Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Paleontologists

Hands-on science projects pair up with inspiring biographies of female paleontologists in a full-color book for ages 8 to 11 that will have kids digging in their own backyards and making real-world learning connections!

Who were the first people to walk upright? What kind of life existed millions of years ago? How have organisms changed through the eons? These are the kinds of questions that keep paleontologists awake at night! In Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Paleontologists with STEM Projects for Kids, readers ages 8 to 11 meet five female paleontologists who made breakthrough discoveries of ancient life from millions of years ago, including Mary Anning, Mignon Talbot, Tilly Edinger, Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, and Mary Leakey. These women all led fascinating lives while working in the field and in the lab, often facing challenges because of their gender and race.

• Through hands-on STEM projects such as creating a paleontology diorama, modeling an excavation, preparing specimens and finding clues in teeth, kids gain critical thinking skills just like the ones necessary to succeed in the field.

• Essential questions, cool facts about female scientists, and links to online resources all reinforce high-level learning.

• Using a fun narrative style, engaging illustrations combined with photography, fascinating facts, essential questions, and hands-on projects, this book deepens readers’ creative thinking skills.

About the Gutsy Girls Go for Science set and Nomad Press

Paleontologists is part of a set of four Gutsy Girls Go for Science books that explore career connections for young scientists. The other titles in this series include Programmers, Engineers, and Astronauts.

Nomad Press books in the Gutsy Girls Go for Science series integrate content with participation, encouraging readers to engage in student-directed learning. Combining content with inquiry-based projects stimulates learning and makes it active and alive. Nomad’s unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers.

All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.

Karen Bush Gibson is the author of more than 30 nonfiction books for children and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. One of her books about women aviators was named a 2014 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People by the NCSS and a selection in Air & Space/Smithsonian's Best Children's Books of 2013 roundup of aviation and space-themed books. Karen lives in Norman, Oklahoma.

Shululu (Hui Li) has always been driven by curiosity. She received a PhD in computational chemistry from the University of Chicago and is the illustrator of the Physical Science for Kids set of nonfiction picture books from Nomad Press. She is devoted to bringing joy and science to young readers through fun illustrations! She lives with her husband in New York, New York.