Mega - by Jules Howard (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Discover the megafauna species that have shaped our planet - from the mighty megalodon, saber-toothed cats, and giant birds that existed millions of years ago, to the elephants, giraffes, and whales that live today.

Why did some of the largest creatures on Earth go extinct? What do we know about their lives from the clues they left behind? And how can we protect the megafauna that roam our planet today? Discover these secrets and many more in this captivating deep-dive into Earth's largest creatures.

Written by science writer and broadcaster Jules Howard, with astonishing illustrations by Gavin Scott, MEGA includes a special book jacket that unfolds to be a ginormous poster! The perfect gift for any child age 8+ who loves animals, life science, or piecing together clues left behind by extinct species.

Review Quotes

★"Mega features an incredible amount of information and insight packed into single double-page spreads... The culminating effect of Howard's text and Scott's art is a gratifying, wholly fascinating look at the animal world and a wonderful addition to middle-grade nonfiction." --Kyla Paterno, Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

Readers craving megadoses of natural history should glom onto this encyclopedic collection of extinct and extant animals that are the definition of living large. According to emphatic text by Howard (Encyclopedia of Birds), these behemoths aren't simply throwing their weight around: "megafauna have the power to shape habitats, landscapes, and ecosystems around them, mostly to the benefit of other animals," which the creators depict across chapters divided into mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and mollusks. Each section highlights notable creatures--such as the biggest extinct mammal and the biggest ones found today--while passages titled "Megafauna at Work" underscore the animals' distinctive talents and importance to their respective eco- systems. Most immersive are portions showcasing extinct megafauna, including the fearsome and evocatively named giant short-faced bear and the adorably koala-esque--but hippo-size--diprotodon. Illustrator Scott (Happiness Is...) employs varying textures and shapes to depict megafauna, including sauropods and pterosaurs in the Mesozoic Era and elephants and sea cows in contemporary natural habitats, as they "rumble and shake and splash" across the pages. Throughout, critters throw glances readers' way, as if to imply that audience and animal share an intimate connection that transcends era, habitat, and size. The book jacket unfolds into a poster. A glossary, index, and a call to action conclude. Ages 9-12.--Publisher's Weekly

You know what kids like? Big things. Big animals in particular. The bigger the better. As such, this book is about the biggest animals all throughout time. It begins with the lost megafauna of the past and then moves up to their ancestors today. Best of all, clocking in at 128 pages and dimensions of 11.65" x 11.80", the book itself is mega in and of itself! That doesn't mean it doesn't contain lots of little bite-sized pieces of information, though. With each animal, it shows the biggest then and now and then gets into why these animals disappeared and what we can do to keep our current megafauna in the wild going. So, as you can see, it has an environmental spin to it... but also big old animals.--Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production

"Readers craving megadoses of natural history should glom onto this encyclopedic collection of extinct and extant animals that are the definition of living large."--Publisher's Weekly

"You know what kids like? Big things. Big animals in particular. . . Clocking in at 128 pages and dimensions of 11.65" x 11.80", the book is mega in and of itself!"--Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production

About the Author

Jules Howard is a science writer and broadcaster. He writes for the Guardian, and the BBC Wildlife and Science Focus magazines, and regularly appears on TV and radio. Jules has authored several nonfiction books for young readers, including the bestselling Encyclopedia of Animals.

Gavin Scott was born in Salisbury, England. He grew up in the countryside and, as a young child, he could often be found covered in mud, holding up a grass snake, or some other interesting creature to draw. Gavin studied Natural History Illustration in college and later went on to enter the world of children's illustration. He lives with his family in Somerset, England.