One Million Oysters on Top of the Mountain

How did an outcrop of fossilized shellfish wind up on top of a mountain? With this question, Spanish geologist Nogués (Stories in a Seashell), who specializes in paleontology, invites readers on a journey to learn more about Earth and the ancient life forms that once inhabited it. Static landscapes in cool greens and browns shift to fine-grained vignettes that illuminate an engaging, conversational back-and-forth: “Did they climb up here? Did they fall like rain, carried by a hurricane?” The cake-like layers of earth Lora (Hello, Earth!) paints, rendered in gouache on paper, present part of the story: “The strata, like a music score, can be read—they have an order, and they can sing us a song.” The narrative goes on to cover an impressive amount of ground, from the appearance of early life to the development of radio-carbon dating and the different ways that the surface of the earth moves and buckles. Schimel’s clear, natural translation offers an engaging, step-by-step introduction to the way paleontologists think through problems—and proof that the top of the mountain, and those oysters, were once under the sea. Back matter features a glossary and brief creators’ notes. Ages 6–10. (Sept.)