Credit: Museum Victoria

Imagine a scene where seven-metre-long goannas stalked rhinoceros-sized wombats, and marsupial lions roamed the bush. Such is Danielle Clode's vivid description of Australia as it was during the Pleistocene period, roughly 10,000 to 60,000 years ago.

Clode, a zoologist at the University of Melbourne, catalogues more than 20 species most accompanied by beautiful illustrations (some created by Peter Trusler and previously used on Australian postal stamps). Data from the fossil record is used to provide stats, including the size, range, diet and even behaviour of the species.

Cold-blooded killers such as the giant lizard Megalania and marsupial meat-eaters like the giant rat-kangaroo are described with obvious glee. Other more gentle giants include oversize koalas and flightless giant ducks, which were as tall as emus, but ten times heavier.

Reading like a modern day field guide, Prehistoric Giants is easy to read, well organised and informative. The glossy pictures – depicting fossils, rock art, and useful graphs and diagrams – are a major highlight of the book and make it suitable for adults and kids alike.