WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: The Bone Wars by Jane Kurtz & Alexander Vidal
ABOUT THE BOOK
Did you know that many of the dinosaur skeletons you see in museums are rooted in a scientific battle between two paleontologists? O. C. Marsh and Edward Cope met in 1863 and bonded over their shared love of fossils, becoming the best of friends…until the day Marsh discovered an error in Cope’s work, and the Bone Wars began!
Marsh and Cope stopped collaborating and started competing, excavating fossils as fast as they could, and trying to find the most important never-before-seen discoveries. They each wanted the biggest, best dinosaur bones. And fast! They used code names and disguises, they snooped and tricked, and did everything possible to keep their finds secret. The race was messy and there were many mistakes along the way, but in the end, Marsh and Cope discovered all kinds of new dinosaur skeletons to share with the world—fossils we still get to see today!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Alexander Vidal spent his childhood summers searching for fossils and learning about prehistoric life at a camp hosted by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he writes and illustrates books about wildlife and nature, including Just You and Me: Remarkable Relationships in the Wild by Jennifer Ward and Cougar Crossing: How Hollywood’s celebrity Cougar Helped Build a Bridge for City Wildlife by Meeg Pincus. Visit his website: alexandervidal.com.
REVIEW
The best picture book nonfiction provides readers with a glimpse into unique topics and/or times, places, and people. The Bone Wars introduces young readers/listeners to two remarkable scientists whose careers in paleontology brought them into contact with each other. O.C. Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope started out as friends and colleagues before a mistake made by Cope in putting a fossil together led to Marsh making fun of him and their once cordial relationship turned nasty and competitive. Over time, the two men became so competitive that it harmed both of their careers as their teams resorted to lying, snooping, and even sabotage to get ahead of the other. Kurtz's text provides a very readable and exciting introduction to two accomplished men who let their animosity destroy what could have been two distinguished careers. Despite the conflict, an amazing number of fossils were discovered and shared with the world. Not only does this informative book provide a fascinating glimpse into an era of amazing discoveries but the dangers of competition. Vidal's remarkable digital illustrations wonderfully complement Kurtz's fine text. A book great for teaching and learning both at home and at school.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Comments
Post a Comment