Petrified forests are some of the coolest-looking fossils that scientists find and study. They can tell us so much about the past, including what Earth was like before humans arrived. How do these amazing remains form? Why? Readers can find the answers to these questions within the pages of this book, complete with close-up photographs of petrified wood they might never otherwise see. The age-appropriate narrative supports science class learning and fun fact boxes give readers even more information about these amazing fossils.

The first plants on Earth likely evolved around 700 million years ago, and their presence may have been what helped prepare Earth for the evolution of land animals. This incredible idea is just one of the facts readers encounter in this fascinating volume. From casts to trace fossils, the different kinds of plant fossils are uncovered for curious readers, supported by photographic examples of each. Accessible text supports Earth science curricula with age-appropriate detail. Fact boxes expand upon key vocabulary and concepts.

Kids join inductive detectives Max and Molly and archaeologist Uncle Jake on a treasure hunt for truth. They'll uncover how God deals with sin, why God flooded the earth, where the different nations and languages came from, and what God's plan is for saving people.

Dinosaurs roamed Earth between 230 million and 65 million years ago. That's not only long before the present day, but also long before Homo sapiens were around at all. Without fossils, we might not know anything about these fierce and interesting prehistoric animals. Young explorers will learn how fossils form, the different kinds of dinosaur fossils that scientists study, and just what we've learned from these cool fossil finds. Detailed photographs aid readers' understanding while fact boxes add more context to key science concepts.

According to fossils that have been found, insects have been living on Earth for more than 400 million years. That means they were around before the dinosaurs and long before humans first walked on Earth. How do scientists know this? They study the different kinds of impressions left in rock from these amazing prehistoric creatures. Readers will view cool photographs of these finds, and learn about the different kinds of insect fossils, how they formed, and what we've learned from them.

Sea creature fossils are particularly interesting because they're often found where there isn't any water. They give scientists insight into how Earth has changed over time and millions of years. Readers uncover some of the oldest sea creature fossils and find out how they formed, where they were found, and what they can tell us about the past, including where water once was and isn't anymore. Detailed photographs of these fossils correlate closely with accessible text and engage readers with eye-catching fossil examples.

Scientists aren't quite sure exactly when humans evolved, but through fossils and artifacts, we have knowledge about human ancestors from millions of years ago. From bones to tools, the fossils that have been found each tell a small part of the story of our prehistoric past. Full of age-appropriate detail and interesting historical information, this book explains how fossils form and are found in language especially written for young readers. Examples of human fossils and artifacts closely correlate with the narrative, aiding comprehension.

This guide to the South Dakota region that houses the world’s richest fossil beds does “an excellent job of presenting the current state of knowledge” (Choice). The forbidding Big Badlands in Western South Dakota contain the richest fossil beds in the world. Even today these rocks continue to yield new specimens brought to light by snowmelt and rain washing away soft rock deposited on a floodplain long ago. The quality and quantity of the fossils are superb: most of the species to be found there are known from hundreds of specimens. The fossils in the White River Group (and similar deposits in the American west) preserve the entire late Eocene through the middle Oligocene, roughly 35-30 million years ago and more than thirty million years after non-avian dinosaurs became extinct. The fossils provide a detailed record of a period of abrupt global cooling and what happened to creatures who lived through it. This book is a comprehensive reference to the sediments and fossils of the Big Badlands, and also touches on National Park Service management policies that help protect such significant fossils. Includes photos and illustrations “A worthy successor to the work of O’Harra.” —Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology