The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins
By Barbara Kerley
The Story
A Victorian artist named Waterhouse Hawkins sets out to show the world what dinosaurs looked like by building the first life-size dinosaur models, first in England, then in New York City.
Why It's Special
For the kid who lines up every dinosaur figure by size and demands to know exactly what they looked like, this book meets that obsession with a true story about the man who first tried to answer it.
- Big idea: Curiosity and craft can bring the unknown into view — sometimes it takes one determined person to make the invisible past visible.
- Vibes: Reverent, sweeping, and quietly dramatic, with the hush of a museum hall and the thrill of discovery.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures
- are curious about how we know what the past looked like
- respond well to true stories about real people
- enjoy detailed, painterly illustrations
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & history: What do you think it was like to see a life-size dinosaur model for the very first time, before anyone knew what dinosaurs really looked like?
- Imagination: If no one had ever seen a dinosaur, how would you guess what one looked like?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Waterhouse Hawkins felt when he finished his very first dinosaur model?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever worked hard on a project because you wanted to teach other people something new?
- Art & illustration: What details in Brian Selznick's paintings make Waterhouse Hawkins's dinosaurs feel real and huge?
