Pterosaurs of the the Desert Ocean

By Andrew Plant

CSIRO Publishing 2026

Teacher Notes

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Andrew Plant  trained as a zoologist, but has been an illustrator and author for over 30 years.  In this meticulously researched work he reveals a magical world of Australian dinosaurs living 100 million year ago around the Eromanga Sea. His focus is on a couple of  ferrodraco pterosaurs who mate and have a family. When the female is blown off course by a severe storm we see many of the animals inhabiting the land as we follow her journey back to her home.

The text tells the story of a journey in straightforward language leaving the poetry and imagination for the illustrations. Ferrodraco is a rather fearsome creature with a huge toothed beak but as presented by Plant, she exhibits the same love and devotion to family common to most creatures. Magnificent illustrations bring to life an unfamiliar Australia almost impossile to imagine. Plant says in his note: I…tried to create pictures that are not only accurate but fun to look at. He succeeds admirably as each spread is intensely dynamic with colour, light and action.

He illustrates many dinosaurs, including ones even I have heard about, such as the Muttaburrasaurus, the Weewarrasaurus, and the Wintonotitan but also the obscure (to me) Platypterygius, Eromangasaurus and more. Each one is given a paragraph of description in the back matter. Also included is information about the Eromanga Sea, scientific names, pterosaurs and a glossary.

This engaging book will satisfy both dinsoaur enthusiast and those interested in natural history. I find the title rather uninspiring but can’t think of an alternative, however, the book itself is so very good that I hope it will find a wide audience. Recommended for ages 6+.