Dinosaur Ghosts: The Mystery of Coelophysis - Hardcover

Gillette, J. Lynett

4.04

27 ratings by Goodreads

9780803717220: Dinosaur Ghosts: The Mystery of Coelophysis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0803717229 ISBN 13: 9780803717220

Publisher: Dial, 1997

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Examines the possible causes of the catastrophe that killed hundreds of Coelophysis dinosaurs 225 million years ago, exploring such possible scenarios as a huge flood, a volcano, and an asteroid.

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From Kirkus Reviews:

An essential purchase--Gillette (The Search for Seismosaurus, 1994) has written another involving book about a topic of guaranteed interest to children. The book opens in 1947, when paleontologists dug up tons of tightly packed bones in the canyons near Ghost Ranch, N.M.; since then they have studied and puzzled over the cause of the sudden extinction of the speedy, dog-sized dinosaurs called Coelophysis, who roamed New Mexico 225 million years ago. Gillette demonstrates the scientific method, postulating a hypothesis and then investigating it against the evidence found in rocks and fossils. Did a sticky pit like La Brea trap the little dinosaurs? Was it a volcanic eruption? Asteroids? Poisoned water? She tests each hypothesis, presents the most likely explanation, given current evidence, and concludes that the answer is not yet final: ``Scientists are always ready to change their ideas to fit what they learn.'' The paintings by Henderson are satisfying, full- color renderings of the dinosaurs, their habitat, and the catastrophe envisioned in each hypothesis. Photos of excavators and bones provide additional intrigue. (glossary, index) (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-12) -- Copyright �1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Booklist:

Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. In 1947 at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, hundreds of well-preserved, nearly complete skeletons of the tiny Coelophysis dinosaur were uncovered lying close together, some even stacked on top of one another, in a 30-square-foot area. Why were all those dinosaurs buried in one place? Gillette, one of the paleontologists working to solve the mystery, offers several popular hypotheses: poisoned water, asteroids, or a flood. She then cites evidence from surrounding bones and rocks to support or discredit each theory, and her exploration makes for fascinating reading. Henderson's beautifully rendered photo-realist paintings are equally fascinating, transporting the reader back millions of years to the Triassic period. This entertaining and enlightening book will also help young scientists gain insight into the process of formulating and testing hypotheses. Lauren Peterson

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