Fossils (Simply Science)

Provides an overview of fossils including how they are formed, what they are made of, their historical implications, how they are dated, and how to hunt for them.

Jane Harrington - Children's Literature

This title—part of the "Simply Science" series—is a good, easy-to-read primer on the subject of paleontology. The focus on dinosaurs will likely make it appealing even to children too young to understand the concepts presented, particularly because of the large color photographs in each spread. The half-page image of coprolite (dinosaur poop) will surely be a hit with most readers, as will a full-page photograph of insect fossils embedded in amber. The explanations about fossil formation are not as clear as they could be, but the chapter on finding fossils does an excellent job of steering kids into their own fossil-finding adventures. A "Want to Know More?" section at the end of the book includes the address for the U.S Geological Society so readers can acquire maps of good locations for hunts, and it also lists interesting websites and books for further study. Includes a table of contents, a very short glossary and an index. 2003, Compass Point Books, Ages 4 to 9.

Award-winning author Melissa Stewart has written more than 50 science books for kids (and edited more than 200)! Her background in biology and journalism makes her perfect for bringing science to kids.