What did dinosaurs really look like? Catherine Thimmesh explores that question in an intriguing look at the work of paleoartists, who base their paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other visual renderings of dinosaurs first and foremost on scientific evidence. The bones, it turns out, are the easy part. What was on top of them? Skin? Scales? Feathers? Paleoartists, some of them scientists themselves, start with dinosaur bones and other fossilized evidence, but that's only the beginning of their research. To determine what dinosaurs looked like they delve into many branches of paleoscience to learn as much as they can about the creature, its habitat, and diet. They look for clues in birds and reptiles, too-the closest living relatives of the dinosaurs. But they still must use their imaginations to extend what is known until the realm of the unknown through educated guesswork. Comments from a number of different paleoartists are part of the discussion in this fascinating, handsomely designed volume in which almost every page spread features a full-page image of their work. (Ages 10-13)

No human being has ever seen a triceratops or velociraptor or even the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex. They left behind only their impressive bones. So how can scientists know what color dinosaurs were? Or if their flesh was scaly or feathered? Could that fierce T.rex have been born with spots?

In a first for young readers, the Sibert medalist Catherine Thimmesh introduces the incredible talents of the paleoartist, whose work reanimates gone-but-never-forgotten dinosaurs in giant full-color paintings that are as strikingly beautiful as they aim to be scientifically accurate, down to the smallest detail. Follow a paleoartist through the scientific process of ascertaining the appearance of various dinosaurs from millions of years ago to learn how science, art, and imagination combine to bring us face-to-face with the past.