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Story Synopsis
Dig down, down, down into the history of an ancient tar pit in this fascinating nonfiction picture book about one of the most exciting fossil discoveries of the modern day!
Thousands of years ago, ancient animals roamed the Earth, unaware there was a lot of sticky tar hidden deep beneath their feet…until one day, an earthquake caused it to seep up to the surface. When unsuspecting animals stepped into the tar, they got stuck!
Centuries later, in the early 1900s, people started exploring the tar pit and found more bones the deeper they dug. Eventually, scientists realized the bones weren’t just any old bones but perfectly preserved fossils of ancient animals, just waiting to be dug up and puzzled back together!
Uncover this true story of a miraculous scientific discovery in the most unexpected of places.
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Accolades
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Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
"A captivating addition to the paleontology shelf."
-Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
Los Angeles may make readers think of movies, stars, and all things beautiful. But before it was Hollywood, just beneath the surface is a story. Thousands and thousands of years ago, prehistoric animals, birds, and insects lived on what is now considered La Brea—a neighborhood in Los Angeles, CA. Underneath the surface there are tar pits where these creatures were stuck, eventually offering up their fossils today. Author and illustrator do a wonderful job explaining to young children how fossils form.
Booklist
With infectious enthusiasm, Stremer invites readers to marvel at the extraordinary fossil riches that have come out of the La Brea Tar Pits—initially, over 750,000 specimens of everything from pollen grains to imperial mammoths.
Hornbook
The fascinating story of the La Brea Tar Pits gets a wonderful introduction in Stremer’s latest offering. [The] text is a model of cause and effect, capturing the inherent drama of the original mammoth’s struggle while effortlessly condensing a long timeline without losing focus. Vidal’s digital illustrations consist of vibrant double-page spreads, which complement the text and breathe additional life into the story