Chickens and Other Dinosaurs: The unbelievable story of bird evolution

· Hachette UK
Ebook
48
Pages
Eligible
This book will become available on February 26, 2026. You will not be charged until it is released.

About this ebook

A fascinating illustrated guide to birds ... and their surprising prehistoric ancestors!

Can you imagine a world without birds? It's like trying to picture a sky without stars, or a sea without fish. Birds are all around us - and they've been here a lot longer than we have...

But did you know that every single bird - every pigeon, every penguin, every hummingbird and hawk - is actually a real-life DINOSAUR? All around you there are dinosaurs in the sky, dinosaurs on the rooftops - maybe a whole flock of dinosaurs in the trees! Discover how theropod dinosaurs evolved flight feathers, wishbones, wings and beaks to become the spectacularly varied range of birds we know today, from the prehistoric-looking secretary bird that brandishes enormous claws to the silent stalking grey heron with its long dragon-like neck.

One of the most amazing stories of the natural world, written by children's author Ben Lerwill and with colourful art by Sarah Edmonds, illustrator of Funny Bums, Freaky Beaks.

About the author

Ben Lerwill (Author)
Ben Lerwill lives in Oxfordshire and has two young children, whose vivid imaginations sparked his interest in writing children's books. He is also an award-winning freelance travel writer, an enthusiastic chef and a very bad guitarist.

Ben's non-fiction for children is often inspired by his love of the natural world. Recent and include: Wild Family (Puffin), Let's Play Football (Welbeck) and Stone Age Beasts (Walker). His book Around the World in 80 Trees (Welbeck) was shortlisted for the 2022 Wainwright Prize for Children's Writing on Nature and Conservation.

Sarah Edmonds (Illustrator)
Sarah Edmonds is a freelance illustrator on projects with publishers, museums, national parks and charities. Alongside this, her collection of playful illustrated gifts has grown and is sold online and in gift shops.

Sarah is inspired by vintage print production, instructional children's illustration and mid-century colour palettes. Those influences show - she has a particular eye for colour and a unique, memorable palette. Her previous non-fiction titles include: Save Our Species by Dominic Couzens (HarperCollins), All Things Change by Anna Claybourne (Welbeck) and Funny Bums, Freaky Beaks by Sean Taylor and ecologist Alex Morss (Welbeck).


Sarah lives by the sea in Worthing, with her partner and their two young children.

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