The Fossil Factory: A Kid's Guide to Digging Up Dinosaurs, Exploring Evolution, and Finding Fossils

A fun and fact-filled activity book about discovering and collecting, about the history of Earth, and the record of life we find on its surface. Children will enjoy the detailed guide to over 50 sites where they can find something Paleozoic.

Grade 4-6-- Although its focus is dinosaurs, this book also touches on other related scientific fields, including paleontology, evolution, and anthropology. The lively text hops and skips from place to place, intermingling facts and funny tidbits that cover a wide range of topics, from the continental drift to the evolution of man. The dinosaur facts reflect up - to - date information, as do the theories presented on their extinction. The authors are less successful in suggesting activities to learn more about fossils. The Naked Egg, an experiment in which an eggshell is dissolved to see inside a chicken's egg, is interesting, but not particularly relevant. Other activities, such as plaster casting and bird identification, are pretty run-of-the-mill stuff; Booth's The Big Beast Book (Little, 1988) is a far more imaginative resource for dinosaur-related projects. In general, the cartoon drawings work well with the playfulness of the text. The only exceptions are the time line and the maps, which are frustratingly vague. Not a great book to use for research because of the loosely organized format, but its energetic and slightly irreverent style make it an entertaining book for recreational reading. --Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Pub . Lib .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

It's hard to imagine a more comprehensive or entertaining guide for budding paleontologists. More than 50 brief chapters are filled with intriguing historical information and practical hints (occasional punning chapter titles will no doubt provoke chuckles from children, such as "Pure Shellfishness" and "A Sedimental Journey"). Sidebars accompany many chapters, offering such tidbits as "every living thing--even you--is a little bit radioactive." All dinosaur names, as well as more technical words, are accompanied by concise explanations. The line illustrations present a wealth of paleontological lore in winning fashion. Eldredge p ere and his sons have "unearthed" a winner. Ages 7-12.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.