Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Publisher Unknown (1969)
Description
The true story of Victorian artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, who built life-sized models of dinosaurs in the hope of educating the world about what these awe-inspiring ancient animals and what they were like.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
It's hard to imagine, but not so long ago the general population didn't really have any idea what dinosaurs were all about - what kind of creatures they were, how and when they lived, what they looked like - and they certainly couldn't rattle their complicated names off in a glib list, as so many
The third picture-book biography I have read by Barbara Kerley - the previous two are What to Do about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! and The Extraordinary Mark Twain - this wonderful title accomplishes a great deal in its brief page-span (a hallmark of great picture-books). Not only does it tell an immensely engaging personal story, the story of Waterhouse Hawkins, it also highlights a number of important ideas that young readers may never have considered - such as the fact that we didn't always know what we know now, scientifically speaking, or that our ideas have to change, as new evidence emerges - without ever descending into any kind of overt didacticism. The accompanying artwork, which won Brian Selznick a Caldecott Honor (he won the medal itself for The Invention of Hugo Cabret), is just as appealing as the narrative, capturing the excitement of Hawkins' work, and the disappointment of his dashed American hopes. All in all, a superb biography for younger readers, one that is both educational and entertaining - it has a dinner party given inside a dinosaur model: what could be cooler than that?!? - as well as physically beautiful! A sure winner for dinosaur lovers young and old!
Show More
children today will happily do, at the drop of a hat. That began to change in the mid-nineteenth century however, as ignorance gave way to an enthusiastic thirst for knowledge, something that was owing, not just to scientists and their discoveries, but to the work of a man named Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, an artist who created the first three-dimensional, life-sized models of these prehistoric creatures. His dinosaur models were first made available to the public in 1854, at the opening of the Crystal Palace - the science museum founded by Victoria and Albert - something that made Hawkins something of a celebrity in his day. Commissioned to create similar models of the American dinosaurs, only to see his work vandalized and destroyed by corrupt New York City politician Boss Tweed (boo! hiss!), Hawkins worked well into his old age, and, when new discoveries demonstrated his models were incorrect, welcomed the additional information.The third picture-book biography I have read by Barbara Kerley - the previous two are What to Do about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! and The Extraordinary Mark Twain - this wonderful title accomplishes a great deal in its brief page-span (a hallmark of great picture-books). Not only does it tell an immensely engaging personal story, the story of Waterhouse Hawkins, it also highlights a number of important ideas that young readers may never have considered - such as the fact that we didn't always know what we know now, scientifically speaking, or that our ideas have to change, as new evidence emerges - without ever descending into any kind of overt didacticism. The accompanying artwork, which won Brian Selznick a Caldecott Honor (he won the medal itself for The Invention of Hugo Cabret), is just as appealing as the narrative, capturing the excitement of Hawkins' work, and the disappointment of his dashed American hopes. All in all, a superb biography for younger readers, one that is both educational and entertaining - it has a dinner party given inside a dinosaur model: what could be cooler than that?!? - as well as physically beautiful! A sure winner for dinosaur lovers young and old!
Show Less
LibraryThing member jniehof
This is a great non-fiction picture book that introduces children to dinosaurs, the World's Fair, the Crystal Palace, and Waterhouse Hawkins himself. Hawkins created life-size models of dinosaurs in the early 1900's in Britain and the United States. There is intrigue and conspiracy and world
Show More
travel, and the book will hopefully encourage further research. I had to look up the World's Fair and the Crystal Palace when I was done, just to see if Brian Selznick captured them well. He did. I would have this in my collection at a public library. Show Less
LibraryThing member rwheeler08
Genre: Biography
Critique of Genre: This is an excellent example of a biography because it is a true story about the Victorian artist, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, who built the first life-size models of dinosaurs.
Age: Intermediate
Critique of Plot: The author demonstrates the plot of person vs.
Critique of Genre: This is an excellent example of a biography because it is a true story about the Victorian artist, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, who built the first life-size models of dinosaurs.
Age: Intermediate
Critique of Plot: The author demonstrates the plot of person vs.
Show More
society in a clear way. For example, there is a scene in the book where a group of vandals break into Waterhouse’s workshop, destroy his dinosaur models, and then bury the broken model pieces in Central Park in New York City. This shows that groups of individuals in U.S. society during the 1800s were opposed to Waterhouse’s work centered on dinosaurs. Show Less
LibraryThing member amygatt
I loved this book -Waterhouse Hawkins sounds like such a character, I loved the description of his carefully planned dinner party for big names in British paleontology. This book show how deeply he cared for his work - I felt devastated when I learned that his work for Central Park was destroyed.
Show More
It was such a shock as a reader, I can't imagine what it must actually have been like for him. I love the last page of this book, especially because I studied archaeology - how fun would it be to have an excavation in Central Park to look for these destroyed pieces of dinosaur models? I will always remember this story when I go to Central Park.This book would be such a fun addition to a unit on dinosaurs for second to third graders, especially because it creates such a personal connection to this subject. I also like that it shows how human knowledge of dinosaurs has evolved over time. Show Less
LibraryThing member lmhudson
This book tells of Waterhouse Hawkins and how his love of art led him to create the first dinosaur replicas. Even though the replicas are not completely accurate they are still in the Crystal Place today.
LibraryThing member claireforhan
I really enjoyed this book. I initially picked it thinking it would be good for young boys to read who enjoy dinosaurs, I did not realize how informational and interesting this book would be. This book tells a brief history of Waterhouse Hawkins, the first man to create drawings and models of
The pictures are truly wonderful and add life to the story. Multiple times there is a drawing of Waterhouse thinking about dinosaurs and a small boy following him. Who this boy is is never identified. It could be Waterhouse as a young boy, an image of his past that sparked his love for dinosaurs. The young boy could also be a general boy representing all the young kids that Waterhouse helped to inspire by his drawings and models. The final image is of a young boy drawing, which could be inspirational to young kids reading this book- that they too can draw real life creatures and discover something new.
Teaching Extension-
Definitely use this book to open a unit on dinosaurs. It is fun and engaging but at the same time very factual. Have students draw or create their own dinosaur models.
Show More
dinosaurs. It breaks his life into three stages and hits the main accomplishments and low points of his life. The pictures are truly wonderful and add life to the story. Multiple times there is a drawing of Waterhouse thinking about dinosaurs and a small boy following him. Who this boy is is never identified. It could be Waterhouse as a young boy, an image of his past that sparked his love for dinosaurs. The young boy could also be a general boy representing all the young kids that Waterhouse helped to inspire by his drawings and models. The final image is of a young boy drawing, which could be inspirational to young kids reading this book- that they too can draw real life creatures and discover something new.
Teaching Extension-
Definitely use this book to open a unit on dinosaurs. It is fun and engaging but at the same time very factual. Have students draw or create their own dinosaur models.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bekeelen
Wonderful book about dinosaurs. Great storyline of a man with a dream and making it his life work. Wonderful illustrations of dinosaurs and the added facts that some on his work is still buried in Central Park!
LibraryThing member ergreenb
I remember reading this book many times when I was younger, always fascinated by the dinosaur illustrations and the story behind them. This is a very informative book that covers a large span of years that kids of any age can read and understand. It has a message of not giving up and not letting
Show More
other people tear you down. I really like this book because it is interesting and fun to read about a true story. Show Less
LibraryThing member TylerSmith
Summary: This story is about Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins who was an artist who built the first life size models of dinosaurs in the hope of educating the world about these awe-inspiring ancient animals. He showed even royalty such as the queen and then was offered a job making models in America.
Genre Critique: This is an example of a biography because its an account of Benjamin Hawkins life and his lifestyle.
Character Critique: Benjamin Hawkins is a very dynamic character in the story because of all the success and struggles he has to go through. He feels success and defeat while in America, but pushes through it to continue to do what he loves.
Show More
While he was working there he found a struggle with people who tried to stop him from making his dream come true and they even destroyed all of his models. Instead of leaving though he stayed and painted murals of designs instead. He continued to work with the models and artwork till he was very old.Genre Critique: This is an example of a biography because its an account of Benjamin Hawkins life and his lifestyle.
Character Critique: Benjamin Hawkins is a very dynamic character in the story because of all the success and struggles he has to go through. He feels success and defeat while in America, but pushes through it to continue to do what he loves.
Show Less
LibraryThing member AmberTheHuman
This book is on a list of books that I found in a notebook I've had since high school. I don't know why I made the list or where the book suggestions came from (The Metamorphosis was on there too). But I'm glad I made that list, 'cause this is a great book on a subject I knew nothing about.
Update: This was given to me this past Christmas by my fiance's parents. Love it! Very proud to have it on my shelf.
Show More
Definite recommend.Update: This was given to me this past Christmas by my fiance's parents. Love it! Very proud to have it on my shelf.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cjfox73
Engaging and exciting, this book takes kids on the journey Hawkins was on - from original idea to marketing to fruition. Lots of details but never dull.
LibraryThing member Octokitten
The stunningly illustrated story of Waterhouse Hawkins, a gifted artist and one of the first to create models and illustrations that considered what dinosaurs might have looked like based on their fossils. Selznick's award winning illustrations bring Hawkins' fabulous creations to life in vibrant
Show More
detail. Information about Hawkins' life, dinosaurs, and the history of fossil discovery combine for an interesting and informative look at what is now called paleoartistry. As the father of paleoartists, Hawkins' biography is an excellent introduction to the art form for young readers. Show Less
LibraryThing member magen.rauscher
This book focused on the historical fiction of the creation of dinosaur statues in the 1850's. This book would teach my students about the differrent forms of garments that people wore in different decades. I could also use this book to teach my students about dinosaurs. The illustrations of this
Show More
book really brought the dinosaurs to life on the page. Show Less
LibraryThing member laineyh
The Extraordinary Dinosaurs of Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins was one of my favorite picture books that I read this term. The book is separated into three sections depicting a different part of Mr Hawkins life. The story is an interesting one and delves into an area that has never been explored in a
Show More
children’s book before. As a child, Mr Hawkins loves drawing animal and nature that he sees around him, and enjoyed making models of those animals even more. As archeologists and paleontologists begin to discover more and more dinosaur bones, Mr. Hawkins begins to imagine what these incredible creatures may have looked like. He connects similarities in the bones to animals that are in existence now and begins to create the first ever life size models that showed the world what Hawkin’s hypothesized dinosaurs may have looked like. This story is great for the classroom because it has a great storyline and the illustrations are some of my favorite. The colors are deep, but vibrant and colorful at the same time. The way that the text is framed makes the story feel more authentic to the time period and feel like a museum exhibit. The back of the book has a wonderful authors note which provides and even more detailed and factual account of Mr. Hawkins and his life size dinosaur models. This book would be great for students because children already love dinosaurs so much and this is a story about dinosaurs that is unique and can help students understand the excitement people felt when Hawkins first introduced his models to the world. Show Less
LibraryThing member mferaci
The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins tells about Waterhouse Hawkins and how he brought to life the first dinosaur for the world to see. During the time Hawkins lived there were no drawings or sculptures of dinosaurs. Hawkins studied fossils and created sculptures of the dinosaurs for people to see.
Show More
This book is a very informational biography and the illustrations are fantastic. The illustrator does a great job throughout the book, but especially on the cover. It's almost impossible not to read the book after seeing the cover. Show Less
LibraryThing member EmilyDrennan
Waterhouse Hawkins was the first man to design and build life-size models of dinosaurs. This story goes through his successes and struggles of creating these dinosaurs. At this time, no one really knew what a dinosaur looked like, so Waterhouse's models really amazed people. He only had fossils to
Show More
refer to when creating his models and this book really does a great job of portraying his models. This book provides so much information about the life of Waterhouse Hawkins and how much he devoted to his life's work. I had never heard of him before, but I am so glad I read this book and had the opportunity to learn about such an interesting person. As an activity, each student could create their own model dinosaur. Show Less
LibraryThing member BTPiglet
This is a biographical narrative nonfiction book about a person I had never heard of prior to this book, Waterhouse Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins was an artist who created the first dinosaur sculptures - ever - in the 1850s. He based his sculptures off the limited dinosaur bones that scientists had found
Show More
and using existing knowledge about how other animals looked. They were put on display in the Crystal Palace in London where the display was wildly popular. He also created the first dinosaur skeleton. I learned a lot from this book and it's making me want to know more about Mr. Hawkins. I recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
Fine illustrations in a pretty world of Victorians and models of those newly discovered dinosaurs. A nice endpaper in which Hawkins is shown redrawing the dinosaurs as they are understood to have looked by modern paleontologists. This is not a story that is usually told, although I remember reading
Show More
about the dinner in the dinosaur somewhere before. Good work! Show Less
LibraryThing member mstanley33
The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley is the winner of a Caldecott Honor Award. Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, Waterhouse for short brought dinosaurs to life for the world to see. He started off at his home in England creating life-size models of dinosaurs. He used dinosaurs bone and
This is a great informational book to use in a 4th-6th grade classroom when learning about artists and/or dinosaurs. The illustrations in this story are magnificent, Brian Selznick did a wondrous job. After reading this book student could research more information on that time period and learn more about "Boss" Tweed. Students could also try and replicate a model of a dinosaurs like Waterhouse did.
Show More
with the help of scientist he created his models. His work is shown in the Crystal Palace Park in England. Hawkins then traveled to New York City to bring his dinosaurs to America! Unfortunately he ran into some trouble with the cruel politician, "Boss" Tweed. He was unable to create the museum he wished for but he did make the first fossil model of a dinosaurs and created paintings and murals so that America could have their dinosaurs. This is a great informational book to use in a 4th-6th grade classroom when learning about artists and/or dinosaurs. The illustrations in this story are magnificent, Brian Selznick did a wondrous job. After reading this book student could research more information on that time period and learn more about "Boss" Tweed. Students could also try and replicate a model of a dinosaurs like Waterhouse did.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Whisper1
From the time he was young Waterhouse Hawkins dreamed of showing the world what dinosaurs looked like. Fast forward to Victorian England, Mid-Century where Waterhouse has perfected his artisty and brought these animals to life in the hope all would be interested. He built the first life--sized
It was at a very fancy New Year's Eve dinner party wherein Waterhouse invited learned scientists to attend. An Iganandonon mold was made and inside were the seats of 21 guests.
Furthermore, it was at the Crystal Palace in England that Waterhouse showed his grand exhibit to forty thousand spectators.
He didn't stop with shows in Europe, he came to the United States and presented his replica of what he thought a Hadrosaurs looked like. This event occured at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.
Then, in New York City's Central Park, He hired an assistant to help build the Paleozic Museum, a large structure of iron and glass with an incredible arched ceiling. It was the corrupt politician Boss Tweed who stopped this from occurring. Men broke into his wowrkshop, and with sledgehammers shattered the dinosours that would have been shown inside the Paleozic Museum, And today buried in Central Park are pieces of his beloved dinosaurs.
While he was ahead of his time, some of his renditions were later found to be inaccurate. But, his imagination and spirit was something to be proud of.
Again, it was in reading this book that Il learned of this fascinating man. Once again, a lushly illusrated book coupled with a creative author, brought knowledge to many who read these pages.
The illustrations in this book are incredible. Brian Selznick remains one of my favorite illustrators.
4.5 Stars
Show More
replicas of dinosaurs, and highlighted them in exotic exhibits both in England and the United States. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were enthralled by his art work.It was at a very fancy New Year's Eve dinner party wherein Waterhouse invited learned scientists to attend. An Iganandonon mold was made and inside were the seats of 21 guests.
Furthermore, it was at the Crystal Palace in England that Waterhouse showed his grand exhibit to forty thousand spectators.
He didn't stop with shows in Europe, he came to the United States and presented his replica of what he thought a Hadrosaurs looked like. This event occured at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.
Then, in New York City's Central Park, He hired an assistant to help build the Paleozic Museum, a large structure of iron and glass with an incredible arched ceiling. It was the corrupt politician Boss Tweed who stopped this from occurring. Men broke into his wowrkshop, and with sledgehammers shattered the dinosours that would have been shown inside the Paleozic Museum, And today buried in Central Park are pieces of his beloved dinosaurs.
While he was ahead of his time, some of his renditions were later found to be inaccurate. But, his imagination and spirit was something to be proud of.
Again, it was in reading this book that Il learned of this fascinating man. Once again, a lushly illusrated book coupled with a creative author, brought knowledge to many who read these pages.
The illustrations in this book are incredible. Brian Selznick remains one of my favorite illustrators.
4.5 Stars
Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Caldecott Medal (Honor Book — 2002)
Texas Bluebonnet Award (Nominee — 2003)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Children's — 2004)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Informational Books — 2004)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 3-5 — 2003)
Bluestem Award (Nominee — 2014)
Orbis Pictus Award (Honor — 2002)
Indies Choice Book Award (Honor Book — 2002)
Garden State Children's Book Award (Winner — 2004)
Colorado Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2003)
CCBC Choices (2001)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2002)
Notable Children's Book (2002)
Original publication date
2001