A pleasant trip out to Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire for Everything Dinosaur team members today. This spectacular Elizabethan mansion was the venue for an event celebrating the publication of a marvellous dinosaur book for children featuring Tyrannosaurus rex. Entitled “The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers”.

"The Tyrannosaur's Feathers" by Dr Adam Smith and Jonathan Emmett.
The front cover of “The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers” written by Dr Adam Smith and Jonathan Emmett. UCLan Publishing/Stieven Van der Poorten.

“The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers”

Published by UCLan publishing and illustrated by the very talented Stieven Van der Poorten, “The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers” explains how our knowledge about T. rex has changed. Time for this famous, iconic dinosaur to get a makeover.

Comparing T. rex figures for the tyrannosaur's feathers book launch.
How our perceptions regarding Tyrannosaurus rex have changed. A model from the 1970s compared to a Safari Ltd feathered Tyrannosaurus rex (2015). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A friendly Velociraptor explains to T. rex that palaeontologists have learned a great deal about the Dinosauria. Under the guidance of a fellow theropod the T. rex is gradually transformed over the course of the book into a feathered, two-fingered, predator with lips, a tail lifted off the ground and correctly positioned arms. The authors provided a read through, even dealing with the difficulties of tyrannosaur nostrils and the dinosaur’s colouration.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s review of “The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers”: “The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers” Reviewed.

The Tyrannosaur's Feathers book launch.
Authors Dr Adam Smith (left) and Jonathan Emmett (right) with the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton on display at Wollaton Hall in the background. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Celebrating the Book Launch

As part of the event to celebrate the book launch the authors conducted a special T. rex themed quiz. The budding young palaeontologists that attended did really well and it was surprising how much information the children had picked up from the read through and the scientific explanations offered by Dr Smith. A helpful tyrannosaur research timeline aided the quiz participants.

Tyrannosaur's feathers timeline chart
The authors had created a helpful timeline that explained how our knowledge regarding T. rex has changed. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Wollaton Hall with its spectacular T. rex exhibit was an excellent venue choice to celebrate the publication of this wonderful book for children. Our hosts even laid on gingerbread biscuits in the shape of a Tyrannosaurus rex. We wish UCLan publishing and everyone involved with “The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers” success.”

“The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers” – Book Details

Publisher: UClan Publishing

Published August 2023 | Price: £7.99 | Pages: 32
6 plus| Paperback | ISBN: 9781915235596

Visit the website of UCLan Publishing: UCLan Publishing. Search on the website for “Tyrannosaur” to find the book.