Horned Dinosaurs: The Ceratopsians (Dinosaur Library)
Grade 6-10-Horned Dinosaurs offers an examination of the most  dramatic-looking dinosaurs, focusing on three families of  ceratopsians-psittacosaurs, protoceratopsids, and ceratopsids. A  fictional event in which a massive herd of ceratopsians attempts  to cross a swiftly flowing river introduces the volume. The text  is clear, but somewhat repetitious. Yet anyone seeking  substantial information on these dinosaurs will find this title  considerably more satisfying than the chapters allotted them in  more general works. Ornithopods may be peaceful, but they aren't  dull, and the second book explores the purpose of these  creatures' unique skull structures. A realistic look at their  likely nesting habits is offered in a fictional introduction. It  presents the idea of living animals instead of old, dry bones.  The features that distinguish dinosaurs from other animals and  ornithopods from other dinosaurs as well as a chart detailing  various theories of dinosaur extinction offer context and  perspective. For knowledge about dinosaurs in general, this is a  good starting place. For information about iguanodonts,  duckbills, and other ornithopods, it's a rich resource. Both  titles look at the creatures' anatomy, physiology, geographic  range, reproduction, feeding, and defense habits. Finely  detailed ink drawings provide a close look at the animals'  features while an occasional dramatic scene gives a view of  their likely living conditions. Carefully detailed ink drawings,  halftone photographs of actual fossils, dramatic artistic  scenes, and numerous charts provide access to a fairly complete  understanding of these animals. Extensive supplementary  materials include annotated chronologies of major discoveries  through 2001 and lists of currently known findings with the  dates of discovery and surnames of their discoverers.Ann G.  Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NYCopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.