The dramatic history of planet Earth and the rocky road to understanding the past * A probing account of the history of the earth and an introduction to the many eccentric characters that have attempted to understand its origins. * Full of fascinating anecdotes about 19th century explorers and natural philosophers who first carved up Eartha s history just as others were carving up the globe. * Unravels the fascinating history of rock strata and the implications they have had on accepted theories on the Eartha s life. * Considers the future of the earth, and what a repeat of some of the catastrophic events of the eartha s past, such as major earthquakes and asteroid collisions, could mean for life today.

A lavishly illustrated who's who of the prehistoric world.

"Firefly Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals" is a stunning new reference to 350 of the most amazing animals ever to have roamed the Earth. More than 1,000 full-color commissioned artworks bring the prehistoric world to vivid life and make the book exciting to look at and read. The encyclopedia covers all of the dinosaurs plus the full scope of prehistoric animals, including birds, camels, fish, reptiles, porpoises, apes and many more.

Timelines, family trees and hundreds of fact boxes throughout the book will engage and inform readers. Full-bleed illustrations on every page show the prehistoric world in exciting detail. Easy-to-read text presents accurate, succinct and essential information that includes: Classification of animal groups Vertebrate characteristics Common and species names Biology, anatomy, habitats and survival skills Features on animal behavior Accurate labeled illustrations and maps.

This richly illustrated, authoritative reference will capture readers' imagination and provide hours of discovery. It is ideal for home and school where it will be especially useful for reports.