Bones in the Cliff

April 1, 2022

Gr 3-4-A graphic novel format brings dinosaur discovery to life in this series. Major finds like Sue Hendrickson's T. Rex or Jack Horner's maiasaura are dramatized for readers. Scenes show the process of the dig, as well as the research and other events after the fossils were dug up. Text boxes provide the narrative while speech and thought bubbles help recreate the action. A separate section explains the time period in which the dinosaur lived and briefly profiles several other species from the same time period. In each book's back matter the question "What Is Paleontology?" is answered along with photos of a paleontologist working in a lab and in the field. Factsurfer.com provides readers with a list of websites for further research and reading. VERDICT Will appeal to fans of dinosaurs and graphic novels.

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Starred review from June 1, 2022
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* Fossils Uncovered! (6 titles) takes an appealing departure from traditional dinosaur series. In a graphic-novel format with adventurous illustrations and accessible text, each installment highlights a real-life paleontologist at work in the field as they discover a specific dinosaur or animal, pose a question or theory related to dinosaurs, and conduct research that leads to brand-new dino knowledge. Action-packed scenes with dinosaurs on the move allow readers to visualize the research process and dinosaur facts. In Bones in the Cliff, Susan Hendrickson discovers Tyrannosaurus rex bones in South Dakota's badlands and notices the dinosaur's fascinating traits, such as its great sense of smell. Each book concludes with a look at three dinosaurs that lived alongside the featured creature and a brief overview of paleontology. A clever combination of high-interest dinosaurs and problem solving.

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