Mega-Predators of the Past

by Melissa Stewart, Howard Gray (illustrator)

Award-winning nonfiction author and science specialist Melissa Stewart offers young readers a mega-exploration of little-known prehistoric predators that rival even the mightiest of dinosaurs!

It is time for T. rex and his dinosaur cousins to step aside and let other mega-predators like the terror bird and the giant ripper lizard take the spotlight! Travel back to prehistoric times and meet some of the most impressive creatures to ever roam the Earth.

You'll be amazed at the size and the fierceness of these lesser-known predators, many of them ancient ancestors of animals that we still see today.

Stewart's cheeky, humorous voice—along with a comical version of the familiar "comparison man"—put these creatures in perspective. Artist and former zoologist Howard Gray brings these predators (back) to life with dynamic, humorous, and scientifically accurate illustrations.

Sidebars and extensive back matter material provide more detailed information and context.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Science, Nature, History, Prehistory

32 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2022

About the author

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 180 science and nature books for children. She offers a wide range of programs for schools, libraries, nature centers, and conferences. www.melissa-stewart.com"

Reviews

[Tammy]

"It guzzles its prey with gusto." Which mega-predator is Melissa Stewart describing? Read this to find out.

This book is delightful in so many ways. Howard Gray's illustrations paired with tasty writing, lingering scientific questions, and new discoveries will satisfy our most curious readers!

(You won't have to beg them to read this!)

[Barbara]

This lively, voice-filled picture book argues that there are plenty of interesting prehistoric creatures besides the usual dinosaurs that are introduced in most books for children. In fact, it almost seems as though these neglected predators have hired author Melissa Stewart and illustrator Howard Gray as their public relations team to garner them more respect. The book opens with an image of the giant ripper lizard that covers two pages, highlighting the beast's red forked tongue, and the glint in its eyes as though it just might be eyeing you for its next meal, and then closes with a graphic depiction of all 12 mega-predators introduced in the book as well as a human and the ubiquitous Tyrannosaurus Rex. Most youngsters will find these images and the text irresistible, and teachers, parents or caregivers won't have to work very hard to persuade them to read it. As usual, Stewart shows her writing chops and science knowledge in the text, relying on catchy phrases["tongue-flicking terror" (unpaged), "petite predator" (unpaged), "burly bears" (unpaged), "carnivorous cat" (unpaged), "guzzled its prey with gusto" (unpaged)] to entice her audience and make the reading not only informative but fun. The inclusion of text boxes with additional information about the predators affords readers facts about each one's size, weight, when and where it was discovered or its discovery announced, and more tidbits about size and hunting patterns. Because size really does matter in this case, the inclusion of comparison figures--a human and the prehistoric species and a comparable creature living today--puts the enormity of these animals into perspective. And just looking at the giant scorpion in its splendor--all 28 inches--is enough to make even the hardiest person halt in his/her/their tracks. From the aptly-named terror bird to the crocodile-like deinosuchus and the very, very long titanoboa, this collection of fierce predators will fascinate readers while also earning much respect for those species that had to face them. The digital illustrations consist of hair-raising, eye-popping close-ups or full-body renderings of the predators and their prey in their natural habitat while also including some levity in the form of the outline of a human in various stages of distress, shielding himself or fleeing from the creature. This is an essential addition for any elementary or middle-grade science classroom library. WOW! Just WOW!

[Nancy]

Very interesting book....clearly presented material and illustrations including a graphic that can help the reader to visualize the size of each predator as compared to humans and animals living today.

[Maria Marshall]

This is a really fun book about prehistoric predators with modern day relatives who haven't gotten a lot of attention. Such as a three-pound scorpion or a seven hundred pound American lion. As well as the one predator still living on earth right now! Amazing comparison figures show the actual size of these predators in relation to a rather startled human and their modern relatives. Combining fact statistics and interesting side bars, as well as a superb author's note delving into the problems of confirming contradictory information and an illustrator's note on discovering the features of the predators, it is an entertaining and educational collection of some pretty scary predators.

[Rebecca Hill]

I really LOVED this book! I enjoy reading about different creatures, and just recently lectured about the prehistoric creatures that would have roamed before and during the Ice Age.

This book was a treat, getting to see some of the rather creepy animals that once roamed the earth.

Highly enjoyed this read!

[Liz]

As someone who has never been that interested in dinosaurs, it's nice seeing a book that talks about the other major predators that were roaming the planet before we were around. The best part for me is the size comparison between humans, a similar animal from today, and the mega-predator. A great non-fiction book for 3rd/4th grade.

[Alison]

Overall a very insightful and wonderful book but I needed to dock it one star because the size-guide for the short-faced bear undersells the size of modern day grizzly by enough that just looking at it infuriates me. The sentiment is greatly appreciated and it does a mostly good job of comparing the difference between the bears but the human-to-bear comparison, specifically the human-to-grizzly-bear ratio, is visibly incorrect. Aside from that, though, I do highly recommend the book for anyone, child or adult, interested in quick facts about prehistoric predators.

[Meghan Bohn]

Yay, this came into the Children's Room today! I've got a soft spot for terror birds and extinct megafauna that aren't dinosaurs, and this book definitely delivers. And major bonus points for having the human silhouette used in size comparison doing smart things like running away from the animal silhouettes instead of just standing there.

[Kelly]

Wow, this book was so interesting! It doesn't have much text, probably perfect for that K-3 area and it's split into the narrative versus the factual, but you learn a lot! It has a lifesize giant scorpion, a bear two to three times the size of a grizzly, and a bird with a wingspan longer than a pickup truck! Among other facts.

[Rae Ann Huggins-Ledbetter]

Read this with my 5yr old and 9yr old sons. The 5yr old picked it. We really enjoyed the pictures that were life size and the comparison charts…these help you understand just how Mega these creatures were! Also I loved the humor (dinosaurs are overrated, etc). Our favorite was probably the Megaladon since we are shark fans and have watched and read about these creatures before.

[Holly Wagner]

4.75 stars. This is a must-purchase book for most school libraries. Narrative nonfiction about the enormous creatures of the world. I loved the comparative diagrams--especially the one with the megalodon that looks like the cover of the movie Jaws. Lots of cool facts that kids will love. This book will never be on the shelf.

[Catie Markesich]

Short book, made I’m sure for kids, BUT I LOVED ITTT. Little bits of information about some of the biggest predators on this earth throughout the Earth’s lifetime. There are comparison figures showing how big the predator is compared to a human which was really cool. I would LOVE a book like this that has wayyy more information about each predator, and that includes a lot more predators!

[Sandra]

I think kids will get a kick out of this. It's an odd balance of the words being a little difficult for early readers and it being pretty short for middle grade readers, but young readers with engaged parents will enjoy it and probably have all the names memorized soon.

[Peacegal]

This engagingly-written, lushly illustrated book will draw in even reluctant readers and get them excited about the natural world. Great idea to use the size comparison charts to get readers' imaginations working. Adults are likely to learn something as well!

[Romy]

This book was pretty cool. All the pictures were amazing but the best ones for me were the ones showing human to animal size comparisons - the human figure was simply hilarious as a silhouette in terror of the animal. I also learned some stuff I didn't know!

[Gil-or (readingbooksinisrael)]

This was so so so so so cool! I have been turned back into an 11 year old just from the force of coolness of this book.

The only thing I would critique is that I understand the way it was set up (size), but it would have made more sense if it was set up chronologically instead.

[David H.]

This was a really fun listing of animals, but I don't want to think about seeing a giant scorpion again!! Great pic, but my favorite part was the "size comparison" charts which often had the human figure in a position of fear, hahaha.

[Jessica]

This is a perfect curricular tie for my 4th grade class's study of fossils and geologic time, AND I absolutely love the engaging, conversational voice! Melissa Stewart does it again!

[Angie]

Incredible work of nonfiction that kids will LOVE!!

[Rachel]

This is one of the most entertaining nonfiction children books I’ve read. I learned stuff too, very neat, great pictures.

[Katrina Tangen]

Wow! I don’t want to run into any of those animals in a dark alley!

[Mackenzie Virginia]

Not my brand of humor, so 3.5 stars for me but would recommend to kids for sure.

[Melanie Gaum]

ARC from Edelweiss.

[Kellee Moye]

Melissa Stewart just knows how to craft an engaging and informative nonfiction book! Mega-Predators is so fascinating–it includes some prehistoric creatures I knew (Megalodon & Blue Whale) but so many I didn’t (giant scorpion, griffenfly, short-faced bears, deinosuchus, Sander’s seabird, archelon, terror birds, and titanoboa). Each predator includes some informative text, a comparison graphic, mega fact file, as well as the continuation of the Mega-Predator text. Everyone who grabs this book will learn something and will quickly become interested in these creatures!

[Laura Salas]

MEGA-PREDATORS OF THE PAST is a thrashing, ripping, slavering (& witty) read about the enormous predators that once hunted on our planet. Get over the dinosaurs already, people. There are new (old) beasts to fear!