Dinosaurs of Utah

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating book for dinosaur lovers
Review: Dinosaurs of Utah is a fascinating book about life in the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. I think it has great knowledge on different species of dinosaurs and other marine creatures of the Mesozoic era. You will agree when you read and understand what Frank Decourten writes about. The photos and drawings are also interesting.

Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK
Review: Terrific. Intelligent and readable combination of palentology and geology of Utah. I used to live in SLC and visited eastern and southeastern Utah. The incredible vistas comprise the largest museum in the world. Wonderful to see in again in photos. The paintings of the Mesozoic are spectacular. This book deserves a place in your library, public or home.

Rating:
Summary: The best popular adult book on U.S. dinos
Review: This book is about the dinosaurs of Utah (and dinosaurs found close enough to Utah that it can safely be presumed they crossed the border), but it is also second to none I've read as a discussion of U.S. dinosaurs in general if you're already brushed up on your dino basics (although not overly technical, the author does waste no time in getting down to business).

The book covers equally the great dinosaurs of the midwest - especially the Jurassic dinosaurs the area is world famous for - and their environment (an asset or a negative depending on your interests). A particular strength is that almost equal space is given to the more obscure species and their more famous counterparts when the fossil record warrants it. Gorgeous artwork clinches this work as a gem - certainly in my top 10 dino books.

Rating:
Summary: A "must read" for serious dino fans.
Review: You'll know this book when you see it - the dust jacket features a toothy Allosaurus (Utah's official State Fossil) sporting yellow polka-dots. Barney he ain't.

Author Frank de Courten is a palaeontologist, formerly at the You of You, now at Sierra College in California. De Courten, with handlebar mustachio and cowboy hat, fits comfortably into the romantic image of a Dinologist, and he's well-aware of the popular appeal of the critters. Fortunately he's literate too (another pretty-common trait in the trade, thank heavens), and his prose reads smoothly, though you're going to have to be *seriously* interested to get through all 300 oversize pages...

But it's a beautiful book, nice heavy smooth paper, full cloth binding, lots of color photos, some really *outstanding* color plates by artist Carel van Kampen -- really, it's a lot of book for [the money]. At the very least, check it out from your library, and of course if there's a dino-lover on your gift list...