Get Your Dino Fix With These Upcoming Releases

Spring and summer 2019 will see no less than seven new dinosaur books, from stories recounted by paleontologists, geologists, teachers, and historians to beautifully illustrated guides of everyone’s favorite extinct creatures. Which dino tome is right for you? Below is a quick snapshot of each book to help your itchy pre-order clicker finger decide.

Dinosaurs Rediscovered: The Scientific Revolution in Paleontology by Michael J. Benton

 

In this accessible overview, renowned paleontologist Michael J. Benton reveals how our understanding of dinosaurs is being transformed by recent fossil finds and new technology. Benton gathers together all the latest paleontological evidence, tracing the transformation of dinosaur study from its roots in antiquated natural history to an indisputably scientific field. Among other things, the book explores how dinosaur remains are found and excavated, and especially how paleontologists read the details of dinosaurs’ lives from their fossils―their colors, their growth, and even whether we will ever be able to bring them back to life. Benton’s account shows that, though extinct, dinosaurs are still very much a part of our world. (May 2019)

Assembling the Dinosaur: Fossil Hunters, Tycoons, and the Making of a Spectacle by Lukas Rieppel

 

A lively account of how dinosaurs became a symbol of American power and prosperity and gripped the popular imagination during the Gilded Age, when their fossil remains were collected and displayed in museums financed by North America’s wealthiest business tycoons. (June 2019)

American Dinosaur Abroad: A Cultural History of Carnegie’s Plaster Diplodocus by Ilja Nieuwland

 

In this largely untold history, science historian Ilja Nieuwland tells the story of Dippy, the Diplodocus  skeleton uncovered in Wyoming 1899. Andrew Carnegie gifted plaster copies of the skeleton to Britain, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Russia, Argentina, and Spain, an effort in his political ambitions to establish a lasting world peace and avoid further international conflict. This book explores the influence of Andrew Carnegie’s prized skeleton on European culture through the dissemination, reception, and agency of his plaster casts, revealing much about the social, political, cultural, and scientific context of the early twentieth century. (April 2019) 

The Story of the Dinosaurs in 25 Discoveries: Amazing Fossils and the People Who Found Them by Donald R. Prothero

 

In twenty-five vivid vignettes, geology professor Donald R. Prothero weaves together the dramatic tales of dinosaur discoveries with what modern science now knows about the species to which they belong. He takes us from eighteenth-century sightings of colossal bones taken for biblical giants through recent discoveries of enormous predators even larger than Tyrannosaurus. He recounts the escapades of the larger-than-life personalities who made modern paleontology, including scientific rivalries like the nineteenth-century “Bone Wars.” Prothero also details how to draw the boundaries between species and explores debates such as whether dinosaurs had feathers, explaining the findings that settled them or keep them going. Throughout, he offers a clear and rigorous look at what paleontologists consider sound interpretation of evidence. (July 2019)

Dinosaur Facts and Figures: The Theropods and Other Dinosauriformes by Rubén Molina-Pérez and Asier Larramendi

 

This compendium features more than 3,000 records, covers some 750 theropod species, and includes a wealth of illustrations ranging from diagrams and technical drawings to full-color reconstructions of specimens.  “Comparing Species” gives comparisons of the size of species, how long ago they lived, and when they were discovered. “Mesozoic Calendar” includes spreads showing the positions of the continents at different geological time periods and reconstructions of creatures from each period. “Prehistoric Puzzle” compares bones, teeth, and feathers while “Theropod Life” uses vivid, user-friendly graphics to answer questions such as which dinosaur was the smartest and which had the most powerful bite. Other sections chart theropod distribution on the contemporary world map, provide comprehensive illustrated listings of footprints, compile the physical specifications of all known theropods and Mesozoic birds, and much more. (May 2019)

The World of Dinosaurs: An Illustrated Tour by Mark A. Norell 

 

Mark A. Norell is in charge of what is perhaps America’s most popular collection of dinosaur bones and fossils, the beloved displays at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. In The World of Dinosaurs, he leads readers through a richly illustrated collection detailing the evolution of these ancient creatures. From the horns of the Protoceratops to the wings of the Archaeopteryx, readers are invited to explore profiles of dinosaurs along with hundreds of color photographs, sketches, maps, and other materials—all rooted in the latest scientific discoveries—sure to both capture the imagination and satisfy a prehistoric curiosity. (April 2019)

Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs by Carl Mehling 

 

With descriptions of every dinosaur that ever lived, this appealing, accessible encyclopedia—featuring more than 450 illustrations and photographs­—is essential reading for anyone intrigued by nature at its most majestic. Using the latest paleontological research, Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs describes the creatures who lived during the great Age of Reptiles, the real-life giants and monsters such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus who once dominated our planet. Entries are arranged by chronological period, running from the Triassic through to the late Cretaceous. Information boxes provide key facts and figures on every featured dinosaur. (March 2019)