Would children be as intrigued by dinosaurs if these ancient terrible lizards were around today, or are they fascinated because they are safe from the massive blood-dripping jaws of the ever hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex? Well, ask your students and find out; it might be an interesting exercise.

     Modern paleontology has come up with many new theories on the life and times of our Cretaceous and Jurassic friends. Elizabeth Macleod uses this contemporary research to write a succinct little fact book for young dinosaur lovers that will be an excellent resource for students' early research projects. She resolves questions that are seldom answered in the many out-dated books fossilizing on school library shelves: How fast could dinosaurs run? How long could a dinosaur live? What did they sound like? How smart were they? As well, she has included a glossary of the meaning of various dinosaur names. Did you know Maiasaura means good mother lizard and Seismosaurus means earthquake lizard? Cool.

     New research has also changed the way scientists look at dinosaur physiology. The blandly colored lumbering behemoths of old are gone and have been replaced by colorful, sleekly muscled creatures marvelously depicted in Gordon Sauve's illustrations. Very cool.

Recommended.