Starred Review Dinosaurs are always attention grabbers, but the largest dinosaur ever discovered? That's going to draw kids like a magnet. Luckily, this oversize book can accommodate a small herd of curious youngsters. When a gaucho happened upon a huge bone protruding from the ground of his ranch in Argentina, he alerted paleontologists at a nearby museum. Doctors Carballido and Pol eagerly assembled a team of archaeologists to excavate what turned out to be the gigantic femur of a titanosaur. As the team hurried to unearth the vast skeleton, the bones of seven other titanosurs were also discovered. This book does an exceptional job of conveying the enthusiasm of the paleontologists (largely through recreated dialogue), scientific information relayed in illustrated sidebars, and the sheer size of the dinosaur painting of Dr. Carballido lying beside the almost eight-foot femur is one such example. Gigena's grand, watercolor-like paintings do more than depict an archaeological dig: they superimpose a "living" titanosaur over the discovered skeleton, they show fossils in a cutaway of the earth, and they frequently illuminate a detail or concept introduced by the main text. Furthermore, photos of fossils and the actual dig appear on many pages. A concluding author's note seeks to inspire a new generation of paleontologists, and after reading this book, there will doubtless be many lining up for the job.

Argentine scientists involved in the actual dig describe one of modern paleontology's most titanic discoveries."Excuse me," says a Patagonian gaucho, stopping to view a dinosaur exhibit on a visit to town. "I found a bone just like that one on my ranch. But it's much bigger than that one." And so it is, as investigating paleontologist José (lead author Carballido) demonstrates in a memorable, money-shot illustration by Gigena, by lying down beside a 7-foot, 10-inch fossil femur—the largest of over 180 bones to be excavated, carefully preserved, hauled away from their remote site, and copied so that an exact replica of the humongous new species, Patagotitan mayorum, could be assembled. Running sidebar definitions and explanations of, for instance, how scientists can estimate a dinosaur's body mass by measuring its arm and leg bones and what a single fossil tooth can tell scientists about a dinosaur's eating habits enhance the third-person account, as does the mix of photos and painted views of women and (mostly unshaven) men at work in the field and lab. The story and pictures culminate in a jaw-dropping double-page-spread portrait of the finished dino model. "It's the biggest dinosaur ever found," concludes José's partner Diego (co-author Pol). "For now," replies José.Everyone who reads this case study in paleontology's methods and awesome rewards will want to grow up to be a dinosaur scientist. (jacket poster) (Informational picture book. 6-9)

The paleontologist authors take readers step-by-step through the process of unearthing, transporting, and assembling a titanosaur skeleton they discovered. Additional definitions and facts are found at the bottoms or sides of the pages. Gigena's art (which appears to be pencil and watercolor) skillfully conveys the immensity of the fossils. Small photographs of the authors and their team members at work are found throughout.

Argentine scientists involved in the actual dig describe one of modern paleontology's most titanic discoveries."Excuse me," says a Patagonian gaucho, stopping to view a dinosaur exhibit on a visit to town. "I found a bone just like that one on my ranch. But it's much bigger than that one." And so it is, as investigating paleontologist José (lead author Carballido) demonstrates in a memorable, money-shot illustration by Gigena, by lying down beside a 7-foot, 10-inch fossil femur—the largest of over 180 bones to be excavated, carefully preserved, hauled away from their remote site, and copied so that an exact replica of the humongous new species, Patagotitan mayorum, could be assembled. Running sidebar definitions and explanations of, for instance, how scientists can estimate a dinosaur's body mass by measuring its arm and leg bones and what a single fossil tooth can tell scientists about a dinosaur's eating habits enhance the third-person account, as does the mix of photos and painted views of women and (mostly unshaven) men at work in the field and lab. The story and pictures culminate in a jaw-dropping double-page-spread portrait of the finished dino model. "It's the biggest dinosaur ever found," concludes José's partner Diego (co-author Pol). "For now," replies José.Everyone who reads this case study in paleontology's methods and awesome rewards will want to grow up to be a dinosaur scientist. (jacket poster) (Informational picture book. 6-9)

Gr 1-3 Carballido and Pol retell the amazing story of how they excavated and reconstructed a 100-million-year-old titanosaur in Patagonia. The narrative begins with the discovery of a large bone by a man, referred to only as "gaucho," and his eventual meeting with the authors/paleontologists before seguing into a detailed account of how a team of paleontologists methodically uncovered multiple titanosaurs and transported them to the MEF Museum in Patagonia for reconstruction. With highlighted sections explaining vocabulary, special topics, and research methods, the book contains a lively mix of data, from details about sauropods to the day-to-day work of scientists. This title would work well for kids curious about the duties of a paleontologist. Gigena's beautiful, full-spread illustrations of the Patagonia terrain and the titanosaur are mesmerizing to look at. There are also color photos of the excavation and completed titanosaur skeleton featured throughout the book. VERDICT Consider for dino enthusiasts. Meaghan Nichols, ASI Heritage, Ont.