The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins

by Barbara Kerley, Brian Selznick (Illustrator)

Overview

This extraordinary true story introduces readers to the unforgettable Waterhouse Hawkins: Victorian artist and visionary who built the world's first life-size models of dinosaurs!

Can you fathom a time when almost no one in the world knew what a dinosaur looked like? That was true in the mid-nineteenth century, until Victorian artist Waterhouse Hawkins built the first life-size models of dinosaurs, first in his native England and later in New York City, and dazzled the world with his awe-inspiring creations. With impeccable attention to detail, Barbara Kerley unearths a story of consuming passion, triumph, loss, and courage—and ultimately, of an extraordinary legacy that lives on today. Caldecott Medalist Brian Selznick celebrates this complex and fascinating individual through luminous, soul-stirring paintings that form a visual masterpiece.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780439114943
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2001
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	1,077,344
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 12.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Brian Selznick’s books have sold millions of copies, garnered countless awards worldwide, and been translated into more than 35 languages. He broke open the novel form with his innovative and genre-defying thematic trilogy, beginning with the Caldecott Medal-winning #1 New York Times bestseller The Invention of Hugo Cabret, adapted into Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning movie Hugo. He followed that with the #1 New York Times bestseller, Wonderstruck, adapted into the eponymous movie by celebrated filmmaker Todd Haynes, with a screenplay by Selznick, and the New York Times bestseller, The Marvels. Selznick’s two most recent books for young people, Baby Monkey, Private Eye, an ALA Notable Book co-written with his husband David Serlin, and Kaleidoscope, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2021, were both New York Times bestsellers as well. He also illustrated the 20th anniversary edition covers of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Selznick and Serlin divide their time between Brooklyn, New York and La Jolla, California. Learn more at thebrianselznick.com and mediaroom.scholastic.com/brianselznick.
Barbara Kerley is a two-time Sibert Honoree and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honoree whose award-winning biographies include What to Do About Alice?, The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy), Those Rebels, John & Tom, and A Home for Mr. Emerson, all illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham; Tigers & Tea with Toppy, illustrated by Matte Stephens; and The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins and Walt Whitman: Words for America, illustrated by Brian Selznick. Kerley's books have all been praised for their lively prose, meticulous research, and artistic presentation style. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit her online at barbarakerley.com.

Editorial Reviews

Distinctions and Praise for The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins: (partial listing)Caldecott Honor BookALA Notable Children's Book NAPPA Gold Award WinnerOrbis Pictus Honor Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for ChildrenPublishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2001CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People CBC/NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children New York Public Library - 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing * "One look at this amazing-but-true picture book introducing the little-known artist Hawkins and his dreams of dinosaurs, and kids may well forget about Jurassic Park." —Publishers Weekly , starred review * "Stunning." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review* "Appealing on many levels, this will be a favorite dinosaur book for years to come." —Booklist, starred review

From the Publisher

Gr 2–5—Today a basic knowledge of dinosaurs is common, but in the early 1800s scientists were just beginning to discover odd, oversized bones and draw conclusions, many of them erroneous. In 1853, London artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins decided to educate and enthrall the public by sculpting life-sized dinosaur models. He even held a dinner party inside one of his iguanodon sculptures! Barbara Kerley's true story (Scholastic, 2001) chronicles the artist's achievements, providing information about his life, his successes, and his calamitous encounter with Boss Tweed in New York City. While Jonathan Pryce reads the story with expression and vigor, Brian Selznick's rich, Caldecott Honor-winning illustrations are scanned, with minor animation added. The story is fascinating and the illustrations are dramatic. Original music and background sounds augment the production. The interviews with the author and illustrator nicely round out the production, providing interesting information about how artists and authors work to create their final products, the value of libraries, and the excitement of finding and sharing information with a new generation; photos of the actual Waterhouse sculptures in England are included. Read-along subtitles are options. The interviews greatly increase curriculum application possibilities.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

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