Fossils

Children's Literature

As part of the "KidHaven Science Library" series, this title provides an excellent and comprehensive introduction to the study of fossils. Scientifically precise, this concise text carefully explains how a fossil is made, why fossils are sometimes hard to interpret, and what makes the study of these remains important. Designed to intrigue young readers into the field of paleontology, Kelly explains using interesting examples how new discoveries are made and how these discoveries can affect the interpretation of earlier finds. Her discussion of the fossil record emphasizes that life on earth, including the geography (and geology) of the planet, has changed over time. By presenting science as a dynamically changing field, the author shows the reader how even scientific theories can evolve as new evidence is discovered. Impressive photos, showing a mixture of unusual specimens, scientists in the field, and the work done in the lab, appear periodically throughout the text. The provided glossary defines any unusual technical terms from the text, and a section at the end recommends several reference books and websites for further research. 2005, Thomson Gale/The Thomson Corporation, Ages 10 to 12.
—Laura Ruttig