Stone Age Beasts

Ben Lerwill, Grahame Baker-Smith (Illustrator)

$19.99

Publication Date: November 7th, 2023

Publisher:

Candlewick

ISBN:

9781536231342

Pages:

Usually Ships in 1 to 5 Days

Staff Reviews

Leap, slither, swoop to life!

— Five Books Reviewed in Five Words

Description

The spectacle of Stone Age life stampedes off the page in an engaging, eye-popping gift book illustrated by a Kate Greenaway Medal winner.

Are you brave enough to come face-to-face with the biggest and most awe-inspiring prehistoric beasts? In this dramatic introduction to the Stone Age world, the stupendous giants that shared the earth with our human ancestors—from the woolly mammoth and the fearsome saber-toothed cat to the elephant bird and the giant wombat—leap, slither, and swoop to life on eighteen atmospheric and densely packed double-page spreads spotlighting animals from around the globe. Each lively profile is anchored to a stunning illustration by Kate Greenaway Medal winner Grahame Baker-Smith and features jaw-dropping facts about the animal’s anatomy and behavior, with an emphasis on how it interacted with early humans. Sidebars highlight scientific name, weight, territorial range, and extinction dates, while a glossary and end notes offer additional color and context to round out a boldly packaged and richly absorbing journey of discovery.

About the Author

Ben Lerwill is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared internationally in publications including the Guardian, the Sunday Times, and BBC Countryfile magazine. He is the author of several children’s books, including WildLives, illustrated by Sarah Walsh; Let’s Go Outside!, illustrated by Marina Ruiz; Around the World in 80 Trees, illustrated by Kaja Kajfe?; and Climate Rebels. Ben Lerwill lives in England.

Grahame Baker-Smith has been an illustrator for more than twenty years. His books include Life: The First Four Billion Years by Martin Jenkins, and FArTHER, which he both wrote and illustrated and which was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal. Grahame Baker-Smith lives in England.

Praise for Stone Age Beasts

After introducing the Stone Age, this big, colorful volume presents some of the now-extinct animals that roamed the world back then. . . . The mixed-media illustrations make good use of lighting effects and dramatic posing of the beasts. A riveting animal book for armchair time travelers.
—Booklist (starred review)

Baker-Smith goes for the gusto with spread-filling portraits of glowering creatures looming majestically. . . Make way for some memorable megafauna.
—Kirkus Reviews

'It’s almost three million years ago,' writes Lerwill (Let’s Play Soccer!) in an opening worthy of a nature documentary. . . . Infotainment-leaning visualizations ('Imagine a cuddly toy as big as your bedroom,' Lerwill writes of the giant wombat) will only help readers to savor the thrill- and chill-inducing facts on offer.
—Publishers Weekly

For intrepid young readers who like their ancient creatures hairier and scarier, Ben Lerwill’s fact-packed book about Stone Age animals offers a stunning collection of thrillers. Grahame Baker-Smith’s hyper-detailed illustrations are glistening with ropy saliva, sharp teeth, and razor-sharp talons — and even the more approachable creatures on display (the giant ground sloth, giant lemur and tank-like glyptodon) look a bit surly and standoffish.
—The Virginian Pilot

What child isn’t intrigued by the idea of woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats? Those prehistoric creatures are just the start in this encyclopedia of fantastic beasts like elephant birds and giant wombats. It’s a short book overall, but it’s packed with fascinating facts and gorgeous illustrations.
—We Are Teachers