ALA Booklist (Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2001)

Designed to fit on the Oversize shelf next to its companion volume, Dino saurs! The Biggest, Baddest, Strangest, Fastest (2000), this gallery of airborne and marine reptiles, giant birds, and massive early mammals matches gore-free but action-packed animal portraits from several artists to brief commentary that identifies each creature, then presents educated guesses about habits, range, and appearance. Although the quality of the art is more variable than in the previous book, with some scenes (notably Douglas Henderson's painting of a Mosasaurus about to lay eggs and Gregory Paul's view of Quetzalcoatlus in flight) noticeably less detailed, there are plenty of melodramatic show-stoppers, and the information is as up-to-date as can be expected in this rapidly advancing field of science. A short list of Web sites at the end will further please young fans of the toothed, tusked, and extinct.

Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2007)

Eleven brief profiles of prehistoric animals that coexisted with dinosaurs give information about the flying and swimming creatures' anatomies, possible behaviors, and habitats, as well as how to pronounce their satisfyingly long scientific names. The excellent illustrations capture the featured animals in exciting and realistic action as they swoop, dive, rise from the water, and capture prey.

Kirkus Reviews

Giving younger dinophiles a chance to wrap their tongues around monikers like Deinosuchus, Pterodaustro and Archaeopteryx, this gallery of monsters that aren't classified as dinosaurs but lived during the same time period presents 11 toothy creatures—generally seen, in the melodramatic illustrations, lunging at prey or gliding sinuously through air or water. Along with a pronunciation guide for each, Brown presents a selection of memorably stated facts—Kronosaurus "was longer than a bus. It had teeth as big as bananas"—to go with the art. Closing with a simple explanation of fossilization, this "Level 2" addition to the dinosaur shelves should soar off with the ease of a leather-winged Pteranodon. (Easy reader/nonfiction. 6-8)

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-This introduction to creatures "just as strange and wonderful as any dinosaur" pairs a straightforward text with action-packed, lifelike illustrations. The book's structure is similar to Brown's other "I Can Read!" titles, with a spread devoted to each of 11 prehistoric animals, including the Elasmosaurus, Hainosaurus, and Archaeopteryx. Helpful pronunciation guides are included. Readers of this book will get a close-up feel for life millions of years ago.-Sarah O'Holla, Village Community School, New York City Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.