A Moment in Time with Troodon

Description

43 pages
Contains Photos
$19.95
ISBN 0-9682512-0-X
DDC jC813'.54

Year

1997

Contributor

Illustrations by Jan Sovak
Reviewed by Steve Pitt

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Review

The first troodon dinosaur fossil was discovered nearly 150 years ago.
Since then, scientists have slowly but steadily pieced together the
lifestyle of this highly intelligent, ostrich-like predator that lived
and died in the Alberta and Montana badlands. This novel about the
troodon comprises two parts. The first part is a fictional account of a
day in the life of a small clan of troodons as they hunt and are hunted
in an exciting but extremely dangerous ecosystem. The second part is a
scientific account of the discoveries that reveals what is actually
known about this long-extinct species. First-rate artwork by renowned
natural history artist Jan Sovak illustrates the story; the nonfiction
part is well supported with fine color photographs of troodon fossils.

The scientific writing of this book is clear and informative and the
authors’ expertise is evident. Their prose, unfortunately, is
amateurish. The narrative continually trips over its awkward sentence
structure. The prose is often purple—and a garish shade at that. But,
literary lapses aside, the artwork and scientific knowledge that form
the backbone of this work will undoubtedly make it a hit with any young
dino-addict. Recommended.

Citation

Felber, Eric P., and Philip J. Currie., “A Moment in Time with Troodon,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed November 29, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/19392.