Trapped in the Tar Pit: How Paleontologists Unearthed a City’s Prehistoric Past

K-Gr 1–Los Angeles may make readers think of movie stars, movies, and all things beautiful. But before it was Hollywood, just beneath the surface is a story. Thousands and thousands of years ago prehistoric animals and birds and insects lived on what is now considered La Brea, CA. Underneath the surface there are tar pits where these creatures were stuck, offering us their fossils today. Author and illustrator do a wonderful job explaining to young children how fossils form. When animals were first stuck,or how is not explicitly stated, but it is implied in the illustrations, especially the ones that include bones. However, the second part of the book is informative and explanatory but written at a higher grade and/or Lexile level and not fit the same reader. It is two books. Educators will find that there is nonfiction picture book for early elementary children followed by short nonfiction for upper elementary students.