name derives from terrible lizard.
The concept of continental drift and the eco changes that this brings about is introduced. We also see that there have been 5 mass extincions so far and that there is a possibility that there is a 6th (man made) under way.
What happened to all of the Dinosaurs has been debated over the years and this gets plenty of coverage and some cool graphics.
Our favourite section is ‘Record Breakers’ yes biggest, smartest, fastest with some surprising winners.
The subtitle which is ‘and other prehistoric creatures’ allows us to see the flying creatures, and non flying birds from these times and creatures of the deep and the first mammals. There is a cool section on the immense shark called Megaladon.
As usal not only is there an index but a glossary and a big quiz at the end (what ancient super continent occupied 30% of the worlds surface?).