Reviews
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by Radek Maly; illustrated by Petr Modlitba
Delve into the world of dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures in the fourth installment in the Large Encyclopedias series, featuring stunning illustrations and engaging scientific narratives.
Embark on a fascinating odyssey through the annals of time with Atlas of Prehistoric Animals, a captivating addition to the Large Encyclopedias series. Authored by Radek Maly and reviewed by a renowned Czech paleontologist, this book meticulously unfolds the story of life on Earth, from its inception 3,900 million years ago to the emergence of the first organisms with hard shells and skeletons 60 million years later. The narrative takes readers on an enthralling exploration of the oldest animals, featuring well-known prehistoric creatures and introducing them to some they've never encountered. The rich tapestry of Earth's history comes alive through vivid descriptions and stunning illustrations by Czech artist Petr Modlitba, providing an immersive experience into the ancient ecosystems that shaped our planet.
This book stands as a testament to scientific accuracy and expert collaboration, ensuring a reliable and enriching resource for young minds ages 9 years and older.
The book's vibrant imagery and compelling narratives bridge the gap between ancient and modern ecosystems, fostering a deeper understanding of life's interconnectedness. With its engaging content and meticulous illustrations, this book not only educates but also captivates, making it an ideal choice for readers eager to explore the wonders of Earth's prehistoric epochs. A must-have for budding paleontologists, curious minds, and anyone intrigued by the mysteries of our planet's past.
9 x 13 inches.
Hardcover, 88 pages.
Albatross Media.
Radek Maly is a Czech writer, poet, translator, and university teacher. He has achieved international success through his young adult book Franz Kafka: A Man of His Time and Our Own (2017) and his picture book Our Cat's Day (2023). His non-fiction books Atlas of Extinct Animals (2021), Atlas of Endangered Animals (2021), and Atlas of Prehistoric Animals (2025) have been translated into several languages, and his poetry collection for children Postman Wind (2011) was entered on the IBBY Honour List.
Petr Modlitba was born in 1968 in Brno, Czechia. He specializes in paleontological and paleoanthropological reconstructions. In his work he focuses mainly on the technique of oil painting, gouache, and pencil drawings, and to a smaller extent watercolors and pen-and-ink. His style is heavily inspired by the works of famous Czech artist Zdenek Burian. Petr works with experts in the fields of paleontology and anthropology to accurately illustrate prehistoric creatures and in the last 10 years, he's been working primarily with experts from the Charles University in Prague.
Selected for the CBC March 2025 Hot Off The Press List.
"Gr 4-8–In the third book of this series (¬Atlas of Extinct Animals, Atlas of Endangered Animals), Maly turns to prehistoric creatures. The text was reviewed by an expert, giving it the stamp of scientific authenticity. Animals are organized according to their respective geological era, from oldest to most recent, with each allotted a spread. Modlitba’s bold and dynamic illustrations occupy the full left side of spreads. The creators note the illustrations owe a debt to Czech paleoartist Zdenek Burian. On the right, ¬informative text appears about each creature, including its weight, length or wingspan, and overall size in relation to a modern human (or in the case of smaller dinosaurs and ¬arthropods, a human hand). Most animals larger than a human hand were significantly larger—including prehistoric fish, plesiosaurs, cephalopods, and of course, dinosaurs. The immense size of many of these creatures is thought to be due to higher oxygen levels 300 million years ago. The amount of text, while not overwhelming, is packed full of ¬information. The eye-catching design and sophisticated illustrations would appeal to older elementary students and middle schoolers. ¬VERDICT A great choice for most nonfiction and reference shelves." —Jessica Epstein, School Library Journal
"What I Liked: I love learning new facts about prehistoric animals as they were something I wasn’t too interested in as a child. I loved that this book included facts that the typical books I read hadn’t informed me about so I was learning new things as I read. On each page, there is a small image comparing the size of the animal with a human which I found amusing. I loved getting to see how ridiculously large some of these creatures were and then in contrast how small some of them were. I loved that to show the size comparison there was either a silhouette of a full body or a silhouette of a hand. I appreciated that each page opened with a large image of what professionals believe these creatures look like before providing you with information. I also like that on top of the information we get a glimpse of the similar creatures we are going to learn about. I appreciate that this short evolutionary guide is given not only in text but also through the images. Final Verdict: Atlas of Prehistoric Animals is a great encyclopedia for children ages 9 and up who are fascinated by dinosaurs. This book will teach them about the oldest animals on earth which they may already know and introduce them to animals that they have yet to learn about. Adults will also enjoy learning new facts about each of these animals that they may never have heard about either." —Adrien Guerra, YA Books Central
"This gorgeous reference book will elicit sighs of pleasure from prehistoric animal lovers. Great care has been taken to enhance its sense of mystery and elegance, from the book’s glowing green endpapers covered with small black-and-white images of extinct creatures to the oversized, realistic oil paintings of these same thrilling animals." —Susan Harari, Youth Services Book Review
"A wonderful book! It was both educational and entertaining to read, A must have for and ancient history buffs out there!" —NetGalley-Librarian
