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About My Books . . .Dragon Bones and Dinosaur Eggs
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· published 2000 |
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— Who discovered Velociraptor? Roy Chapman Andrews — Who discovered that dinosaurs lay eggs? Roy Chapman Andrews — Who helped prove that mammals lived in the age of dinosaurs? Roy Chapman Andrews — Before 1920 the Gobi was almost completely unexplored by scientists, and many thought it was just a desert wasteland. That was before Roy Chapman Andrews got there. "You have written a new chapter in the history of life upon the earth." Andrews led five scientific expeditions to Mongolia's desert, the Gobi, from 1922 to 1930. He was a pioneer of modern field research, but it was his team's fossil discoveries that amazed the world—especially the first-ever complete nest of dinosaur eggs. These were remarkable achievements for a man who began his scientific career scrubbing floors at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. It wasn't easy. Along the way, he battled sandstorms, snakes, and bandit attacks. He drove through parts of the desert that had never seen cars before, and he had to have spare tires—and every drop of gasoline—carted in by camel. Roy Chapman Andrews had a love of adventure that took him all over the globe. This action-packed story, actual expedition photographs, and quotes from Andrews himself present a great explorer of his century—and a grand tale of adventure! |
 PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Dept. of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History, Neg. No. 410927, James B. Shackelford, photographer |
I have a special fondness for Dragon Bones and Dinosaur Eggs because it's my first published book. I'd heard of (and actually written about) Roy Chapman Andrews years before I had the idea to create a book about him. I thought he'd make the perfect subject for a kids' book. There were the dinosaurs he'd discovered, all of his adventures, and those persistent rumors about his role as a real-life "Indiana Jones."
Two scraps of research kept me going while I worked on the project, off-and-on, for five years. One was a quote, the other a photo. Both summed up Andrews so well and seemed too good to remain obscure. I tacked them up by my computer and persevered until they made it into print. Here they are:
"In the [first] fifteen years [of field work] I can remember just ten times when I had really narrow escapes from death. Two were from drowning in typhoons, one was when our boat was charged by a wounded whale; once my wife and I were nearly eaten by wild dogs, once we were in great danger from fanatical lama priests; two were close calls when I fell over cliffs, once I was nearly caught by a huge python, and twice I might have been killed by bandits."
—Roy Chapman Andrews
On the Trail of Ancient Man
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1926, pages 20-21
 PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Dept. of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History, Neg. No. 110266, James B. Shackelford, photographer. |
Here's my favorite photo. It still cracks me up. What a contrast—perhaps the oldest beast of burden laden with the symbol of modern transportation, a car tire—and both of them heading off for adventure in the Gobi of Mongolia. Who thought up this crazy idea, anyway? Roy Chapman Andrews, of course.
 PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Dept. of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History, Neg. No. 411038. |
Here's another image that shows the blending of ancient and modern transportation. It didn't make it into my book, but it makes me chuckle, too. The photo shows a sore-footed camel receiving a "re-tread" patch from a used car tire to help cushion its steps.
Author programs. Follow these links to find out about author programs related to this book. Choose from "Behind the Scenes of Dragon Bones and Dinosaur Eggs" and "The Lucky Star of Roy Chapman Andrews." General information about Author Visits is available, too.
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2001 Juvenile Literary Award
from Friends of American Writers, Chicago—presented annually to new authors who either reside in or set their books in the Midwest
Choices 2001
Cooperative Children's Book Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Outstanding Books by Wisconsin Authors and Illustrators for 2001
one of ten children's books chosen by the Wisconsin Library Association
Gold Award
2000 National Parenting Publication Awards
Blue Ribbon List
Center for Children's Books University of Illinois in Urbana
"Outstanding" rating
Parent Council
2001 Books for the Teen Age List
New York Public Library
"Well-researched book. . . .The absorbing text invites readers into a world distant in both space and time. . . .Exemplary work on an extraordinary individual."
—School Library Journal, starred review
March, 2000
"A generous array of atmospheric, sometimes dramatic, contemporary photographs. . . .[A] tribute to a man whose writings and exploits continue to inspire dinosaur hunters of all ages."
—Kirkus
January 15, 2000
"Bausum's account reads smoothly, and a layout dense with captioned sepia photographs and quotes from Andrews provides plenty of oases for readers as they follow him through the desert. . . .[The back matter] will be a boon to report writers, but armchair adventurers and dino-philes won't want to wait for an assignment to join this expedition."
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, recommended as a book of special distinction
May 2000
"An engaging photobiography. . . .With a fascinating subject like Andrews, the best thing a biographer can do is let the story tell itself. Bausum smartly follows that advice, offering a well-organized and straightforward look at Andrews's remarkable life. While the text makes compelling reading, it is the stunning photographs. . .that make this book irresistible."
—The Washington Post
May 21, 2000
"An inspiring character portrait, illustrated with dramatic contemporary photos and capped by well-chosen lists of books and Web sites."
—School Library Journal
From an article listing 25 "Science books to answer the question, and to keep young readers asking it"
May 1, 2003
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I'm on the board of this new organization that promotes the importance of Andrews's explorations by recognizing some of the best explorers living today. Click here to find out more about modern-day scientists who continue the traditions set by Roy Chapman Andrews. This site has background information about Andrews, too, and his hometown ties to the city where I live, Beloit, Wisconsin.
Find out about the latest research by scientists at the museum that was home to Roy Chapman Andrews from his first job (scrubbing floors) to his last (as director).
This page of the National Geographic web site introduces viewers to some of the Society's newest explorers.
Roy Chapman Andrews was a devoted member of the Explorers Club. This page of the club's site shows how teenagers can begin exploring with the support of the club.
Dragon Hunter—Roy Chapman Andrews and the Central Asiatic Expeditions by Charles Gallenkamp, Viking (2001). Available in hardcover and paperback.
Dinosaur Hunters!
3D IMAX feature film, 2007 release
"The Dinosaur Hunters,"
National Geographic EXPLORER series, 1997.
"All About" books by Roy Chapman Andrews. You can find them in used book collections, some libraries, and on the shelves of many of today's scientists. Books by Andrews like All About Dinosaurs, All About Whales, and All About Strange Beasts of the Past convinced many young readers from earlier decades to become the explorers and scientists we know today.
