{"id":25140,"date":"2014-10-20T23:10:53","date_gmt":"2014-10-21T03:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=25140"},"modified":"2014-10-20T23:10:53","modified_gmt":"2014-10-21T03:10:53","slug":"review-of-the-griffin-and-the-dinosaur-by-marc-aronson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=25140","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Griffin and the Dinosaur, by Marc Aronson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"griffin_and_the_dinosaur_large\"<\/a>The Griffin and the Dinosaur<\/p>\n

How Adrienne Mayor Discovered a Fascinating Link Between Myth and Science<\/em><\/p>\n

by Marc Aronson with Adrienne Mayor
\nillustrated by Chris Muller<\/p>\n

National Geographic, Washington, DC, 2014. 48 pages.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a picture book biography of a scientist readers probably haven\u2019t heard of, but whose work, which continues to the present day, is fascinating.<\/p>\n

Adrienne grew up interested in the natural world around her and also interested in Greek myths. As she studied Greek writings and Greek art over a course of years, she became convinced that the Greeks were basing their stories on things they had actually seen. <\/p>\n

The book traces Adrienne\u2019s thought processes and dead ends until she finally established a connection between Greek tales of Scythian gold hunters and abundant fossilized bones of Protoceratops<\/em><\/p>\n

Adrienne\u2019s decade-long quest to prove that the griffin legend was based on a real fossil always had a larger aim. She was certain that the peoples of the ancient world had been as attentive to fossils and bones as we are today. If the Cyclops was an extinct mammoth and the griffin was a Protoceratops<\/em>, surely many other myths and legends were based on observation, not fantasy. Which ones?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This book is an introduction to the topic that is sure to pull in readers. We\u2019ve got Greek mythology and dinosaurs, combined. What could possibly have more kid appeal?<\/p>\n

marcaronson.com<\/a>
\nkids.nationalgeographic.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/griffin_and_the_dinosaur.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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