• Age: 5 to 9
• Grade: k to 4

While the dinosaurs walked the earth, pterosaurs (flying reptiles), ancient birds and other monster fliers ruled the skies. John Bindon's illustrations, created with the help of the latest fossil research, bring nineteen of these long-vanished creatures to life with startling brilliance. Some of these monster fliers were as small as a crow, others as big as a small plane.

Monster Fliers brings together the latest research in clear, engaging text and dramatic illustrations, making it a great addition to a young child's dinosaur collection. The book includes a timeline to show when these creatures lived as well as a chart indicating their relative sizes.

Liz is one nosy author, which is why she loves writing non-fiction. She’s very curious about why people do what they do, and likes sharing with kids the amazing facts and secrets that she uncovers.As a kid in Thornhill, Ontario, the idea of being a writer never crossed Liz’s mind—she figured most authors were already dead and they definitely weren’t Canadian. Besides, it was science that interested Liz.But writing was already part of Liz’s life. After dinner on school nights, Liz and her two brothers would trudge up to their rooms, close their doors and start to do their homework—or so their parents thought. A few minutes later, a piece of paper would come sliding under Liz’s door. One of her brothers had drawn a picture, usually of some weird creature.Liz really couldn’t draw (still can’t!), so the only way she could respond was to write a short story, often about a mad scientist or space alien. She would slip the story under her brother’s door and—well, not a lot of homework got done.At university, Liz studied sciences—there was hardly any writing involved at all. But after university, she was hired as an editor at OWL magazine, where she could combine writing and her love of science. But it wasn’t long before Liz had a goal: to write a book. Her first one was about lions and since then she’s written more than fifty others.Royal Murder: The Deadly Intrigue of Ten Sovereigns (2008) is one of her favourite books because royalty has always fascinated Liz. She loved going behind the scenes with monarchs from Cleopatra to Dracula to find out just what they would do to hold onto power or protect their families.Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve History’s Mysteries (2013) was the winner of numerous awards, including the Crime Writers of Canada 2014 Arthur Ellis Award in the Juvenile/YA category. Liz’s latest book with Annick Press, Galloping Through History: Incredible True Horse Stories (Spring 2015), combines, once again, her outstanding storytelling skills with her passion for history. This time her love of animals also shines through as she recounts the stories of six horses that changed the way humans live, travel, fight, work, and play.Liz lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul, and their cat Cosimo. While she writes, he is usually sprawled across her desk—often right on the book she needs for research!

Elizabeth MacLeod's profile page

John Bindon specializes in illustrating prehistoric life. He has also worked on dinosaur exhibits for museums and theme parks and on animation projects for Discovery Television and Walt Disney Feature Animation. John is the illustrator of Monster Fliers. He lives near Toronto.

John Bindon's profile page

• Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre

Bindon's illustrations infuse the pages with colour and action, ensuring there is plenty to look at and admire.

Quill & Quire

Together, MacLeod and Bindon, in clear and fact-filled text and nicely detailed paintings, respectively, give life to these ancient flying reptiles and birds.

Globe & Mail

... of this attractive picture book sure to appeal to dinophiles eager to learn more about dinosaurs' flying cousins.

Booklist

Monster Fliers: From the Time of the Dinosaurs