Ancient Animals

Ancient Animals: Terror Bird
By Sarah L. Thomson
Illustrated by Andrew Plant

Ages: 5-9
Category: Early Reader, Nonfiction
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Pub. Date: August 2013
ISBN: 978-1580893985, Hardcover, $12.95
ISBN: 978-1580893992, Paperback, $5.95

Imagine a predator as tall as a basketball hoop, with a beak like an axe and legs strong enough to break bones with one kick. That’s a terror bird, an enormous bird of prey that roamed the grasslands of South America for sixty million years. Fascinating facts and simple, clear text are perfect for children ready to master reading by themselves.

Awards & Accolades
“Will appeal to children fascinated by predator/prey relationships and creatures of the past….The text is simple and straightforward, with short sentences and an open format.”
— School Library Journal

Ancient Animals: Saber-toothed Cat

by Sarah L. Thomson

Illustrated by Andrew Plant

Ages: 5-9
Category: Early Reader, Nonfiction
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Pub. Date: October 2014
ISBN: 978-1580-894005, Hardcover, $12.95
ISBN: 978-158094074, Paperback, $5.95

Imagine a predator heavier than a bear, with teeth the length of your hand. Heavy and strong enough to tackle bison, it lurked behind bushes and in tall grass, ready to leap out at its next meal–a meal that might have been one of our long-ago ancestors. That’s a saber-toothed cat, who hunted in the grasslands of North America thousands of years ago. Fascinating facts about these powerful hunters are presented here in clear, simple language perfect for newly independent readers.

Ancient Animals: Plesiosaur

by Sarah L. Thomson

Illustrated by Andrew Plant

Ages: 5-9
Category: Early Reader, Nonfiction
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Pub. Date: July 2017
ISBN: 978-1580895422, Hardcover, $12.99
ASIN: B071VJMCRB, Kindle E-book, $4.99

In the warm, shallow seas that once covered much of North America, a predator lurked in shadowy waters, darting out a small head on a neck three times longer than that of a giraffe to snatch at passing prey. Marine reptiles like plesiosaurs thrived in prehistoric seas just as their dinosaur cousins did on land. Clear, simple language perfect for newly independent readers presents facts and mysteries  about these marvelous creatures. Did they care for their young? How did they become extinct? Dive into this book to find out!

Awards & Accolades

“Aiming for newly independent readers, Thomson describes in short sentences and simple language how plesiosaurs hunted, got about with their flippers, gave birth to live young, and succumbed at last to an extinction event 65 millions years ago. Details both tantalize (the “smooth stones” in a plesiosaur’s stomach “may have helped to crush food”) and enlighten through concrete example: “Some plesiosaurs were only a bit longer than a broomstick. Some could’ve stretched halfway across a basketball court.” Plant juices up the presentation with dramatic (labeled) portraits of thrillingly toothy predators leaving trails of blood in the water as they eat and are eaten. Tempting fare for young din-devotees.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Thomson brings a third book in the series to life with an entry on the plesiosaur….Plant’s dramatic and compelling illustrations add to the appeal for younger paleontology buffs….A title worth purchasing to round out a prehistoric animal collection.”
—School Library Journal