Atlas of Extinct Animals (Large Encyclopedias of Animals)

Young people are very aware that ancient animals such as dinosaurs are extinct, but many may not be aware that there have been a lot of much more recent extinctions. This beautiful, oversized (approximately nine by thirteen inches) book will introduce readers to forty-one animals that have become extinct much more recently. The earliest is the Mammoth which disappeared about four thousand years ago, but all rest were lost in the last few hundred years, with several in the last fifty years or so. Each spread has a gorgeous full-page detailed illustration by Jiří Grbavčič as well as a few small reference illustrations by scientific illustrator Pavel Dvorský and a map showing where the animal lived. A good write-up of about two-thirds of a page gives the story of the animal, how and where it lived, and as much as is known of its demise. The writing by Radek Malý is appropriately accessible for middle- and high-school students. Young people will be fascinated by such unusual animals as the Elephant Bird (ten-feet tall!) and the Quagga along with many others. Science-loving young people will read this one over and over.