Dinosaurs to Dragons: The Lore and Science of Mythical Creatures

"Dinosaurs to Dragons" offers a unique blend of science and folklore, inviting middle-grade readers (ages 8-11, or 4-7 with read-aloud support) to explore the origins of mythical creatures. Author Elizabeth Shreeve skillfully weaves together paleontological discoveries, historical contexts, and global myths, suggesting how fossils of protoceratops or sightings of manatees could have inspired legends like griffins and mermaids. This chapter book encourages critical thinking and curiosity, making complex topics accessible and engaging. It's an excellent resource for sparking discussions about history, science, and the power of human imagination.

An imaginative nonfiction middle grade exploration of mythology, paleontology, and early civilizations that invites readers to delight in legendary creatures from across the globe and the fossils that might have inspired their origins. What if we lived in a world with fire-breathing dragons? Or enigmatic, alluring mermaids? How about rainbow-nibbling unicorns? These fabled beasts aren’t as far from us as we think. After all, their legends had to have come from somewhere… Join us as we weave together legendary tales and new scientific findings to uncover connections between real and mythical creatures. Delving into the past, we’ll see how our ancestors took what they found in the world and created the beloved fantastical creatures we dream about today. Could the skull of a protoceratops have inspired the hooked beak of a griffin? From manatee to mermaid, heron to phoenix, we’ll trace the truth behind these fantastical creatures and make some new discoveries along the way!