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Wednesday, October 24, 2012


Title: Barnum's Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World
Author: Tracey Fern
Illustrator: Boris Kulikov
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books/ Farrar Straus Giroux
Publication Date: 2012
Genre/Format: Picture Book/Nonfiction
Classification: Biography

Summary: Barnum was a very unusual boy. He loved hunting fossils. He collected so many fossils his mother asked him to move his collection to the laundry house. In 1902, Barnum went to Hell Creek, Montana in search of dinosaurs. Today the Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur skeleton is housed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
 
Personal thoughts and connections: I saw the word "Barnum" and assumed this book was about the Barnum and Bailey circus.  A pleasant surprise when I read this book was about Barnum Brown, the man who found the largest skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur. I waited to read this book to my three grandsons who are dinosaur fanatics. They loved the book--and the book spurred us to take a virtual tour of the American Musuem of Natural History. Fabulous read.

The Author's Note and bibliography are terrific. A great way to get started to research dinosaurs.
 
Read together: K-3
Read alone: 3-12
Other book connections: Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries, by Don Brown
 
Snippet of Text:
Barnum, who was an unusually nice dresser, sometimes went prospecting in a fur coat, a suit and tie, buffed black boots, and a bowler hat. (Unnumbered page)
 
One morning in 1902, Barunum's friend William Hornaday, the director of the New York Zoological Park, gave Barnum and interesting rock that he found on a hunting trip...The rock wasn't any rock--it was the horn of a Triceratops. (Unnumbered page)

Connections to writing: Expository-- (1) You have just found out that you have been selected to participate in a dinosaur dig in another state. Write a letter  to persuade your parents to let you participate in this once in a lifetime experience. (2) Barnum Brown took pride in fossil discoveries. Discuss the importance of pride in the work you do.

Connections to writing: Narrative--(1)Pretend you are Barnum Brown on an archeological dig. Write a letter to "My Dear Professor" about your first week in the field. (2) Write an acrostice poem about Barnum Brown.

Connections to other content areas: Social Studies, Science,
Translated to other languages: No

This book was checked out of my local library.

I'd love to know your thoughts and ideas about this book.  What other content areas could you connect to with the book?
 

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