Firefly Guide to Fossils

A practical guide to identifying, understanding and hunting for fossils.

The Firefly Guide to Fossils is a practical, pocket-sized and beautifully illustrated field guide. Its introduction explains how fossils form and the history of ancient life. Fossil classification and distribution are described, providing essential background information for students and collectors.

Fossil hunting is described in detail with practical advice on everything from finding sites to displaying specimens. The main part of the book presents major groups of fossils, from trilobites to tree ferns in a wide international range, from the common and easy-to-find, to dinosaur bones that would crown any collection. The entries are illustrated with color images accompanied by clear descriptive text.

A quick reference identification key organizes the 400 specimens by the major fossil classification, making it easier to find detailed information for each one.

A guide to the identification, understanding and hunting of fossils, which includes all major groups of fossils and an identification key.

Judy Crowder - Children's Literature

What person hasn't, while hiking a rocky hillside or sifting sand through her or his fingers on a secluded beach thought of discovering a fossil? Does the surface of that pretty piece of sandstone really have the imprint of a fern? Is that smooth black triangle washed up onto the beach a fossilized shark tooth? Wouldn't a fossil guide come in handy right now? This guide to fossils, put out by Firefly Books, describes itself as a practical guide to the identification, understanding and hunting of fossils. What a gem of a guide it is! Its clear text explains how fossils form, what sorts of rock are more likely to contain fossil remains, types of fossils, where to find them and—even better—what a fossil is not. Illustrations are large, clear and in color. The book includes a section about fossil collecting, explaining how to clean, prepare and preserve fossils after getting them home. This guide ranges from being good for sparking the interest of the most casual book browser to being the definitive tool for serious fossil enthusiasts. Although this book is best used by middle or high school students through adults, I would recommend its placement in any elementary classroom or library as a great "looking at' book. Its small size makes it ideal to tuck into a backpack. 2003, Firefly Books Ltd, Ages 12 up.

Firefly Books Ltd., established in 1977, is one of Canada's leading book publishers and distributors of quality non-fiction and children's books. Their goal is to bring readers beautifully produced books written by experts. Most of their books are tightly focused and contain full color photographs and illustrations throughout. With particular strengths in cookbooks, gardening, astronomy, health, natural history, pictorial books, reference books (especially for children) and sports, Firefly Books provides readers with a wealth of information.