Gr 4–7— This beautifully illustrated encyclopedia of prehistoric beasts breaks down each major era and highlights creatures like the Coelophysis, Ichthyosaurus, Quetzalcoatlus, and even the biggest snake ever, Titanoboa. Interspersed among those features are vignettes of related topics, such as what dinosaurs sound like, how flight evolved, and how dinosaurs cared for their young. The back matter includes a glossary. This book can work for young readers that want to explore the brightly colored pages and detailed drawings of these creatures and just browse, or for those who want to learn about dinosaurs and animals that are not as familiar in popular media. VERDICT An excellent purchase for elementary and middle school nonfiction collections where dinosaurs and prehistoric beasts are always of interest.— Molly Dettmann