Brontosaurus Is Back!

A classic case study in how the course of scientific advancement can run anything but smooth.
In the late 19th century, renowned paleontologist Othniel C. Marsh announced the discovery of scattered bones belonging to a sauropod he dubbed “Apatosaurus,” or “deceptive lizard.” At nearly the same time rival bone hunter Edward D. Cope proclaimed a similar find to be fossils of “Brontosaurus,” meaning “thunder lizard.” A later researcher’s determination that both actually belonged to the same genus touched off a century-long controversy, since, as Albee writes, scientific practice gives naming rights to the first finder. So even though “Brontosaurus was catchier,” and went on to become the common name with a “dino-dazzled” public, it fell out of official use. Until 2015, that is, when further discoveries led many researchers to change their minds and announce that the two actually were different dinosaurs. While laying out the bones of the kerfuffle with a fine sense of drama, the author also fleshes out her story with revealing observations about the evolution of our whole understanding of sauropod anatomy. Along the way she gives proper credit to Marsh’s original Sioux informants, as does Hsu in a period scene placed amid views of dinos, fossil bones, and skeletons, and racially diverse groups of modern museum visitors.
A cheery glimpse of science in action, warts and all.
—Kirkus Reviews

With its towering figure and distinctive long neck, Brontosaurus is among the most iconic dinosaurs. In this nonfiction picture book, readers will uncover the history behind the discovery and naming of this famous sauropod. The tone of the book is set by approachable text that balances information and entertainment, and fact boxes throughout supplement the main narrative. The material digs into the major fossil findings that shaped the Brontosaurus, including its mistaken conflation with Apatosaurus and the confusion about its head shape. Along with specific details about Brontosaurus, the book covers related topics such as the famous “Bone Wars” and describes the major challenges paleontologists face in reconstructing dinosaurs. The illustrations are a particular highlight, depicting historical discoveries, modern museums, and dinosaurs roaming in the prehistoric past. The illustrator also made sure to use current interpretations for their portrayals of these dinosaurs, while adding touches of humor throughout. The material in the back includes a timeline and resources for further reading, along with a section discussing how new scientific breakthroughs change over time. Dinosaur fans will stomp to the shelves to get hold of this book!
—Children’s Literature

Sarah Albee is the New York Times best-selling author of more than 100 books for kids, including Bounce: A Scientific History of Rubber, Troublemakers in Trousers, and Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn’t. She lives in New York City with her husband, a high-school principal. They have three grown children. Sarah loves writing books where science and history overlap.

Chris Hsu is a picture book illustrator and animation background artist whose credits include FX’s Archer and Marvel’s Hit-Monkey. His illustration work is influenced by world history, art history, and music. His current favorite non-art activity is watching his daughters and nieces play soccer on Saturdays.

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