Global Warming and the Dinosaurs: Fossil Discoveries at the Poles

Be the first to write a review

Overview

Dinosaurs are usually pictured in warm, tropical environments, but fossils found at the poles are filling in the gap of knowledge about how and where these creatures lived. Evidence from bones and teeth to trackways and skin impressions raises important questions: How did dinosaurs cope with three months of total darkness in winter? What plants grew in the polar regions? How cold was it? What are the implications for today, as glaciers retreat, ice shelves melt, and permafrost thaws? The polar regions are a ...

See more details below
Hardcover (Library Binding)    
A book with a specially fortified binding and durable hardcover designed to withstand repeated use. Often used for children's titles and usually more expensive than standard hardcover editions.
$15.30
BN.com price
(Save 10%)$17.00 List Price
Other sellers (Hardcover)
  • All (16) from $1.99   
  • New (12) from $1.99   
  • Used (4) from $1.99   
Note: Kids' Club Eligible. See More Details.
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

Dinosaurs are usually pictured in warm, tropical environments, but fossils found at the poles are filling in the gap of knowledge about how and where these creatures lived. Evidence from bones and teeth to trackways and skin impressions raises important questions: How did dinosaurs cope with three months of total darkness in winter? What plants grew in the polar regions? How cold was it? What are the implications for today, as glaciers retreat, ice shelves melt, and permafrost thaws? The polar regions are a unique "library" of the past, and Caroline Arnold introduces readers to the gigantic prehistoric creatures that inhabited them.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
"The best of Caple's watercolors paintings convincingly portray individual animals while creating beautiful effects with fine-textured surfaces and suffused light. A list of museums featuring polar dinosaur fossils as well as related Internet sites is appended to this clearly written, informative, and handsome book"—Booklist
Children's Literature - Cherie Ilg Haas
Beautiful watercolor paintings of dinosaurs and their surprising habitats fill the pages of this unique book, which discusses the geologic evidence of dinosaurs in the polar regions of the earth. Descriptions of the different dinosaurs, their characteristics, and their assumed diet accompany the art. This book also explains the importance of ancient dinosaur footprints, which provide us with clues to which animals traveled where, if they were in herds, and other details of that nature. While global warming and the continental shifts are discussed in the early chapters and in the last chapter, the main body of the book is about the specific dinosaurs that have been traced to the polar regions. The title is a bit misleading because it is not necessarily about global warming, but that should not keep one from reading this book, which is full of amazing facts and images. It is also well-organized; it is divided into chapters based on present political boundaries. This book includes a table of contents, an index, and references to find more information about polar dinosaur fossils. Reviewer: Cherie Ilg Haas
School Library Journal
Gr 2–5—Arnold has done a solid job of presenting the fossil evidence that dinosaurs lived at or near the poles during the Mesozoic Era. She outlines the various species that have been found in Alaska, the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. One of her most interesting points is that dinosaurs lived in much cooler environments than we typically imagine and it appears that they had developed adaptations (large eyes, the ability to hibernate) to help them survive the colder climes. However, the book is really brought to life by Caple's stunning watercolor illustrations that show the various dinosaurs in their habitats. The skies for each image serve as a monotone background for the text, and the paintings of the dinosaurs perfectly frame the words in lively and dramatic poses. Children will definitely want to spend time examining the details of the artwork. One odd point about the book is the title in that the discussion of global warming is minimal and seemingly tangential to the fascinating material within.—Denise Schmidt, San Francisco Public Library, CA
Kirkus Reviews
Lacing her narrative with deliciously mouth-filling names-Pachyrhinosaurus, Fulgotherum, Saurornitholestes (go ahead, try them out)-Arnold tallies recent fossil discoveries inside or close to the Arctic and Antarctic Circles proving that dinosaurs weren't just tropical animals but could adapt to cold climates and long nights too. Moving region by region around the globe, the narrative provides brief descriptions of fossil finds in Alaska, Siberia, Canada, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand and Patagonia, along with hypotheses explaining diet and possible migratory habits that enabled them to survive. Caple offers only conventional portraits of big, toothy creatures patterned in subdued colors and posing against generic, sometimes snowy backgrounds, and the author's title has only the most tenuous connection to her actual subject. However, Arnold has found a topic that hasn't been treated in such detail elsewhere, making it a sure draw, therefore, for confirmed young dino-fans. (museum list, index) (Nonfiction. 9-11)
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780618803385
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Publication date: 10/19/2009
  • Format: Library Binding
  • Pages: 40
  • Sales rank: 962,776
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • Product dimensions: 10.30 (w) x 10.40 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Caroline Arnold always loved books, but as a child she never thought of writing as a career. Born in Pittsburgh, she grew up in Minneapolis and studied art at Grinnell College and the University of Iowa. "It was only after my children were born that I became acquainted with children's books and it occurred to me that I could use my training to become a children's book illustrator. I soon realized that I needed a text to go with the pictures, and the more I wrote, the more I realized that I liked writing as much as or more than drawing. I've always been fascinated by the natural world and love to go to the parks and museums. Perhaps that is why so many of my books are about scientific topics." Arnold is now the award-winning author of more than 100 books for children. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, a neuroscientist, and teaches writing at UCLA Extension. For more information visit www.carolinearnoldbooks.com.

Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
    If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
    Why is this product inappropriate?
    Comments (optional)