A Dinosaur Named Ruth - by Julia Lyon (Hardcover)

About the Book

"When prairie girl Ruth Mason finds strange rocks on her family land, she devotes her life to uncovering their source, leading to the discovery of thousands of dinosaur fossils"--

Book Synopsis

For fans of Shark Lady and from the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Dr. Fauci comes the incredible true story of a girl who discovered dinosaur bones in her own backyard and, after years of persistence, helped uncover one of the most exciting paleontological discoveries of our time.

There's an extraordinary secret hidden just beneath Ruth Mason's feet. The year is 1905, and Ruth is a prairie girl living in South Dakota. She has no way of knowing that millions of years ago, her family farm was once home to scores of dinosaurs. Until one day, when Ruth starts finding clues to the past: strange rocks and rubble scattered all across her land. They're dinosaur fossils--but she doesn't know that yet, either. It will take many years of collecting these clues, and many, many questions, but Ruth's curiosity will one day help uncover thousands of fossils all across her land.

New York Times bestselling illustrator Alexandra Bye's vibrant illustrations bring to life this inspiring and exciting debut picture book from award-winning journalist Julia Lyon.

Review Quotes

"An inspiring tale of resilience and dedication...and a most interesting addition to the world of dinosaur hunting."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"In this sweet, satisfying story, the vivid digital illustrations glow with warmth, conjuring the vast Badlands alongside the coziness of Mason's rural life. Back matter includes details about Mason and suggestions for further reading. An
appealing ode to perseverance, the pleasure in sharing passions, and the thrill of discovery."-- "Booklist"

"Students will be able to identify with Mason's curiosity and wonder. The digital illustrations enhance the text with their soft colors and whimsical sensibility....This would be a great choice for reading aloud during fossil or dinosaur units. A strong selection for picture biography collections, especially where there are gaps on the women in STEM shelves."-- "School Library Journal"

About the Author

Julia Lyon is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Journalism and spent more than ten years working in daily newspapers in Oregon and Utah before becoming a freelance writer in 2013. She has won a United Nations Correspondents Association gold medal after visiting refugee camps in Thailand and has won many other journalism awards and distinctions for her reporting. A Dinosaur Named Ruth is her debut picture book.

Alexandra Bye is a freelance illustrator specializing in fun, colorful illustrations for a variety of media such as editorial and children's publications. Her work is constantly inspired by her flourishing New England community and reflects the energy and dynamic personality of hometown pride. In her free time, she enjoys mountain biking, Nordic ski racing, Jiu Jitsu, studying nutritional therapy, and hiking in the White Mountains with her dog, Oliver.