Book Reviews - Part 23

23 04, 2009

Review of the Spring Edition of Prehistoric Times (Edition 89)

By Mike|2022-12-22T08:21:07+00:00April 23rd, 2009|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Review of Prehistoric Times Spring Edition (Spring 2009)

Spring is in the air, we don’t have to worry about frosts in the morning any more and we have the chance when we get a moment to read our spring edition of Prehistoric Times, the excellent magazine for dinosaur fans and model collectors.

In this edition, prehistoric lions are featured with lots and lots of Panthera inspired artwork as well as fascinating facts and analysis of fossil finds. Great to see part of the magazine dedicated to that star of the short-frilled ceratopsids – Styracosaurus. We agree with Mike Fredericks (editor), Styracosaurus is probably one of our favourite dinosaurs too.

Front Cover of Prehistoric Times (Spring Edition)

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

Intriguing to read Mark Berry’s article regarding “Primeval” the science fiction TV series now into a third series on ITV1. There are rumours that negotiations have started in the USA for the production of an American TV spin off and there has been talk of a film based on the TV series. One minor point, in the magazine, Primeval is referred to as a BBC TV programme but we don’t think this is the case as it is a production from Impossible Pictures and we don’t think the BBC are involved. However, one small quibble in what is another excellent edition of Prehistoric Times.

Wonderful to read an article on Zdenek Burian, a very well known artist of landscapes and prehistoric animals, whose work was featured in many dinosaur books some of which we can remember reading in our youth (millions of years ago).

To visit the website of Prehistoric Times: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

5 02, 2009

A New Mini-Dinosaurs Pop-up Book – Triceratops

By Mike|2024-04-15T14:43:59+01:00February 5th, 2009|Categories: Book Reviews, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Product Reviews|0 Comments

Mini-Pop Up Dinosaurs Review

At Everything Dinosaur, we are keen to help young readers learn more about dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. With a teaching background, our team members recognise the importance of early reading books and we have just added a set of four pop-up books designed with very young readers in mind.

Mini Pop-up Dinosaur Books

Each of the four books focuses on one specific dinosaur – Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Brontosaurus. Whilst we admire the robust hard covers and the size of the book ideal for small hands, it is clear they were not written by a palaeontologist. The name Brontosaurus is no longer used, it has been replaced by Apatosaurus.

There is an article on our blog explaining why Brontosaurus got its name changed:-

Click here to read “Why Brontosaurus is no more”.

However, putting aside that one faux pas, these pop-ups are an excellent first dinosaur book. The illustrations are very colourful, the series even includes a pink Stegosaurus (quite accurate as we do think some dinosaurs could turn themselves pink!); and a blue Triceratops.

To view the range of models and dinosaurs toys in stock: Everything Dinosaur.

In each book there are a serious of simple questions about the dinosaur concerned, the print is large and easy to read. A flap in an illustration on the page is lifted and the answer revealed, there is a little more detail on the back of the flap to help Mums and Dads explain the answer.

A Mini Pop-up Dinosaur Book Featuring Triceratops

Learning about dinosaurs with a mini pop-up dinosaur book.

In addition, each book contains a card, self-assembly model of the animal featured in the book. When we this series with a group of 3-4 year olds they took to them very well. The mums had to help assembly the model but the children were able to read along and lift the flaps in the illustrations.

Team members at Everything Dinosaur get asked to review a number of dinosaur books for children, we are happy to oblige.

14 01, 2009

Review of the Dinosaur Detectives Handbook

By Mike|2022-12-13T09:08:41+00:00January 14th, 2009|Categories: Book Reviews, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

Review of the Dinosaur Detectives Handbook

Every book and publication that is put into the Everything Dinosaur shop goes through a review process. Our dinosaur experts will read it, one of our qualified teachers will assess its child friendliness and educational qualities and perhaps most importantly of all, it will be looked at by children from the age group that it is aimed at to gather their opinions.

The new Dinosaur Detectives Handbook has just gone through this extensive process and came out the other side with a big thumbs up!

This spiral bound, book, designed to look like the sort of field guide you would take on a nature walk is jam packed with facts and information on dinosaurs. Fifty different dinosaurs are featured. The book reminded us of the sort of invaluable note book that we use when we are mapping a palaeontological dig site.

The Dinosaur Detectives Handbook

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Detectives

The book includes maps, stickers, fact files, scale drawings and lots of illustrations and for each dinosaur, readers can make their own notes, add a picture and tick-off where they might have seen it – on television, in films, books or online.

Thanks to the dinosaur experts and researchers at Everything Dinosaur, most of the prehistoric animals featured in the book can be found on our web log or at Everything Dinosaur’s home web site (hint to all those dinosaur detectives).

To view the Everything Dinosaur web site: Everything Dinosaur.

All in all, the book represents extremely good value. It is aimed at children aged 5 years and above and it really gets them into the subject. There is even a handy glossary at the back to explain some of the more difficult words and we love the fact that a pronunciation guide for those long dinosaur names is provided.

A real winner!

21 10, 2008

Review of the Autumn Edition of Prehistoric Times #87

By Mike|2023-02-25T20:32:01+00:00October 21st, 2008|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Prehistoric Times Autumn 2008

It’s that time of year again when the latest edition of “Prehistoric Times”, the must have magazine for dinosaur and prehistoric animal model enthusiasts lands on the office door mat.

Prehistoric Times Magazine

In this edition of the quarterly magazine edited by Mike Fredericks, there are features on the “boneheads” of the Mesozoic the pachycephalosaurs, plus an examination of some of the best preserved mummified dinosaur remains and information on what these extraordinary finds can tell palaeontologists.

With all the news on research and the latest discoveries, this edition is packed full of useful information and informative articles – we particularly liked the articles on iguanodonts and those fearsome, but often overlooked beasts entelodonts.

Top artists and illustrators are once again featured, with one of our favourite palaeoartists John Sibbeck and his latest exhibition reported upon. The Douglas Henderson interview provides an insight into the life and work of this incredibly dedicated and passionate illustrator.

The Autumn Edition of “Prehistoric Times” Magazine

Autumn 2008 issue.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

This magazine is in its fifteenth year of publication and continues to impress and inform. If you want to keep up with the latest developments in palaeontology as well as learn all about the latest models and the market for dinosaur memorabilia, then “Prehistoric Times” is definitely the magazine for you.

Click on the picture of the 2008 magazine cover to visit the “Prehistoric Times” website.

5 10, 2008

A Review of the Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs

By Mike|2023-02-25T20:49:43+00:00October 5th, 2008|Categories: Book Reviews, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

The Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs, a hard-back book, an earlier Dougal Dixon collaboration was a must have book for many dinosaur fans both young and old. This large volume has been updated and the format changed to produce a superb illustrated guide to Dinosauria in an inexpensive guide book.

This new encyclopedia provides detailed information on 270 different types of dinosaur and takes the reader through the Mesozoic in chronological order, starting with the first dinosaurs that appeared in the Triassic and ends of with the last types of dinosaurs. The animals are illustrated with watercolour pictures and show the very latest in scientific thinking.

Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs

Dinosaur discoveries from all over the world are reported upon and interestingly for such an inexpensive book, a large amount of detail on each animal is included. Pleasing to note that faunal stages are included within the main time periods, introducing readers to more of the vocabulary used by real palaeontologists.

Front Cover – The Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs

Picture credit: Manning Partnership

For each main dinosaur family, a number of genera are described and illustrated. Readers are informed of fossil finds and their location, how the dinosaur was classified, the meaning of the name and who named the animal. Plus there are lots of interesting and less well known facts on each type of dinosaur illustrated, certainly enough to inform and entertain the most knowledgeable of dinosaur buffs.

To view the range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed items available from Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

The water colour illustrations are beautiful and a number of prehistoric scenes are included to give the reader a deeper insight into dinosaur based ecosystems. The book is compact, about the size of a small telephone directory (160 pages long) and soft-backed making it much lighter and practical then its larger and heavier predecessor.

All in all a top quality dinosaur encyclopedia with an excellent range of dinosaurs featured and lots and lots of up to date information on recent dinosaur discoveries. A great example of a dinosaur book for children.

21 07, 2008

Review of the New Summer Edition of Prehistoric Times (Edition 86)

By Mike|2024-04-13T08:13:28+01:00July 21st, 2008|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Magazine Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Review of Summer Edition of Prehistoric Times (Edition 86)

Another fact filled edition of Prehistoric Times is just out, this is the Summer edition of the quarterly magazine for dinosaur enthusiasts and model collectors. As always the standard of editing and article writing is high with lots of information about new models and the latest developments in palaeontology crammed into the magazine’s 60 colour pages.

The front cover features a Carcharodontosaurus “shark-toothed lizard”, an allosaurid theropod from mid-Cretaceous North Africa. A representative of a family of dinosaurs that may well turn out to be the largest meat-eating dinosaurs of all.

The Front Cover of Prehistoric Times (ed. 86)

Issue 86.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks

There is an extensive article that brings together the latest research on these particular carnivores, informing the reader about the first discoveries of carcharodontosaurids as well us providing updates on the latest interpretations of recently found meat-eaters which may also be classified a members of this dinosaur family.

In addition, there is a super and very practical article written by William Stout on how to become a palaeoartist plus amongst all the other product reviews and news stories there is the first part of a feature by Tracy Ford on swimming dinosaurs.

Pleasing to see those early pioneers of the Sabre-tooth look the Gorgonopsids are included in this edition. There are lots of drawings of this fierce animal which have been sent in by readers and the article provides readers with further details on some of the 40 different species of family Gorgonopsidae. Gorgonopsids had their profile raised when one of their kind, Gorgonops was featured in the BBC TV series “Walking with Monsters” and the first series of ITV’s action adventure series “Primeval”.

To subscribe to Prehistoric Times: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

24 04, 2008

Review of the New Prehistoric Times (Edition 85 – Spring)

By Mike|2024-04-12T18:37:32+01:00April 24th, 2008|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Review of Prehistoric Times (Spring 2008)

Spring is definitely on the way when our Spring edition of “Prehistoric Times” arrives at the office. “Prehistoric Times” is the magazine for dinosaur merchandise and model collectors. This latest edition marks 15 years of publication for the title. Starting out as a black and white newsletter, the magazine has grown into a glossy compendium of information packed full of information about the latest discoveries in palaeontology as well as features and articles on the latest prehistoric animal models.

The Spring edition features a front cover depicting a Thylacoleo, the vicious marsupial lion that was the top predator in Australia for much of the Neogene. The cover painting was created by the famous palaeoartist Mark Hallett, an article on these bizarre marsupial carnivores can be found inside along with features on the hadrosaur Edmontosaurus and the second part of the article on the history of Tyrannosaurus rex.

The Spring Edition of “Prehistoric Times”

“Prehistoric Times” magazine.

Picture Credit: Mike Fredericks

As usual there are contributions from a number of notable writers such as Joe DeMarco, Tracy Ford and Sean Kotz.

The magazine also reviews the palaeontology year with updates on the latest research and information on recent finds.

To visit the “Prehistoric Times” website: Prehistoric Times Home Page

21 04, 2008

Magic Dinosaurs Book Review

By Mike|2022-11-14T13:42:03+00:00April 21st, 2008|Categories: Book Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Magic Dinosaurs Book Review

Every once in a while our buyer comes across a really fun and different prehistoric animal themed book. With an interest in children’s education, books have to meet very strict criteria in terms of their contribution to learning. A recent edition to our reading activities section certainly does this, uniting young children’s interest with dinosaurs with storytelling and learning about colours.

Especially designed for very young dinosaur fans the Mini-Magic Dinosaurs book is a robust, hardback which tells the story of dinosaurs playing hide and seek. Palaeontologists have no evidence from the fossil record to support this type of behaviour amongst Dinosauria – but you never know.

Anyway, a Tyrannosaurus rex sets off in search of his friends who are playing with this game with him. Each of the prehistoric animals he meets is a different colour. The colour of the animal is revealed by pulling a tab on each page of the book. When the tab is pulled the animal in question magically appears in colour – neat.

The Magic Mini-Dinosaur Hand and Seek Book

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Team members have been fascinated to see how the trick is done, simply pull the tab and the dinosaur is revealed in colour.

To see the range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed merchandise available: Everything Dinosaur.

On test the young children we read the book to were fascinated. They loved going back in time to see the dinosaurs playing. This book is very helpful when it comes to learning about different colours and recognising colours and words. It is suitable for very young children from about 18 months and upwards.

5 04, 2008

Review of the New Pop-up Facts Dinosaurs

By Mike|2024-04-12T08:30:22+01:00April 5th, 2008|Categories: Book Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Pop-up Facts Dinosaurs (Review)

Time to step back to the Mesozoic (Age of Reptiles) and meet some of the amazing animals the lived during the Triassic, Jurassic and the Cretaceous.

The Front Cover of Pop-Up Facts Dinosaurs

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of toys, models, learning materials and games available: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

A hardback book that is beautifully illustrated contains lots and lots of facts and information about dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Young readers can wonder at the huge plant-eating sauropods that pop out of the page at you, examine fossil evidence of the colossal meat-eating dinosaurs and study marine reptiles as well as pterosaurs. Page after page of truly impressive pop-ups, packed with fascinating facts, tabs to pull, flaps to lift and wheels to turn. Even the front cover which depicts a theropod dinosaur in 3-D relief has a dinosaur eye that looks straight back at the reader.

Recommended for young dinosaur fans aged 5+ a super, dinosaur book, crammed with facts and very educational, this is a great example of a book about dinosaurs for kids.

An Example of the Fact Filled Pop-up Pages

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s Homepage: Everything Dinosaur.

22 01, 2008

Review of Prehistoric Times – Issue 84 (New for Winter 2008)

By Mike|2024-04-03T07:39:19+01:00January 22nd, 2008|Categories: Magazine Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Review of Prehistoric Times – Issue 84

Mike Fredericks, his colleagues and contributors kick start 2008 with another very informative and packed edition of “Prehistoric Times” – the magazine for dinosaur enthusiasts and prehistoric animal merchandise collectors.

The front cover features a nothosaur – a Triassic marine reptile. The picture has been specially commissioned for Prehistoric Times and was created by John Sibbick perhaps the most eminent dinosaur illustrator around today. The front cover links to an article on the nothosaurid group providing a history of fossil finds and giving palaeoartists the opportunity to depict these animals in their watery environment.

The Front Cover of “Prehistoric Times” Magazine

Issue 84 of “Prehistoric Times”

Keeping to the theme of prehistoric animals beginning with the letter “N” there is a special section on nodosaurs, part of the armoured dinosaur family the thyreophorans, similar to ankylosaurs but lacking the tail club. Putting aside the opening paragraphs depicting a battle between a male Edmontonia and a bull Triceratops, the article sets out to “right some of the wrongs” concerning nodosaurs and give this group a little of the limelight so often hogged by the stegosaurs and ankylosaurs.

As well as the usual features about new products, fossil finds and the latest theories, issue 84 features a section on dinosaurs of Brazil. The article is written by Augustin Martinelli and Ezequiel Vera, palaeontologists from Argentina and the article is well written and most informative.

Cleaveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry

The new developments at the famous Cleveland-Lloyd dinosaur quarry in the middle of the Morrison formation are discussed with cool pictures showing the new facilities and some of the latest fossil finds and last by not least T. rex gets a look in with the second part of an article tracing the history of Tyrannosaurus illustration.

All in all, an excellent read.

“Prehistoric Times” website: Visit Prehistoric Times.