Pterosaur Trouble

March 11, 2013
Nature photographs and digital images replicate a prehistoric world in this companion to Ankylosaur Attack, which focuses on the flying pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus. Tense narration follows the dinosaur, as Quetzalcoatlus flies, fishes, and encounters a pack of ferocious Saurornitholestes that attack him: “For every Saurornitholestes knocked aside, two more jumped onto the struggling giant. The exquisite detail of skin, feathers, and scales, in combination with crisp landscape photographs, make these dinos seem remarkably real. Ages 4–7.

February 1, 2013
A fishy breakfast almost turns fatal for huge, winged Quetzalcoatlus--the Spruce Goose of the Late Cretaceous. Inspired by the recent discovery of a fossil bone of the immense pterosaur (probably the largest flying creature who has ever lived, the author notes) scored with small tooth marks, the episode pairs a sketchy plot with eye-widening illustrations. Quetzalcoatlus lands by a stream and is attacked by a pack of needle-toothed raptor Saurornitholestes as a herd of Triceratops looks on in alarm. Placed in lifelike poses in front of or, in the better-fashioned scenes, within modern landscape photos, the prehistoric creatures sport feathers, wrinkles, teeth and scales that are all rendered with hyper-realistic clarity and sharpness. Despite the ferocity of the attack and references to bites and slashing claws, there is no blood or explicit violence to be seen, though extreme close-ups and low angles of view artfully capture the incident's drama as well as Quetzalcoatlus' awesome size. Dino devotees may be disappointed by the lack of a bibliography, but they will devour this eye candy with relish. (afterword) (Picture book. 6-9)

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