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Dinosaurs to Dragons

The Lore and Science of Mythical Creatures
By Elizabeth Shreeve
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Brief Description
An imaginative nonfiction middle grade exploration of mythology, palaeontology, and early civilisations through legendary creatures from across the globe and the fossils that might have inspired their origins that “will draw in the most reluctant readers” (School Library Journal, starred review). What if we lived in... Read More
Format: Hardback
$4099

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An imaginative exploration of mythology, paleontology, and early civilizations that invites readers to delight in legendary creatures from across the globe and the fossils that might have inspired their origins.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An imaginative nonfiction middle grade exploration of mythology, palaeontology, and early civilisations through legendary creatures from across the globe and the fossils that might have inspired their origins that “will draw in the most reluctant readers” (School Library Journal, starred review).

What if we lived in a world with fire-breathing dragons? Or enigmatic, alluring mermaids? How about rainbow-nibbling unicorns? These fabled beasts aren’t as far from us as we think. After all, their legends had to have come from somewhere…

Join us as we weave together legendary tales and new scientific findings to uncover connections between real and mythical creatures. Delving into the past, we’ll see how our ancestors took what they found in the world and created the beloved fantastical creatures we dream about today.

Could the skull of a protoceratops have inspired the hooked beak of a griffin? From manatee to mermaid, heron to phoenix, we’ll trace the truth behind these fantastical creatures and make some new discoveries along the way!

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781665941006

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 30 July 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Illustration: f-c jkt (fx: spot gloss UV + embossing on matte film)+int. ill.+photos; digital

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Violeta Encarnación

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 229.0mm

Height: 254.0mm

Weight: 660g

Pages: 96

Collections

Children's Books Children’s & Teenage Non-Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Education & Reference Elizabeth Shreeve Science & Nature

About the Author

Award-winning author Elizabeth Shreeve grew up on the Atlantic coast in a family of scientists and storytellers. Elizabeth majored in geology at Harvard College, where she studied with renowned scientists Stephen Jay Gould and E. O. Wilson and snuck into art history classes whenever possible. While at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, she worked at the Archaeological Exploration of Sardis in western Turkey and fell in love with the wonders of the ancient world. Elizabeth now writes children’s books that celebrate the origins and diversity of life on Earth. When not visiting schools or researching a book, Elizabeth lives in northern California with her family, including Hector the PaleoDog. Visit her at ElizabethShreeve.com, on YouTube at Elizabeth Shreeve Books, and @ShreeveBooks.

Violeta Encarnación is an award-winning Cuban illustrator based in New York City, known for her vibrant, storytelling-driven visuals across traditional and digital media. Her work spans editorial publications, murals, and picture books, often exploring our connection to nature and each other and inviting viewers to reflect on these relationships. In her free time, she’s an avid plant lover who is always pushing the limit of how much green her apartment can take, and a culinary enthusiast on the weekends. Visit her at VioletaEncarnacion.com and @_Violeta.Encarnacion_.

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