Bonner combines excellent scientific explanations with slapstick humor to explore the development of early dinosaur, reptile, and mammal life in the Triassic period, as well as the geological and ecological conditions that supported survival. Some of the colorful cartoon illustrations are straightforward pictures of dinosaurs in their habitats; others are in comic-strip format, adding humor while still highlighting facts. Bib., glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

It might be assumed that a book about two mass extinctions during the Mesozoic era may be too scary or too complex for children. Yet this book is neither, and it reads like a natural history museum with a strong sense of artistic whimsy. Bonner, who both wrote the highly detailed text and drew the illustrations, presents prehistoric life in a truly appealing way. She uses developmentally appropriate graphics and tongue-in-cheek puns to describe prehistoric life far beyond just dinosaurs. Hungry insects rap about their next Triassic meal, extinctions are explained as food analogies, and a cartoon likeness of Africa cries about her breakup with the Americas to explain the Pangaea drift. Top-notch illustrations in the appendixes clarify more complicated concepts. This book may attract a bigger readership than just dino-fanatics and goes deeper and broader in scope than a typical litany of dinosaur species. It is proof that complexity does not have to be boring.--Anderson, Erin Copyright 2010 Booklist

More standup-style paleontology to follow When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth, and Bugs Began to Swarm (2007). Here Bonner chronicles developments in the Triassic Period, during which life got a fresh lease on the planet in the wake of the massive Permian extinction. She tracks an explosion of biological diversity as the oceans were repopulated, lush forests grew and the dominant kinds of land animals went from clumsy-looking therapsids to sleek archosaurian dinosaurs and proto-crocodiles. Early mammals are already waiting in the wings, and a swelling chorus of insects ("We eat pollen, we drink sap, / We do the hungry insect rap") make up a "bug buffet." In the deep, toothy sharks, ichthyosaurs and other predators put in appearances--hovering, in the illustration, over a tempting platter of neatly arranged fish, clams and cephalopods. The author neatly dishes up a multi-course feast of polysyllabic monikers and tasty tidbits of data ("Later British mammals drank tea and ate scones, but these mouse-size [Morganucodon] ate bugs instead") to go with her cartoon menagerie. The book closes with a serpentine timeline of prehistory (featuring appropriately placed plugs for each of the previous books in the series) and both adult- and child-level leads to further resources. Both casual and confirmed fans will devour this delicious blend of fact and foolery with relish. (pronunciation guide) (Nonfiction. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.