AWESOME!
The book's title says it all. As an adult, I wanted a nice reference book and happily, I found it. Well written and appropriate for all but the youngest of children. The artistry is fantastic. If you buy ONE dinosaur reference book, buy this one.

GREAT!!!!!!!!!
This product is incredible. It is VERY educational. Although i would say this book is NOT for all ages as it can be complicated at times. Overall great dinosaur book. THUMBS UP!!! =D

Better for tweens and adults
I am not knocking this book at all. It is an excellent book for the older kids group. I read several reviews that stated people bought it for thier children aged around 5 years. My son is 5 and he is as die hard about dinosaurs as any one I have ever seen. There are not enough pictures in this book. The content is a bit scientific for a 5 year old. It is chock full of information. If you are looking for an A-Z guide to dinosaur books this is not it. It is organized through time rather than alphabetically. Overall this is a book you would absolutely love if you are about 10 years old and up.

Colorful, captivating, brilliant
Not only is this book packed with information, but it also offers perspectives from many paleontologists. In fact, over 23 paleontologists contributed toward the book, and it is really enjoyable to read from them. This is not one of the regular dinosaur encyclopedias where the book just lists each dinosaur name and gives its features. Instead, this book groups some species into one (such as stegosaurus). And for each chapter, the author presents colorful information, such as stories, pictures, interesting behaviors, etc. In addition, there are information about geology, geography, paleontology, and much more. You won't be bored with dry, boring facts with this book!

Best Intermediate Dinosaur Book Available Despite Deinonychus Looking Like a Turkey
See all my reviews of dinosaur books.

Paleaontologist Holtz provides a cutting-edge commentary - far better than most dinosaur books and would have received 5 stars if it wasn't for some questionable illustrations from Luis Rey.

This 420 page book is not aimed at all ages, like the title suggests. Being a science teacher and dinosaur lover, I think reading this book requires a certain level of experience in dinosaurs or a high school level of science which I put at perhaps 15 years plus. It is not an introductory book as the information is quite dense.

Introductory dinosaur books give some basic contextual information and then profiles on individual dinosaurs; the best being Burnie's "Kingfisher Illustrated Dinosaur Encyclopedia" and Barrett's "National Geographic Dinosaurs". Holtz's "Dinosaurs" is a 40-chapter onslaught of information. Chapters include:

* History of Dinosaur Discoveries
* Rocks and Environment
* Fossils and Fossilisation
* Dating
* Finding Fossils
* Dinosaur Art
* Taxonomy
* Evolution
* Cladistics

The chapters then go into narrow clades (roughly Families if your're Linnean), for instance: Coelophysoids and Ceratosaurs; Spinosauroids; Carnosaurs; Primitive Coelurosaurs; Tyrannosauroids; Ornithomimosaurs and Alvarezsaurs; Oviraptorosaurs and Therizinosauroids; Deinonychosaurs; Avialians; Prosauropods; Primitive Sauropods; Diplodocoids; Macronarians; Ornothischians; Primitive Thyreophorans; Stegasaurs; Ankylosaurs; Primitive Ornithopods; Iguanodontians; Hadrosauroids; Pachycephalosaurs; Primitive Ceratopsians; and Ceratopsids.

The information contained therein is as up-to-date as 2006, including the recent discoveries of the feathered dinosaurs in China and entries on all 800 named species. But what I really like is the commentary; Holtz provides balanced arguments from ground zero. Here is a paleaontologist writing information on dinosaurs instead of someone who just interviews paleaontologists and writes their own material. Holtz writes in an attractive style while comparing the anatomies and adaptations of the dinosaurs. Holtz also includes brief essays from as many as 30 specialist collaborators on things such as 'The Fighting Dinosaurs of Mongolia', 'Male and Female Dinosaurs - Can We Tell the Difference?' and 'Dinosaur Paleopathology'.

My one issue with this book is the artwork. Even though he is an excellent artist, Luis Rey's illustrations in some places are bordering on provocative. There seems to be too much emphasis on linking too many dinosaurs to birds, resulting in an overabundance of feathered dinosaurs that there is no evidence for. There are feathered dinosaurs but when I see Deinonychus with wings and soft facial tissue like a turkey I think Holtz has let down his audience. It is OK to speculate so long as there is evidence (ie feathers) but there is no evidence whatsoever that dinosaurs had soft tissue adorning their heads like foul. Holtz should have edited Rey's work more stringently. As a reviewer, it is my responsibility to let you know of this whether it's an issue for you or not.

Anyway, this is still the best book available for intermediate study. It is cutting-edge and meaty enough for anyone, especially those who are looking to step up from beginner dinosaur books.