Australian dinosaurs and mega beasts by Myke Mollard

It may be 65 million years since a meteor apparently wiped out the land-dwelling dinosaurs and ended the Age of the Dinosaurs but stories with headlines like this, 'Fossilised footprints found at Queensland school' from just a month ago, still make national news and capture the imagination.

Because no matter our age, there is still a fascination with these creatures particularly when we realise that a lot of the early evidence of how life began on Earth is actually to be found in Australia such as the stromatolites which still exist in Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay, WA. Thus, this book, another of Myke Mollard's fascinating creations, is going to have wide appeal as it explores the range and diversity of Australian wildlife from prehistory through to the final days of our unique megafauna. Covering over 70 animals that lived in Australia at various times during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras including sea creatures to amphibians, dinosaurs, reptiles, birds and mammals and with meticulous attention to the environment and flora of each period portrayed in both exquisite, detailed illustrations and text suitable for independent readers who want more information than just a starter book, it introduces a succession of the huge animals that marched, flew and swam across our landscape, from the terrifying Daspletosaurus to the more sedentary Diprotodon.

The endpapers set the scene....
The endpapers set the scene....

Maps, timelines, and comparison charts all add to the visual and learning experience, making this one an ideal addition to the 567.9 collection because it delves deeper, going beyond description and explains how the Australian continent has changed over the millennia and the impact of the change on the landscape and its inhabitants. Definitely one for those whose interest was piqued by that remarkable stone at Biloela High School!

Themes: Dinosaurs, Extinct animals, Fossils, Australia, Prehistoric Earth.

Barbara Braxton