Mary Anning and her family would search the damp soil after a storm and find fossils. After her father passed away, Anning and her brother made a huge discovery. They found a giant crocodile head. Mary was determined to obtain the whole body. Once she did, a fossil collector bought it from her and named it an Ichthyosaur. Mary Anning never stopped looking for buried treasure and became a Paleontologist. ( )

"Little Mary Anning loved to treasure hunt." The Anning family dug up fossils from the cliffs near their home and sold them to tourists. When she was older, Mary sold some of her discoveries to scientists, few of whom credited her; she also opened a shop, Anning's Fossil Depot, and studied fish skeletons to learn more about the fossils she discovered.

Illustrations are faintly reminiscent of Tomie DePaola's, with gentle curves; when Mary is concentrating, her tongue pokes out of the side of her mouth.

An excellent choice as a longer read-aloud for dino-obsessed kiddos.

Back matter includes "How to become a paleontologist" and a selected bibliography. ( )