Bibliography:
Kerley, Barbara. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. 2001. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439114942
Plot Summary:
Waterhouse Hawkins grew up in 19th century London, a time when very little was known about dinosaurs. As a boy, he loved to sketch and sculpt models of the animals he saw around him. When he became older, with the help of scientist Richard Owen, he began to sculpt dinosaurs. His dinosaur models would have a home in London's new art and science museum, the Crystal Palace. Waterhouse even hosted a dinner for England's leading scientists inside of his enormous Iguanadon model! After his success in London, Waterhouse was invited to build American dinosaurs for a museum that was to be placed in Central Park. However, the corrupt New York City politician, "Boss" Tweed put a halt to Waterhouse's work. Late one night, vandals broke into Waterhouse's workshop and destroyed his dinosaurs. He would move on to work at Princeton and then the Smithsonian before returning home. Waterhouse lived to see more iguanadon skeletons unearthed and to learn that some of his models were not accurate. However, his models continue to survive and they provided many, many people with their first dinosaur encounters.
Waterhouse Hawkins grew up in 19th century London, a time when very little was known about dinosaurs. As a boy, he loved to sketch and sculpt models of the animals he saw around him. When he became older, with the help of scientist Richard Owen, he began to sculpt dinosaurs. His dinosaur models would have a home in London's new art and science museum, the Crystal Palace. Waterhouse even hosted a dinner for England's leading scientists inside of his enormous Iguanadon model! After his success in London, Waterhouse was invited to build American dinosaurs for a museum that was to be placed in Central Park. However, the corrupt New York City politician, "Boss" Tweed put a halt to Waterhouse's work. Late one night, vandals broke into Waterhouse's workshop and destroyed his dinosaurs. He would move on to work at Princeton and then the Smithsonian before returning home. Waterhouse lived to see more iguanadon skeletons unearthed and to learn that some of his models were not accurate. However, his models continue to survive and they provided many, many people with their first dinosaur encounters.
Critical Analysis:
This is a great biography for the younger reader who may just be starting to delve into the nonfiction world. Not only does Brian Selznick use large colorful illustrations, but the biography is about a man who brought dinosaurs to life! What child does not love dinosaurs? Although this book seems short for a biography, it is not simplistic. Instead, it is fascinating, accurate, and readable. If the reader or parent is interested in reading more, the author and illustrator have included further notes in the end. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins is well-researched by both author and illustrator alike.
This is a great biography for the younger reader who may just be starting to delve into the nonfiction world. Not only does Brian Selznick use large colorful illustrations, but the biography is about a man who brought dinosaurs to life! What child does not love dinosaurs? Although this book seems short for a biography, it is not simplistic. Instead, it is fascinating, accurate, and readable. If the reader or parent is interested in reading more, the author and illustrator have included further notes in the end. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins is well-researched by both author and illustrator alike.
Review Excerpt(s):
Starred Review in Booklist: "What a marvelous pairing: the life of the nineteenth-century British dinosaur maven Waterhouse Hawkins and Selznick's richly evocative, Victorian-inspired paintings."
Publisher's Weekly: "The elegant design on tall pages gives the dinosaur models their due from various perspectives, and scenery of the period additionally grounds the work in historic context. Extensive author and illustrator notes denote the extensive (and fun) research both undertook for this extraordinary volume."
School Library Journal: "Painstakingly researched, written and illustrated with careful attention to detail, this book presents the fervor and spirit of a dedicated, little-known individual whose conceptions-however erroneous by today's discoveries-astounded the minds and stirred the imaginations of scientists then involved in the actual birth of paleontology."
Connections:
Pair this biography of the astonishing dinosaur sculptor with other books on dinosaurs or a unit on paleontology.
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