Barry Cox (1) (1931–)

This book seems to be a vastly upgraded and more comprehensive version of 'The Marshall Children's Dinosaur Encyclopedia' published in 2000. It contains many of the same entries, artwork and text. This version now contains even more species of prehistoric life (Over 600 throughout the book! The previous editions usually catalog around 300). One thing I really like about this book is that it includes other non-dinosaur animals like sabertooth cats, sharks and other extinct lifeforms. I'm not a Paleo-Pedantic, so I don't care that some of the artwork may be seen as outdated- I love it. This is a fantastic addition to any library- home, school or public and an excellent source of knowledge.… (mere)

The 2020 updated version of The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures by Barry Cox is a wonderful addition to any library.

I was expecting simply a bunch of entries on prehistoric animals, which would have been great. But this book offers so much more. There is a big picture history, introductions to the evolutionary paths these animals took and where they diverged from each other. I often think of a specialized encyclopedia as being a whole made up of separate though related parts. This volume takes that necessary aspect of an encyclopedia and weaves the story of the Earth and life on Earth throughout the book.

I highly recommend this for anyone interested in dinosaurs and/or other prehistoric animals. It offers insight not only into the animals but into how we have come to learn what we now know.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (mere)