Curious About Fossils

Part of Smithsonian

Dig into this photo-packed Penguin-Smithsonian book about fossils—and find out what was going on in our world.

Aren't you curious about what Earth was like long ago? What creatures lived before us? What happened to the dinosaurs?

Curious about Fossils explains why and where fossils form and looks at the colorful lives and important discoveries of some of the great early fossil hunters and collectors, including Mary Anning who unearthed the first ichthyosaur skeleton; Richard Owen who coined the word dinosaur; and Barnum Brown, who discovered the first remains of a T-rex. Then the adventure continues into modern times, where scientists on fossil hunts in places like North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation use computers and other technology to dig up the fossilized bones, teeth, and even poop that provide clues to the past. 

A must read for every kid who's ever collected a shark tooth or trilobite!
Kate Waters is an experienced nonfiction editor and the author of the Smithsonian books Curious About Worms, Curious About the White House, and Curious About Fossils. She lives in Yonkers, New York.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex. Founded in 1846, it includes 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities. Its vast collections house 138 million artifacts, specimens, and works of art, which represent our nation’s rich heritage, art from across the globe, and the immense diversity of the natural and cultural world. Learn more at www.si.edu. View titles by Kate Waters

About

Dig into this photo-packed Penguin-Smithsonian book about fossils—and find out what was going on in our world.

Aren't you curious about what Earth was like long ago? What creatures lived before us? What happened to the dinosaurs?

Curious about Fossils explains why and where fossils form and looks at the colorful lives and important discoveries of some of the great early fossil hunters and collectors, including Mary Anning who unearthed the first ichthyosaur skeleton; Richard Owen who coined the word dinosaur; and Barnum Brown, who discovered the first remains of a T-rex. Then the adventure continues into modern times, where scientists on fossil hunts in places like North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation use computers and other technology to dig up the fossilized bones, teeth, and even poop that provide clues to the past. 

A must read for every kid who's ever collected a shark tooth or trilobite!

Author

Kate Waters is an experienced nonfiction editor and the author of the Smithsonian books Curious About Worms, Curious About the White House, and Curious About Fossils. She lives in Yonkers, New York.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex. Founded in 1846, it includes 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities. Its vast collections house 138 million artifacts, specimens, and works of art, which represent our nation’s rich heritage, art from across the globe, and the immense diversity of the natural and cultural world. Learn more at www.si.edu. View titles by Kate Waters