So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter (Paleontologist) (So You Want To Be A...)
About
WINNER of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award
The bone has been buried for sixty-five million years. It will not come out in an afternoon. It will not come out in a week. You will work in the heat, on your knees, with brushes finer than a paintbrush, and when it finally emerges from the rock — that is not the end of the story. That is the beginning.
So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter takes young readers ages 10–14 inside one of the most thrilling and most patient professions on earth — not the action-movie version, but the real one. The seasons of fieldwork that happen before a single fossil reaches a museum. The specific discipline of reading ancient rock and knowing where to look, and when to stop. The team of scientists who piece together creatures no living human has ever seen, from fragments that took an eternity to preserve. The dig that yields nothing — and the one that rewrites everything.
This is a book about what paleontologists actually do: the geological layers they read like chapters in a book, the excavation techniques they use to free what time has hidden, the laboratory work that transforms raw fossil into scientific discovery, and the relentless curiosity they bring to questions that have waited millions of years for an answer. It’s also a book about what the work costs, what it reveals, and why the people who do it say they are the luckiest scientists alive.
Inside, young readers will discover:
- What a real paleontologist’s work looks like — from field expeditions to laboratory analysis
- The science of fossils and what bones, teeth, and tracks can tell us about ancient life
- The physical endurance and intellectual rigor the profession demands — and how paleontologists rise to meet them
- The history of the field and the legendary discoveries that changed our understanding of life on Earth
- What young people can do right now to discover if this might be their calling
Honest, specific, and genuinely illuminating, So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter doesn’t talk down to young readers — it brings them all the way in. Because the child who wants to know what this work is really like deserves a real answer.
For readers who feel the pull toward something ancient and vast and waiting to be found. For the kid who picks up every rock they pass and feels something shift.
The fossil has been there for sixty-five million years. It has been waiting for exactly this — for someone like you to find it.
Ages 10–14 · Nonfiction · Careers & Professions · Illustrated
Praise for this book
"Did you know that paleontologists travel all over the world hunting ancient fossils to study prehistoric life? In So You Want to Be a Dinosaur Hunter (Paleontologist), author Linda Soules describes the activities of a paleontologist, how they study fossilized plants, ancient pollen, insects trapped in amber, and much more to unravel the history of life on Earth. The paleontologist analyzes the fossils in the laboratory, comparing them against known specimens. Then these specimens are stored in a museum. The book features a wide range of tools a paleontologist uses for their work, both in the field and the laboratory. You will learn about field excavations in remote areas, world-changing discoveries, a day in the life of a paleontologist, and the people paleontologists work with.
Take a deep dive into the world of paleontology with So You Want to Be a Dinosaur Hunter (Paleontologist). Author Linda Soules comes up with yet another informative guide on a career that is bound to appeal to young readers. Who doesn't love dinosaurs? Well, this delightful book offers everything you need to know about fossil hunting and paleontologists. Using vibrant illustrations, Soules covers the fundamentals of a career in paleontology, explaining each topic thoroughly, whether it's about analyzing fossils in the laboratory or searching for them in remote deserts. I really enjoyed how the author makes paleontology look so appealing as a career. It offers a lens through which we can learn about Earth's history. Overall, it's a great educational book for children. I highly recommend it."
"So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter is a detailed, engaging, and refreshingly realistic introduction to the world of paleontology. Rather than presenting dinosaur hunting as a fast-paced adventure where discoveries happen overnight, this children's book shows young readers what the work is really like: patient, careful, physically demanding, and deeply rewarding.
One of the book's biggest strengths is how thoroughly it explains what paleontologists actually do. Readers learn about field expeditions, fossil excavation, geological layers, lab work, scientific analysis, and the teamwork required to turn ancient bones, teeth, and tracks into discoveries about life millions of years ago. The book does a great job showing that paleontology is about asking questions, studying evidence, and developing the patience and skills needed to understand the past.
The colorful, cartoon-like illustrations make the book visually inviting, especially for younger dinosaur fans. Some sections include higher-level vocabulary and longer explanations, so I think the book is best suited for strong readers, especially ages 10-14. Younger children who love dinosaurs can still enjoy it with an adult, particularly by looking at the pictures and discussing the main ideas together. The glossary at the back is a helpful addition and makes the scientific language more accessible.
This book would be a wonderful choice for kids who are beginning to understand that a love of dinosaurs can become a real career. It's especially valuable because it does not oversimplify the profession. It's honest about the patience, endurance, and discipline required, while still capturing the excitement of uncovering something that has been hidden for millions of years. For readers who are newer to paleontology, it could easily become the kind of book that sparks a lasting interest.
I really liked the structure of the book and how it keeps the information from feeling overwhelming. The pages move between colorful artwork, blocks of explanation, lists, side-by-side images, and fun fact sections, which helps break up the flow and keeps readers engaged. This variety makes the book feel approachable even when the subject matter is detailed, and it gives kids different ways to absorb the information as they read.
So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter is informative, thoughtful, and inspiring. It is a great read for curious kids, dinosaur lovers, future scientists, and families who enjoy nonfiction books that invite big conversations. It is the kind of book children can grow into, returning to it at different ages and discovering new layers each time."
"An extremely thorough and realistic look at what it is like to be a paleontologist, from the field to the lab."
"My middle son has been into dinosaurs since he was very little. We read this together and to see the joy he had was priceless! Packed full of adventure and learning! 10/10 recommend!"
"I appreciated the breakdown of the various aspects of paleontology and that it was truthful about the amount of patience required but also the special skills you acquire from working in the field."
"Almost every kid loves dinosaurs at some point in their life. But then there are those that want to grow up to be paleontologists... This book is a great introduction to the world of paleontology."
"I love how simple but in depth this book goes into learning about Paleontologist. I also love how it examples what Paleontologist do and how it breaks down each part of the job: in the field and in the lab. It goes further into what to expect and difficult parts of the job. Last, I love all the pictures, especially with the glossary."
"I love this book, the pictures are wonderful and the explanation on what a paleontologist is perfect. I really appreciate that not only does it say the positives about the job but also that it also talks about the hard parts. One of my sons is currently studying to be a paleontologist and wants to know why they didn’t have this book when he was young."
"Great intro to paleontology! Easy to follow and understand. This is a perfect example for the 10-14 year old that has an interest in dinosaurs."
"A beautiful walk through of the magic that is being a paleontologist. A perfect book for every child who has ever shown an interest in taking their dinosaur fascination one step further - to discovery. The book sets the scene immediately with a sense of wonder and awe, capturing the attention of small minds and bringing them along for the science. The animations are kid-friendly, and the book walks through the hardship of the work, what a day in the life looks like, and even the impact this role brings to the world. The book ends with a call to action: what kids can do right now to get ready for this life, and what questions a paleontologist would ask. Highly recommend!"
"This is a great book for anyone interested in Dinosaurs or Archeology. At the end of the book is also a list of more books in the series for other jobs and interest."
"These books make dreams for our younger generation seem attainable. My daughter and I have enjoyed reading each and every single one of these. They provide such great information and facts it make kids want to dive deeper. Even made me interested in being a paleontologist."
"How to become Indiana Jones... but with dinosaurs! These books are so cool — shorter but packed with information. Quite enlightening read overall."
"Paleontology is a patience enterprise... The book goes in detail about the levels of work required, from doctorate down to the toddler that trips on a bone jutting out from the ground."
"Loved it. Very comprehensive. Pictures are great. It really breaks it down and shows people of all ages just how much real time and effort is spent finding our world's dead history."
"I think this book is great for a kid who loves to play in the dirt! It tells about all of the cool things that paleontologists can discover and how they do it!"
"Very informative and fun to read. It kept my attention WHILE being educational. Dinosaur lovers would definitely love this book!"