When Jack Horner was in high school, he put together a science project that identified and compared dinosaur fossils from Montana and Alberta. Now a world-renowned dinosaur paleontologist, Dr. Horner realizes that many of his identifications in that proje
Author of The Way West and the screenplay for the classic Shane, among many other timeless stories, icon of Western literature A. B. "Bud" Guthrie Jr. brought a blazing realism to the story of the West. That realism came out of the depth of Guthrie's historical research and an acuity that had seldom been seen in the work of Western novelists. The small Montana town that figures in several of Guthrie's books is clearly patterned after the town where he grew up, Choteau, on the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains. Biographer Benson illuminates Guthrie's upbringing and education, the influence of his intellectually inclined father, his work as a newspaperman in Kentucky, and his time at Harvard University. Animated by the observations of friends, family, and fellow authors, this intimate account offers rare insight into the life and work of a remarkable writer and into the making of the literary West.--From publisher description.
To read "Teddy's Dinosaur Adventure: A Teddy Bear's Mission to Meet Real Dinosaurs," you will meet Teddy, a cute teddy bear with big dreams and a strong desire to learn. One night under the stars, Teddy decides that he wants to go on an adventure that will take him out of his cozy home and into the world of the beautiful dinosaurs he has only read about. Because of this goal, Teddy sets out on a journey into the unknown, eager to find the elusive Dino Valley. An odd plan he finds in an old book helps him along the way. Teddy's trip takes him through beautiful landscapes that are full of challenges that test his bravery and determination. Teddy's trip is as much about the distance he travels as it is about the inner insights he gains. It takes him from the quiet depths of old forests where wise owls chat to singing rivers whose waters guide his steps and up mountains that scrape the sky. With each step forward, Teddy meets a new person who teaches him something new. He learns about kindness from a gentle fish, the eternal cycle of life from dinosaur elders, and the value of community and celebration from a happy dance with dinosaurs. Teddy's trip is full of magical moments, like when he touches something in the meadow and magical flowers bloom, or when he goes into a cave and hears voices from a long time ago talking about ancient mysteries. The interesting and mysterious people Teddy meets show him and the kids who read about him that the world is a never-ending research lab where even the hardest puzzles can be solved with bravery, friendship, and an open mind. It's not the dinosaurs themselves that Teddy thinks is the most amazing thing he has found, but rather his trip. His search ends on a night of wishes under a sky full of shooting stars. He's learned to be brave, met new people, and understood that journeys aren't just about getting somewhere; they're also about growing as a person, discovering new things, and making friends along the way. Teddy starts telling stories about magical fields, whispered secrets, and dinosaur dances when he gets home. People who read his stories are encouraged to go after their goals, start their own journeys, and remember that the most important things in life are our own thoughts and the relationships we make. The sweet story "Teddy's Dinosaur Adventure" celebrates the desire to learn more, the thrill of adventure, and the strong bond between friends. Chapter 1: A Wish Under the Stars A cute little teddy bear named Teddy, whose heart was as big as his interest, was lying on his back one beautiful night and looking up at the stars. For people who were brave enough to dream, each star was like a small lighthouse of wonder and hope that led to trips and dreams. With his smooth hair and kind, friendly eyes, Teddy was no different. That one night, his mind took him far from his cozy bed and into a huge, unexplored world waiting for him to find it. Teddy wanted to do many things, but one stood out: he wanted to meet real dinosaurs, the amazing animals he had only read about and seen in picture books. As Teddy lay there, the stars seemed to be brightening up to show that they were hearing his inner wishes. Teddy will always remember how wonderful that day was. He didn't know that this was the start of an amazing journey that would take him places he never thought possible. Even though it was very dark, Teddy saw something quietly twinkle next to him when the stars were the brightest. But this wasn't just any plan. This map was interesting; it came out of nowhere and had bright colors and worn edges. It made Teddy want to go on a journey like no other. With its winding roads, tall mountains, wide rivers, and dense woods, the map was beautifully made. Teddy's heart skipped a beat, but what really interested him was the big "X" that had been put in a certain spot and was labeled "Dino Valley." Dino Valley: Could it have once been home to real dinosaurs? Teddy's desire to try new things made him think that this was a chance he couldn't miss, and the idea was exciting. For the rest of the night, Teddy held the map in his small hands and thought about the trip he was about to take. He imagined himself walking through beautiful valleys while dinosaurs watched over him. He felt small and brave because he knew deep down that this was where he belonged. He saw himself playing with dinosaurs, learning from them, and even telling them stories under the big sky full of stars. The map wasn't just a piece of paper; it led to an interesting world and hinted at the amazing journey that was to come. When the first pink and gold light of dawn hit the walls of Teddy's room, he knew that his life was about to change. Thanks to the confusing map that would lead him, he was excited to explore the unknown, figure out Dino Valley's puzzles, and see the real dinosaurs of his dreams. He was led on this trip by the stars and his never-ending curiosity, like a teddy bear who thought dreams were magical. People all over the world were excited for Teddy to start his journey. Chapter 2: The Mysterious Chart Teddy was happy to start his day on a sunny morning because he had made his wish under the stars the night before. Today seemed different, but he couldn't explain why until he saw an old book that had been left on a shelf. This book wasn't like any other; it had been ignored for years and was full of dust. Its pages had hints of stories about creatures that have been dead for a long time, lost places, and the past. As Teddy carefully opened the book with his tiny, delicate paws, he felt like he was opening a prize chest. He had no idea what treats he would find inside. Teddy's heart was racing with joy as he turned the pages, which were full of drawing and stories about dinosaurs. He could picture himself walking among these huge animals, hearing their loud howls and feeling the ground shake under their feet. There was a map hidden among the stories and tales that Teddy found. It would change the course of his life forever. There was something strange about this map—it was dark and glowing all by itself, like it was alive and trying to reach out to him. Teddy was excited to explore the world of mountains, rivers, woods, and valleys that seemed to jump off the map's beautifully drawn pages. And there was Dino Valley, which had an “X" on it that seemed to glow just for him. Teddy's shocked eyes got even bigger. Some people said that dinosaurs still walked freely in Dino Valley, which was cut off from the rest of the world. There was a place Teddy had a hard time understanding that existed and that he would be able to visit it. There it was—a map showing the way. It was like the gods had heard his dream and decided to make it come true in the most imaginative way. Teddy understood how important it was to find the map. It looked like it had been hidden in the old book, ready to come out at the right time. Teddy saw the map as a way to get to a world beyond his wildest dreams and as a sign of exciting things to come. He was so excited that he couldn't help but use his finger to map out the way to Dino Valley and think about all the fun things that were going to happen. Of course, there would be problems. We wouldn't know what would happen on the long trip. Teddy, on the other hand, was ready for the journey of a lifetime because he was brave and had a big imagination.
Providing an appealing chronology of "all things dinosaur," this book covers these ancient creatures' roles and surprising importance in science, religion, and society at large. This exhaustive, up-to-date book contains more than 2,000 entries about dinosaurs and dinosaur-related topics. It provides not only detailed information about their discovery, underlying science, and recent technologies and theories but also encompasses all of the facets of dinosaurs in society—for example, their use in consumer marketing and promotion, popularization of dinosaurs in the media, as "proof" for both evolutionists and creationists to substantiate their claims about life's origins, and as cultural artifacts. Organized chronologically, the book offers an informative and entertaining timeline of how dinosaurs have appeared in science, religion, and society since they were discovered in the 1800s, covering everything from dinosaur museum displays to how dinosaurs served advocates of young-Earth creationism. This fascinating work enables a broad appreciation for the surprising significance of dinosaurs in many aspects of our daily lives and modern society.
The mighty dinosaurs were the dominant life form on earth for millions of years. But catastrophe awaited. In what amounts to a geological blink of an eye, the dinosaurs disappeared. This fun-filled fact-book takes you deep into the world of dinosaurs! From Tyrannosaurs to Stegosaurs, The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book profiles numerous species, chronicling their time on Earth and exploring their roles in archaeological expeditions and museums today. It covers the latest, greatest findings along with the accompanying shifts in dinosaur theory. Because of recent discoveries, there are some great debates: Are birds really dinosaurs? Were any dinosaurs warm blooded? What caused their extinction? Unearth answers to over 800 commonly asked (and just plain interesting) dinosaur questions such as . . . What is a dinosaur? Where are extremely large dinosaur bones being found and why? Did dinosaurs get blown away by hurricanes? Did some dinosaurs have self-sharpening teeth? Which dinosaur had the longest neck of any animal known? Did dinosaurs travel in herds? What dinosaurs are thought to have evolved into birds? Do dinosaur bones ever get “rearranged” after they are placed on display? Where and what is the Dinosaur Freeway? From the earth’s beginnings through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods to today’s latest scientific discoveries and discovery-laden sites, The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book provides hundreds of intriguing dinosaur facts. With numerous photos and illustrations, this tome is richly illustrated, and its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness. It’s a perfect reference to help make sense of 65-million-year-old mysteries!
Twelve-year-old supersleuth Devlin Quick heads to Montana to dig out dinosaur bones, but instead she uncovers a mystery in this second book in the thrilling series from New York Times bestselling author Linda Fairstein After successfully apprehending a map thief at the beginning of summer, Dev is going to spend the second half of her summer vacation in Montana with her best friend, Katie, exploring the outdoors and NOT getting into trouble. But after participating in a dinosaur dig, Katie and Dev suspect that someone bad is in the Badlands when Katie's found fossils are switched out for old rocks. The good news? With Mom back in New York, no one can stop Devlin from investigating! But the fossil thief isn’t the only danger here, as snakes, scorpions, and bears abound, making Montana a treacherous place for finding answers. And when the mystery takes Dev and Katie back to Manhattan—to the Museum of Natural History—the case gets even more complicated, even with Dev’s friend Booker there to help. Dev has to use her brains, brawn, and yes, okay, the lessons learned from her police commissioner mother if she wants to dig up the truth once and for all. This is the perfect read for fans of Nancy Drew and Theodore Boone.
Prehistoric Adventures In the wild Mesozoic Era, join the Triceratops Troop as they discover the ancient world, facing exciting challenges and making bonds that can't be broken. In Summary: Children love "Prehistoric Adventures" because it tells the exciting story of a brave group of Triceratops who go on an adventure through the Mesozoic era's wild and unknown areas. While Trixie guides them, these young dinosaurs go through a number of events that test their bravery, intelligence, and ability to connect with others. As they move, they see the big, colorful world of their time, which is full of both amazing things and dangerous things. At the start of the story, the troop goes on its first trip into the unknown because they are curious and want to follow a set of strange tracks. Their natural interest leads them to a series of scary encounters with Tyrannosaurus Rexs that test their ability to be brave and think quickly. Along the way, they face tough situations like a raging river and a dangerous volcanic blast, which shows how strong and united they are. While traveling, Trixie and her friends learn the value of kindness and compassion when they find a lost egg. This teaches them to be aware of other living things around them. Building this sense of community is a feast of friendship that brings together many species in peace and joy. Through their study, they learn more about their surroundings and the important water source, which leads them to mysterious echoing caves and a secret oasis. They also find fossils from a long time ago, which makes them think about their ancestors and links them to the planet's long past. Trixie and her friends are smarter, closer together, and excited to share what they've learned when they get home. They are no longer just explorers. They learn important lessons about friendship, life, and the many mysteries of their ancient society on their trip. "Prehistoric Adventures" is more than just a story about dinosaurs getting into trouble. It's also an educational and inspiring trip through time. Young readers are told to learn about history, enjoy nature, and know that bravery, unity, and kindness are always important. Trixie and her troop show kids that trips aren't just about getting to the end point; they're also about making friends and learning things along the way. Chapter 1: The Start of an Adventure As the sky turned pink and orange with the first light of morning, Trixie the Triceratops and her friends stretched their legs. It was a new day in the Mesozoic age. The world was waking up, and the air was filled with the sounds of nature, including the roars of dinosaurs and the songs of primitive birds. The lush landscape that went on as far as the eye could see was full of life, from the tall trees with their big leaves to the peaceful streams that ran through the land and gave any animal that crossed them a drink. With her thick wings and sharp horns, Trixie was not a normal Triceratops. She was young, full of energy, and very interested in everything going on around her. Her friends were a variety of dinosaurs, and they all loved to go on adventures. Each dinosaur had its own special abilities and traits. The Stegosaurus, Stego, was always ready to protect the group. His spiked tail and row of huge plates going down his back made him easy to spot. The Pterodactyl Pterosaur flew through the sky, scanning the distance for signs of trouble or discovery. He was followed by the Brachiosaurus Bronto, whose neck could reach the trees' sweetest leaves when it was stretched out. As the sun rose higher and turned the sky a bright blue, Trixie led her friends into the unknown. The Mesozoic was a very long time ago, and it was a very big time. Deep rivers cut through the land, carrying both dangerous and interesting animals. There were also huge grasslands where groups of dinosaurs walked freely. It looked like the lush woods went on forever. There was no doubt that the group was excited as they left. Every strange sound, even the rustling of bushes, made them more interested. What would be new for them to learn now? Are they going to find a new kind of plant that Bronto can eat? They might find a clean, cold pond where they could all cool off, or they might find a secret path that leads to a part of their planet that no one knew about before. With each step, Trixie and her friends learned something new about their house. Seeing how life moved around them made them aware of how delicate nature's balance is. Any living thing, from the biggest dinosaur to the tiniest bug, was seen to depend on each other. Through their trips, they learned how important it is to work together and be friends. It taught them to depend on each other's skills and help each other out when things got tough. As they experienced the wild beauty of the Mesozoic era, they learned most of all what it means to truly adventure. It was about getting past problems and seeing new places, but it was also about being open to the world, learning something new every day, and growing as a person. As the sun went down and long shadows went over the area, Trixie and her friends knew that the day's events were coming to an end. But their hearts full of happiness and their minds full of stories from the day, they went back to where they had last rested. They went to sleep under a sky full of stars and dreamed of all the things they could do in the huge, lush world of the Mesozoic times. Chapter 2: Mysterious Traces As Trixie the Triceratops and her friends went deeper into the dark, green jungle on a lovely morning, they came across something strange. They had never seen those footsteps before in the soft, wet ground. The fact that these tracks were big and well-defined showed that the animal that made them was different from anything they had seen before. The footprint shapes interested Trixie and her friends because there was always something new to learn about the world, they lived in with so many interesting species during the Mesozoic era. The team was eager to figure out the puzzle, so they chose to follow the footprint path. With each step, they went deeper into the forest, where no one had been before. Only small bits of sunlight could reach the ground because of the thick canopy above. The dance of shadows added to the mystery and excitement of their journey. As they followed the path, they thought about what kind of animal had left these marks. Was it polite? Bronto, was it taller than the tallest of them? It might have had long, spreading wings like their flying friend Ptero. Along their trip, they did more than just follow a path. They also learned about the fragile balance of their world and made new discoveries. They saw how the tracks affected the tiny plants and animals that lived on the forest floor. Some plants seemed to do well in the disturbed soil, and they saw different ways that the path's light got through the trees. These discoveries, like parts of a jigsaw puzzle, gave them clues about the past of their original world. As the group traveled, their minds were filled with all the possible outcomes. They thought about meeting a new dinosaur that had pretty feathers or could sing. It was talked about how they would meet each other, make friends, tour the forests, and share what they knew.
Mary Anning was only 12 years old when she excavated the skeleton of an unknown animal. The discovery of the ichthyosaur was the dawn of a new age of science called paleontology, and Anning became one of the leading experts in the study of dinosaurs. Her discoveries helped lay the groundwork for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and changed the way scientists understood the past. Unfortunately, as a woman of the 1800s, Anning received almost no recognition for her contributions, which were instead credited to the male naturalists who had purchased her specimens. Author Stephanie Bearce brings Anning's remarkable work to life for young readers with research and projects that allow children to experience hands&‑on science as Anning did. Kids will create fossil models in plaster and use tools to extract them, build a Mesozoic diorama of a dinosaur habitat, grow crystals in an eggshell to observe how geodes are formed, and much more!