The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley, with illustrations by Brian Selznick, was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2002. The book is a non-fiction story about Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, a London artist who, in 1853, worked with scientists to help create a series of life-sized models of dinosaurs. This is significant because, at the time, dinosaurs were a relatively new discovery, and though most people now knew that they existed, few people had any idea what they looked like. While later scientists would show that Waterhouse and his scientists would themselves get most of their dinosaur designs wrong, the book does an excellent job showing the combination of scientific and artistic methods through which Hawkins and his assistants compared the few discovered dinosaur fossils to similar bones of living creatures to try to recreate the prehistoric beasts.

I feel that this book earned its status as a Caldecott honor book by presenting what could be a drab historical biography in an engaging way without resorting to overtly fantastical elements. It is a grounded, factual, retelling of this man's life, but one that follows a relatable emotional journey as Hawkins finds himself welcomed into the scientific community that he has always admired as a result of his determination and imagination, and challenged by politicians who don't think money should be wasted studying long-dead animals. Like Hawkins' dinosaurs themselves, Brian Selznick's art combines historical accuracy with creativity, depicting actual events with a theatrical air and presenting Waterhouse as a kind of wild-haired magician who is endlessly delighted by the reaction of his growing audience. This book is a great way to introduce young readers who may have a fascination with dinosaurs to the worlds of science, art, and history that have been influenced by people with similar fascinations. It's also a great introduction to biographies of people less well-known than the historical figures they learn about in school; a great way to teach children that there historical figures and events that may not be significant enough to be included in their history textbooks, but are still worth seeking out and exploring on their own.