About DINOSAUR MUMMIES

"I just received ... a copy of Dinosaur Mummies. As luck would have it, I have just reviewed a MS in which the person made some naive statements about dinosaur mummies, thinking they included soft tissues in the way Egyptian mummies do. I am certain your book will set the record straight and I will steer the author directly to your book. It is billed as a kids book, but we all know that adults will equally benefit. Thanks for your contributions in making dinosaur paleontology a richer more interesting field--so much more so than mere dry bones."
Dr. Peter Dodson
University of Pennsylvania

"...an interesting addition to the juvenile dinosaur literature, covering as it does an unusual area.  Furthermore, by providing information about the personalities and controversies associated with the interpretation of dinosaur skin and guts, it will introduce kids to the way that science actually is done."
Dr. James O. Farlow
Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne

"Halls begins with a personal account of her lifelong fascination with lizards and dinosaurs and her excitement upon learning about mummified dinosaur fossils.  Though bones are the most common dinosaur fossils, occasionally soft tissue such as skin and muscle become fossilized. These are referred to as mummies. After clearly explaining the fossilization process, the book spotlights six significant dinosaur mummies, from the 1908 discoveries of an Edmontosaurus skeleton wrapped in its skin to the 2000 find of Leonardo,  a Brachylophosaurus fossil with skin, bones, muscles, internal organs, stomach contents, and a neck pouch. Halls' enthusiasm shines through in this well researched and clearly written book. Sidebars carry information about people mentioned or quoted as well as information about various terms. Drawings washed with color show how the dinosaurs might have looked, while many excellent color photos illustrate the fossilized find, dinosaur diggers and paleontologists at work. Appendices include a glossary, list of sources, including many personal interviews and correspondence with paleontologists, fully announced lists of recommended children's books, video's and Internet sites on dinosaurs as well as a list of museums offering dinosaur digs. Solid information with a personal touch."
STARRED REVIEW Booklist, November 1, 2003

"Despite some minor bobbles, young dinosaur fans will latch onto this heavily illustrated report like starving velociraptors at a picnic. The indefatigably enthusiastic Halls writes with two purposes in mind: to recount the discoveries and natures of dinosaur fossils that include not just bones, but remnants of "skin, hearts, muscles and goop-filled stomachs," not to mention feathers and a variety of less durable tissues; and to introduce many of the paleontologists who have made, or are making those discoveries. She highlights six finds in particular, but mentions many more, nearly all of which get at least one photo, and closes with enough references to relevant books, videos, DVDs, Web sites, and public "digs" to satisfy the most demanding dinophile. Spears supplements the photos with cartoon scenes of reconstructed specimens, and [Dr. Ken] Carpenter contributes an essay on the importance of the just-discovered duckbill dubbed "Leonardo." Though two photos are repeated and the portrait gallery of scientists is capped with a profile of eminent specialist Dr. Karen Chin, in which she's labeled "a girl who loves digging up dinosaur doo doo," this is definitely a must, as useful as it is entertaining."
 Kirkus, Reviews, August 1, 2003

"Recent discoveries of mummified, fossilized soft tissue have given scientists important new information about dinosaurs. The author begins by explaining the process of fossilization, noting the wide difference between the mineralized mummies that paleontologists study and intentionally preserved specimens like Egyptian mummies. Then she gives the background, details, and implications of six key discoveries, starting with the Sternberg Edmontosaurus in the early 1900s. The other examples all date from the past 10 years, culminating with the 2000 discovery of Leonardo, the most complete mummified dinosaur found so far. A bit of information about each scientist is provided, along with comments from most of them about their work, so readers get a feel for the dedication and enthusiasm of these groundbreaking paleontologists. These discoveries are not only rare; they also have significant impact on our understanding of dinosaurs. The fossilized Sinosauropteryx, for example, helped confirm the existence of feathered dinosaurs, while a 66-million-year-old preserved heart supports theories of warm-blooded dinosaurs. Each discovery is introduced in a clear and lively style, so youngsters can follow the text without becoming overwhelmed by names, dates, or scientific terms. The layout is inviting, with good use of white space and many full-color photographs and drawings showing dinosaurs, fossils, and the scientists themselves. A brief "paleo-notebook" offers details on 10 other key dinosaur mummies. The current data and intriguing focus should make this a popular and valuable addition to dinosaur shelves."
Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
School Library Journal

What's better than a Velociraptor claw? Rarer than a Stegosaurus hip bone? More amazing than a whole T rex skeleton? Dinosaur mummies, that's what.  More than bones and teeth, these recent dino discoveries include fossilized skin, muscles, hearts, stomachs, and more creepy scientific souvenirs.  "Dinosaur Mummies: Beyond Bare-Bone Fossils" is an absolutely fascinating and authoritatively researched look at the most complete dinosaur mummies ever found. Its content is refreshingly new, as it was only in 2000 that a group of scientists on a dinosaur dig in Montana found the most complete
dinosaur mummy ever. Previously only a few fossilized organs had been found, but each discovery was monumental to modern scientific understanding of these prehistoric creatures. Chronologically, each significant discovery is discussed here in fascinating depth, using easy-to-follow text, informative sidebars, and nearly 80 full-color photos, illustrations and diagrams. It's all pulled together quite cleverly by author Kelly Milner Halls, a dynamite dinosaur researcher, having dug up the dirt on fossils for numerous
magazines and the book "Jurassic Park Institute Dinosaur Travel Guide" about the world's best dinosaur museums, dig sites and all things fossil. Children's publishing is overpopulated with dinosaur books, so it's no small feat that "Dinosaur Mummies" stands out from the oversized pack by providing an unusual glimpse into an underreported segment of the dinosaur world. Highly recommended for school libraries and classrooms to bring a tired subject uniquely up-to-date.
Midwest Book Review, August 2003

"High spirited enthusiasm...exciting text...illustrious sculptor of dinosaur models, Spears provided the illustrations and cobined with exquisite photography, they illuminate the text...a must purchase for every public library."
Bayviews, July 2003

"...an exciting new slant on dinosaurs for younger readers."
Dr. Derek Briggs, Curator
Yale's Peabody Museum  

Rick Spear's audition.

Who ya gonna call?

With a finished book, but no illustrator, we had to think fast. I'd known illustrator Rick Spears for more than 10 years. We'd worked together on LOTS of dinosaur projects in the past, so I knew he was smart, talented and flexible enough to take on a really tough challenge. I asked him to make up a mock cover design as kind of an illustrator audition. It didn't take long for everyone at Darby Creek Publishing to understand why I thought Rick was perfect for the job.

We were all SO excited when we say Rick's new meat-eater.

A Meat-Eater, For Fun!

Once Rick saw the art department's concept, he knew exactly what to do. The designer had scanned a model for the layout, and the anatomy wasn't quite right. But designing dinosaur museum exhibits taught Rick a LOT about how dinosaurs are supposed to look, dead or alive. So he came up with this astonishing replacement.

Section One: Introduction
From Lizards to Dinosaur Digs

In the introduction, I talk about growing up in Friendswood, Texas, catching all kinds of reptiles and amphibians, using the Golden Book of Reptiles and Amphibians. That book doesn't exist anymore. But here are a few other good books about reptiles and amphibians.

The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians
A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America (Peterson)
Reptiles and Amphibians (Dorling Kindersley Handbooks)

Section Two:
Digging Up the Dirt on Fossils

In this section, we explore a little about how fossils are formed, preserved and pushed up from beneath the earth's crust by the movement of tectonic plates. And Dr. David Gillette shares his thoughts on how dinosaur skin found at Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. For more information on those topics, click on the links within this text.

Section Three: First-Time Finds
The Sternberg Mummies

This section explores the first dinosaur mummy fossils ever discovered and the family of bone hunters that found them -- the Sternbergs. These links will reveal even more...

American Museum of Natural History Sternberg dinosaur mummy page
Senckenberg Nature Museum Sternberg dinosaur mummy
The Sternberg Museum of Natural History biographical pages

Section Four: Scipionyx
Italy's Baby Dinosaur Has Guts

Dr. Cristiano Dal Sasso prepared and reported on Italy's first dinosaur discovery, an amazing baby meat-eater called Scipionyx. This section reveals how and where "Ciro" was found and what his fossilized internal organs may tell paleontologists about his kind. To learn more about Scipionyx and Dr. Dal Sasso, click on the links in the text above.

Section Five: Willo
A Thescelosaurus with Heart

Bone hunters named this fossil find "Willo" after the wife of the owner of the ranch where the bones were unearthed. But bones weren't the only fossils discovered. This swift little Thescelosaurus had a stoney fossilized heart. To read more about Willo, the North Carolina Museum of Natural History where she's on display, or Dr. Dale Russell, the paleontologist who studies her, click on the links in this text.

Section Six: Sinosauropteryx
A Feathered Find From China

Roy Chapman Andrews first explored China in the early 1900's. But farmer Li Yin Fang unearthed a fossil in 1994 that would have stunned even that legendary paleontologist. This section examines Sinosauropteryx, Li Yin Fang's amazing fossil discovered with what looks as if it's dinosaur down -- feathers, according to Dr. Mark Norell of the American Museum of Natural History. Click on the links in this text to find out more about it.

Section Seven: Unhatched Secrets
Titanosaur Embryos of Argentina

Dr. Luis Chiappe is a remarkable paleontologist who works with both the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History and the American Museum of Natural History. He went to Argentina to find proof dinosaurs are related to birds. He found astonishing dinosaur eggs and embryos instead -- long necked titanosaur babies with skin and other soft tissues fossilized along with the bones and eggs. This section of the book celebrates Dr. Chiappe's work with the Tiniest Giants.

Section Eight: Leonardo
King of the Dinosaur Mummies

This book was originally going to be a book exclusively about Leonardo. Nate Murphy, the remarkable dinosaur expert who found and excavated Leonardo with the Judith River Dinosaur Institute was very kind and generous with his knowledge and information. Then great fortune smiled about Nate and his team, and it became necessary to postpone that book. But I couldn't resist celebrating this wonderful find in a chapter within the new book. Because Leonardo is a Brachylophosaurus, a duckbilled dinosaur, with more than 70% of his soft tissue preserved, in 3-D form. He's ASTONISHING. Read more about him and Nate via these links