Real-Life Sea Monsters

September 1, 2007
Gr 2-4-The first book introduces kraken, mermaids, and sea serpents and poses the question of whether these creatures might in fact have been giant squid, manatee, and oarfish, respectively, and does so by citing their appearances and behaviors. The author and illustrator employ a romanticized look and tone with an uneven result. Forced alliterations, "terrible tentacles that tackled ships," flow in and out of the text. The illustrations are representative of the text's uneven quality, computer-assisted art gone awry. A squatting cameraman's clothing appears painted on from waist to chest and a woman with a bulky body has a pin head. In an easy-to-understand text, the second book discusses Dr. William Hammer's discovery of "Cryolophosaurus", a 190-million-year-old frozen crested lizard, in Antarctica in 1991. The straightforward presentation concisely discloses what led the team of scientists there and how the paleontologists went about their work. The book discusses their preparations, training, and techniques, and clearly conveys the dangers the expedition faced. The illustrations, done in crisp, bold colors, show the team at work and their discoveries."Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA"

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