Reviews

Barnum's Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World by Tracey Fern

misspippireads's review

4.0

Barnum Brown was named after P.T. Barnum. Brown never became a circus star, but he did perform amazing feats that amaze and surprise us to this day. He helped to create the largest collection of fossils in the world.

Themes: paleontology, dinosaurs, discovery, travel, history, museums,
Characters: Barnum Brown

Artwork: unknown, full color illustrations
Author's Note: a bit more in-depth information about the unknowns of Barnum Brown and more interesting facts that could interest the reader

Reviewed from a library copy.

lannthacker's review

3.0

The illustrations add fun to this otherwise standard biographical non-fiction title.

kristenremenar's review

4.0

This biography will engage even those who don't know the difference between a diplodocus and a brontosaurus. Well-written information that reads with the excitement of a picture storybook, this would work perfectly into dinosaur units. How cool would it be to make your own dinosaur dig site with plaster of Paris and plastic dinosaurs for kids to excavate after reading this book!

bookgirl4ever's review

4.0

Barnum Brown's interest in dinosaurs began when he was quite young. His parents' indulged is love and as an adult Brown's dream was to find the bones of a dinosaur never known before. He is successful in discovering the first known bones of Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Nice illustrations and an interesting background to paleontology.

shawnareads24's review

4.0

Barnum Brown's family loved the circus and so named him Barnum in honor of PT Barnum. With this important sounding name, they hoped he would go on to do important things, which he did with his discoveries of fossils and dinosaur bones. His most important discovery was the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Presented as a picture book, Barnum's story will be an interesting read for young dinosaur enthusiasts!

heisereads's review

4.0

An interesting biography of the man who discovered the first T-Rex bones and searched for fossils his whole life.

dbrannan's review

5.0

Cool story! Great illustrations, and a really interesting story about fossils. Should interest the dino-fans, history buffs and biographers.

nerfherder86's review

3.0

Cute! Clearly for little kids, a look at the discovery of Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the science of dinosaur hunting in the late 19th early 20th century. Has humor (on the expedition alone, Barnum has no one there "to help with the digging or the cooking"). Semi-realistic art with humorous touches, animated expressions on characters' faces. Interesting fact: he was named after P. T. Barnum!

emdoux's review

3.0

This magically factual and imaginatively wondrous biography of a larger-than-life paleontologist expertly manipulates perspective and light to bring a possibly text-heavy story off the page.

kkondrick's review

5.0

Everyone loves the t-Rex!! We didn't even know about them till Barnum discovered the fossils. A great book that kids will love!