Maly, Radek. Atlas of Prehistoric Animals. Petr Modlitha, Illus. Translated from the Czech by Andrew Oakland. Albatros, 03/2025. 85pp. Nonfiction. Trade $24.99. 978-80-00-07292-0. GRADES 4–8. LOW ADDITIONAL.
Prehistoric animals always fascinate young readers, so there are plenty of potential readers for this title. A wealth of information is tightly packed in, with forty-four types of animals explored via a double-page spread consisting of a half page of text supplemented by a full page, digital and watercolor illustration, and a few smaller illustrations of some of the various subtypes of the animal being discussed. The text is fairly dense, with lots of difficult scientific names (and no pronunciation guides) and details of what scientists have extrapolated about the animal from the described, limited fossil remains. A few descriptions end abruptly, with incomplete thoughts on a few pages. The title is misleading as there are no maps in the book, plus the only timeline is at the beginning, without the animals placed on the timeline. Useful for readers wanting to explore a wide range of prehistoric animals, but lacks many other typical features such as glossary, index, sources, or further readings.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library