Whales and dinosaurs are the classic darlings of junior animal research. The largest and oldest animals on Earth have such a perpetual following that even very ordinary books about them often seem to find a ready market. However, The Newest and Coolest Dinosaurs and Finding Out About Whales attempt to do more than provide another colourful package of standard information to be borrowed from library shelves or purchased as birthday gifts. These books lead the reader into the heart of current research. Written by experts in the field, they share recent scientific discoveries directly with young readers.

Fifteen dinosaurs detected in the 1990s are highlighted in The Newest and Coolest Dinosaurs. Full-page illustrations, vividly placing the dinosaur in what might have been its prehistoric context, offer visual ideas to fans still too young to read the denser text on the opposite page. The text itself details particulars of the find and the special attributes of the newly named dinosaur. For example, Einiosaurus, first detected in 1995 in Montana, is humorously billed as “The Dinosaur with a Bottle Opener Nose!” A “Dino Data” box, on the same page as the main text, provides an at-a-glance reference tool, featuring the dinosaur’s name translation, length, weight, geographic location, time frame, and other essentials. Although some enthusiasts may already be aware of the difference between Cretaceous and Jurassic periods, a timeline at the front or back of the book would have helped the uninitiated. As well, the parade of new and interesting dinosaurs might have been arranged according to their chronology, discovery date, alphabetical order, or some other recognizable factor. More than likely, however, kids will be too engaged in the excellent information and visuals to be concerned with such questions of organization.

The introduction to Finding Out About Whales promises an equally fresh look at a familiar subject. The first in the new Science Explorers series, the book brings the perspective of several working researchers to its presentation of five species of whales. How are blue whales actually counted in the vast space of the world’s oceans? How do grey whales find their way when they migrate? Why do humpbacks blow bubbles? How well can a beluga hear? While a sidebar entitled Research Notes provides the kind of basic facts traditional to a school report on whales, the larger questions and technologies of studying marine life are emphasized. Thermal imaging, sound analysis, and genetic testing are just a few of the technological advances clearly explained. Many of the pictures display researchers in their working environment. Although the study of whales has made rapid progress during the past years, the concluding page assures young readers that there are many issues yet to be explored by the next generation of scientists.

The Newest and Coolest Dinosaurs and Finding Out About Whales each manage to refashion a commonplace topic with scientific credibility and “cutting edge” appeal. Paleontology and marine biology have rarely looked so accessible and exciting.