Abstract
Reviewed by: The First Dinosaur: How Science Solved the Greatest Mystery on Earth by Ian Lendler Elizabeth Bush Lendler, Ian The First Dinosaur: How Science Solved the Greatest Mystery on Earth; illus. by C. M. Butzer and with photographs. McElderry/Simon, 2019 224p Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-5344-2700-6 $24.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-5344-2702-0 $12.99 R Gr. 6-9 The remains of dinosaurs were, of course, trapped within and scattered upon Earth for millions of years before humans appeared and wondered over them, but without humans' collective knowledge and imagination to conceive that fossils testify to life before pre-Biblical (or other mythological) time, they might just as well have stayed hidden. In this big picture view of the scientific revolution—well, leaps and baby steps—that led to the identification and description of Megalosaurus, Lendler offers a thoroughly engaging history of myriad milestones that were crossed before anyone could believe in dinosaurs' existence. The narrative is both patient and enthusiastic, with an approach that leads readers steadily from the first naturalists to document their findings and include description and measurements; through naturalists who dared speculate that outlandish specimens could not be accounted for by the Bible; through geologists who pushed Earth's creation back into deep time; to scientists who shared, critiqued, and dismissed one another's findings and kept debate on the boil. This journey is raucous and often very funny, with big-name scientists, forgotten scholars, and credit to the quarry workers and canal diggers whose perspicacity would never illuminate the halls of the geological societies. Well-captioned period reproductions are included, as well as index, citations, and bibliography. Readers carrying their dinophilia into middle school and beyond will be delighted with this deep dive into the origins of their mania. Copyright © 2019 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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