The Opal Dinosaur

Enlarge cover

By: Yvonne Mes Illustrated by: Sylvia Morris

eBook - August 2024 - eRetailers

The true story of the discovery of a new Australian dinosaur with very special bones.

Millions of years ago, a small dinosaur slips and scrambles, before sinking into the earth. Her bones lie under the soil, slowly transforming into something wonderful. Then, one day, a miner spies a shimmer of blue and green. + Full description

The Opal Dinosaur explores the amazing discovery of rare opalised bones. Follow the journey as the bones are found, forgotten and then finally identified as an exciting new dinosaur species.

Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 5 to 9.

- Short description

Reviews

"Based on fact and true findings, The Opal Dinosaur is an adventure back in time and into the future. Sensitively hued illustrations capture the drama and beauty of the Cretaceous period in Gondwana land in soft shimmering tones."
Dimity, Kids' Book Review, 01 August 2024

"This is going to send your little would-be paleontologists into raptures and would easily parlay into some useful learning activities as well as some purely for fun."
Just So Stories, 16 August 2024

"A perfectly balanced, sensitively told account of the discovery of the most complete opalised dinosaur fossils ever found in Australia."
Mia Macrossan, Story Links, 29 August 2024

Details

Hardback | August 2024 | $ 24.99
ISBN: 9781486316793 | 32 pages | 250 x 250 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour illustrations

ePDF | August 2024
ISBN: 9781486316809
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

ePUB | August 2024
ISBN: 9781486316816
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

Features

Explores the Cretaceous period and the intriguing creatures that roamed the Earth at that time.
Explains the fascinating process of how fossils and opal are formed.
Tells the story of the discovery and identification of a new Australian dinosaur species.
Shows how palaeontologists identify fossils.

Main story
Who was the little dinosaur?
Glossary
Author's acknowledgements
Illustrator's acknowledgements

Authors

Yvonne Mes is an author and illustrator from Brisbane. She coordinates the Brisbane-based writers group, Write Links, and is a frequent speaker at schools and literary events.

Sylvia Morris is an illustrator with a background in mathematics, who combines her analytical and creative puzzle solving skills with her love of reading in her illustrations.

For Teachers

We have created these Teacher Notes as a free PDF download to support the use of this book in the classroom.

Teacher Notes (724.87 KB)