The archaeopteryx was a prehistoric creature that many scientists believe was the first bird. Your mission: to track down this creature and photograph it, which may prove once and for all whether or not birds descended from dinosaurs. But to do this, you have to travel back in time to the Mesozoic era, the age of the dinosaurs! The Time Machine series challenges young readers to use their imagination and decision-making skills to write their own story. Options in the text allow readers to choose any path they like within the plot. Readers must draw on background information about the period to make the right choices. This makes the series a great educational device for youngsters to learn about history and all the different cultures, events, and periods that shaped it. David Bischoff has written several books in the Time Machine series.