cover image The Fossil Factory: A Kid's Guide to Digging Up Dinosaurs, Exploring Evolution, and Finding Fossils

The Fossil Factory: A Kid's Guide to Digging Up Dinosaurs, Exploring Evolution, and Finding Fossils

Niles Eldredge, Steve Lindblom, True Kelley. Addison Wesley Publishing Company, $9.95 (111pp) ISBN 978-0-201-18599-7

It's hard to imagine a more comprehensive or entertaining guide for budding paleontologists. More than 50 brief chapters are filled with intriguing historical information and practical hints (occasional punning chapter titles will no doubt provoke chuckles from children, such as ``Pure Shellfishness'' and ``A Sedimental Journey''). Sidebars accompany many chapters, offering such tidbits as ``every living thing--even you--is a little bit radioactive.'' All dinosaur names, as well as more technical words, are accompanied by concise explanations. The line illustrations present a wealth of paleontological lore in winning fashion. Eldredge p ere and his sons have ``unearthed'' a winner. Ages 7-12. (Feb.)