The Search for Seismosaurus: The World's Longest Dinosaur

Gillette, J. Lynett

ISBN 10: 0803713592 ISBN 13: 9780803713598

Publisher: Dial Books, 1994

A pronunciation key, paintings, and full-color photographs from the excavation accompany the first authorized account, written by a participating paleontologist, of the discovery of the Seismosaurus fossils in 1985. Jr Lib Guild.

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From Publishers Weekly:

The careful, laborious unraveling of a paleontological puzzle that would eventually lead to the discovery of Seismosaurus , the longest dinosaur, serves as the focus of this intriguing if not altogether fulfilling book. Gillette, a paleontologist involved in the excavation of the skeleton, charts the processes of organizing the dig (which began in 1985) and preparing and analyzing the find. Photos of the site and of various equipment developed to locate bones buried deep in the sandstone clarify the complicated mechanics involved in scientific research, but much of the information may be beyond the intended audience. The chief finds here are Hallett's ( The News About Dinosaurs ) stunning paintings of dinosaur life, which use earthy tones to suggest what Seismosaurus may have looked like. While the twists and turns of the excavation hint at an exciting conclusion, the book ends abruptly with Seismosaurus still not wholly uncovered and the anticlimactic suggestion that someday "excavators may find the rest of the skeleton." Ages 6-10.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 3-6-At an estimated 150 feet long, Seismosaurus is the longest dinosaur that's been found so far. Not a lot has been written about it since it was discovered in 1985. The story here is not so much about Seismosaurus as it is about its excavation. After workers unearthed the creature's tailbones, they weren't sure where the rest of the fossil lay. David Gillette, who headed the project, got assistance and new technologies from various scientists. The crew measured magnetic waves, took core samples of the earth, and used sound waves to try and locate more bones. None of these methods was a complete success, but the excavators are still digging, hoping someday to find the dino's head. Written by Gillette's wife, this book includes many full-color photos from the dig, as well as paintings of Jurassic Period beasts. A good account of what paleontologists do on the job, and a welcome addition to any collection.
Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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