Fossils Tell of Long Ago (Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science: Stage 2

Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2

by Aliki

What is a fossil? Sometimes it's the imprint of an ancient leaf in a rock. Or it could be the skeleton of a dinosaur that has turned to stone! With clear prose and lovely, full-color illustrations, award-winning author and illustrator Aliki describes the different ways fossils are formed and what they tell us about life on Earth long ago. Now rebranded with a new cover look, this book includes beautifully detailed illustrations and a find out more section with a glossary and activity guide so kids can create their own fossils for someone to find a million years from now. Author/illustrator Aliki has penned four books listed as "exemplary" titles in the Common Core Standards and is a widely recognized name in nonfiction for children. Both text and artwork of this new edition were reviewed for accuracy by paleontologist Dr. Kathryn Hoppe and by Dr. William F. Simpson of the Field Museum. This is a Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science title, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades and supports the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards. Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Dinosaurs, Nonfiction, Childrens, History, Earth Sciences

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Aliki has written and illustrated many books, both fiction and nonfiction, loved by readers throughout the world. The books were inspired by a word, an experience, or the desire to find out. Aliki lives in London, England.

Reviews

[J. Boo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull text, poorly drawn images, and I am happy it is seldom excavated from DS#2 (age 3)'s piles of dino books. Now that I think of it, I haven't seen it in months. Not going to put out an APB.

Note that Aliki seems to have revised her work periodically; not exactly sure which version I have but it seems more "modern" than 1972.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was pretty awesome. We had done some "fossil excavating" activities prior to this, so my boys were very interested in the science behind it. They ask great questions. So proud of them.

[Sophia Hermosillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads 10

• An analysis of two literary elements:
o Nonfiction texts don't have a plot and they do not often have a setting. Make sure to select elements that the text actually has. For example, nonfiction text will have style/tone and POV. 
o Remember an analysis involves correctly naming the element, explaining what the element does for the text, providing examples to support your claim(s), and discussing why the author/illustrator might have used the element in this way.
• An analysis of two visual elements:
o Nonfiction text utilize all the same visual elements we've discussed. They just might use them for slightly different purposes than we are accustomed to seeing.
o Remember an analysis involves correctly naming the element, explaining what the element does for the text, providing examples to support your claim(s), and discussing why the author/illustrator might have used the element in this way.
o You can use any of the visual elements we have talked about including comics conventions and the analytical perspectives.
• An analysis of the topic(s) we discussed in class:
o For this Goodreads, the elements from class will not line up with the literary elements or the visual elements. Instead, you need to explain what subgenre of nonfiction/informational text you read and how you know that this book is an example of that genre.


“Fossils Tell Of Long Ago” just became the most perfectly worded picture book about anything fossils -- through my eyes. This book carved out the uncovering truth about fossils such as where fossils come from and how they are created. What drew me to choosing this book was the enriching topic everyone always seems to be fascinated with. Since I have already gone through the stage in school where I learned about fossils, I already knew most of this information. Although I will have to say that with an open mind, this book gave me different perspectives on the information I already knew about fossils. This books setting starts out with kids at a museum learning about fossils, which was a great point of view to read this from since it makes the reader feel like they are there, with the kids learning at the same time. First, it begins to teach the reader how the big fish ate the little fish, therefore showing a dietary cycle. Then the kids take a look at the big fish, how it died, sank to the bottom floor, and got covered with layers upon layers of mud millions of years ago! They also learn about plants and animals that turn into fossils. It shows other clear examples of how fossils tell us about the past with factors like hardened amber and scientists working together to discover these fossils.

Towards the end of the book the kids go back to their classroom and decide to participate in a project where they create their own fossil by pressing their hands in clay. I thought this was such a neat project idea that I can incorporate into a fun classroom activity in the future.

My understanding has now changed quite a bit. I was shocked as to how the author Aliki, was able to pack so much real information into a small, 32 page picture book. For being for ages 5-9 I sure did get a great experience.

The tone of the book is very educational and informative, but keeps a fun vibe. What gives it this vibe is the times new roman font throughout the book. Every page seems like it could be said by a classroom teacher because of this traditional font. To me, the times new roman font screams “format font” since that is the font students are required to format essays in. The other font in the book also sets the tone as very childish yet fun. The other font only appears when the kids are speaking, and it appears in colored thought bubbles. This is the vibe this font radiates because of the care-free handwritten font.


The main characters are 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls of all races. They add to the story with their colored thought bubbles too

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great combination of quality art and clear, informative text. The colors and textures are exceptional. This short book makes no attempt at being comprehensive, but instead there is plenty that will spark interest, sending readers off to find further sources - exactly the right reaction.

[MaKayla Jahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: This book is about how fossils form, it talks about how fossils are very old, sometimes ninety million years old. Fossils tell us many things about past environments, and the many different species that used to live in those environments. They are the key to the past.

Review: I really like this book because I think it is very important for children to experience fossils that tell us what our Earth was millions of years ago. I love that this book uses some scientific terms, because it is important for children to associate with the words that are in the field. I also love that the author gives a description of how a fossils forms in a way that the children can understand.

I would pair this book with National Geographic for Kids articles that relate to earth science, and how the earth formed.

Juicy Quote: " A plant or animal that has turned to stone is called a fossil." This is a greta quote to help build schema about what a fossil is. It is a very simple definition, which would be good for young readers.

[Maggie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Fossils Tell of Long Ago, it provides children's drawings to relate the information to the children a little more. This book is an educational book because it provides definitions of what fossils, peat, and amber are. It shows images of fossils and how they lived to provide information of what they looked like and where they lived millions of years ago. Fossils can tell us a lot about our past, but they also can tell what the earth looked like billions of years ago and how the environments have changed and how long ago a creature has lived. This book gives a lot of perspective for children at a young age. As an activity, I would like to use clay and have the children make hand prints as an example of fossils. Once they harden they will be able to paint them and take them home. We could also take a field trip to the museum, which they could see a lot of interesting fossils and learn about animals living billions of years ago.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fossils, dah dah dah. A great and educational little book. It got me interested in paleontology when I was a kid. I’m glad I learned about fossils from this book and other books. When I say, “I learned stuff from books that I didn’t learn at school”, this is what I mean. Aliki’s art is great in this book in particular, being happy and colorful for kids. I also kind of want to make a mold of my hand out of clay and put it in the ground for paleontologists 65 million years from now to find. This book improved my mind and raised my horizons, and did it while providing good entertainment and sparking my interest.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a parent looking to homeschool your kids like I plan to, this is a great science book to get started with. It’s packed with information in merely 40 pages. It contains a fun science project to do with your kids that has a prep time of about 5 minutes (depending on if you’re making the clay from scratch or using store-bought). The illustrations in this book are fantastic as well; they’re detailed while appearing simplistic at the same time. Even after my kids are grown, I’ll be keeping this book in my collection to pass along to their kids.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and educational look into how information can be gathered from the fossils found in the ground. I think this was one of my favorite Aliki books, I'm usually not a huge fan of the comic style format used in these books. But, the approach was not over the top and actually complemented the story this time.

[Lauren Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great and easy to read book telling the story of fossils, how they are created and what they tell us. This book would be really effective if used alongside the teaching of fossils in Year 3 science.

[Sofia Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great informational book that was all about fossils, from how they started to how to find them. It also had an activity to do at the back of the book that involved learning more about fossils. I think i would have it in my classroom and even do the activity in my class.

[Mia Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good and gives a step by step of how a fossil becomes a fossil and it even gives an activity. I would put this book into my classroom and have my students read this book if we were doing a unit around this.

[Jamie McNiven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fossils are like time capsules and can show us things that were on Earth long before humans. Students are encouraged to explore and research things that came before them, and how those things can tell their own story with clues/evidence.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting little science book for children who might be curious about fossils, or who might be inspired to learn about them. The author explains what fossils are, how they became fossils, where some might be found, and bow to make fossils. Nicely illustrated.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice focus on what fossils are, not just dinosaur info. Dated, but still good info

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little book explaining fossils in depth while still being a light children's book.

[Amit Tiwary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential introductory book for the young ones. This series of book by Aliki is of extremely good quality.

[Katie Little]

This is a great book.

[Talea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little book that my daughter really enjoyed. It shows kids exploring fossils and dinosaurs in a way that makes it easy to understand and fun.

[Nolan Brendel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it because I did it for science and because I like fossils.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR 3.6

[Elijah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for teaching children what fossils are and what fossils aren't, as well as common examples.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and flows nicely. A little dated, but still an enjoyable read. My 1 year old was very interested.

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

educational in a fun way

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved that the big fish fossil from Sternberg Museum in Hays, KS was included. My kid was too young to remember having seen it but I'm not! haha

[Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells all about different types of fossils and how they form. It talks about plant and animal remains becoming fossils. It talks about things being preserved in ice and in amber. It also talks about tracks of animals becoming fossils. It discusses how the earth has changed allowing some water fossils to be found in dry areas and vice versa. It even has ideas for students making their own fossils.

I thought this book was easy to read and had a lot of information. There was a good use of illustrations and real world examples of fossils. The scientific processes and names were used in a way that students would be able to understand them.

This would be a good book to use in a unit on dinosaurs and fossils. It covers all the types of fossils, and I think that students would find it very interesting.

[Friend of Pixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this straight through twice and then again in the evening. The first page sucked us right in: "Once upon a time a huge fish was swimming around when along came a smaller fish. The big fish was so hungry it swallowed the other fish hole. The big fish died and sank to the bottom of the sea." It shows the process of how the big fish and the little fish inside it both become fossils and about the clues that fossils give us of the past. Accessible and informative for even younger kids. After reading this and another book on fossils, Logan wanted to become an archeologist and went right out into the front yard with a kitchen spatula to start digging. I liked the diversity of the kids too.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This informational book gives kids exciting facts on fossils, where they come from, and how they are made. Kids are told the difference between animals that become fossils compared to those who rot, how layers of mud compact animals to make fossils, and what scientists can learn about the environment from studying fossils they find. Kids are even encouraged to go out and see what they can find- maybe one day they can find a fossil themselves!

There is another Aliki book I share with my 2nd graders called, “Ah, Music!” that I do not care for at all. I liked “Fossils Tell of Long Ago” so much better. It gave great facts for kids to get them interested but not overwhelm them.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the #classroombookaday project, I want to ensure students are getting a variety of genres. While this isn't my favorite book, it is a decent informational text. I was taken with how into this the students were. They really seemed smitten with how fossils come to be.

This book does a good job of describing fossils, imprints, and amber. Frankly, it was better presented than any of the materials I have used in science class.

Students spoke about how we could make our own fossils. They were pleased at the end when their suggestion was covered.

Overall, not bad.

[Khadija Bensaadoun · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fossils Tell of Long Ago", is a children;s literature book that explains how fossils are formed and how we use them to tell us about the past. This book can be used to teach a 2nd grade lesson on how fossils are formed. The students will learn what paleontologists do and how fossils become fossilized. For a fun activity I would show different pictures of fossils to the students and they would guess what animal was fossilized.