Introduces young people to paleontology, from collecting the evidence and searching for clues, to developing and testing a theory. Revealing true stories about kids who have made paleo discoveries and providing young readers with the tools necessary to make the next big discovery, this book shows kids how to collect, clean, and study fossil samples in order to develop and further their own research interests. Examples from the fossil record and the laboratory help to answer questions raised by bones and by movies about dinosaurs, such as could a velociraptor really open a door? Covering actual field and lab techniques, methods for developing scientific theories, information about summer dig programs, ways to incorporate fossils into class work at school, and plans for a future in science, this book provides aspiring scientists with applicable and educational research tools. From figuring out whether a sample is an authentic dinosaur specimen to reading about discoveries made by other young paleontologists, kids learn how to become active contributors to the field of dino study. Entertaining and realistic, this book includes cautions about safety, mentorship, and permission.

So, you want to become a paleontologist! -- How science works -- What exactly is a paleontologist anyway? -- Becoming a fossil -- The case of the triceratops two-step -- Collecting the evidence-Getting started-- Where to look -- Getting ready to go -- What it's like to look for fossils and how to do it yourself -- Digging! -- Keeping records -- Sue's clues--What we found and how we found it -- What is all means -- Boys or girls -- Kids -- What to do with your fossil once you get it home --The Paleo laboratory : training to clean fossils -- Filling in the gaps -- "Is it real?" -- Stan's plans -- The bare bones -- Behavior -- Developing and testing a theory: the scientific guessing game -- The question -- The observations -- Hypothesis #1 -- Hypotheses #2 --Hypothesis #1 --the sequel -- More evidence -- The theory -- Possible conclusions -- Your future job -- Help! -- More questions that need big ides, hypotheses, or even answers -- Getting started -- The best books to start with -- Clubs and organizations -- Summer dig programs -- What to study in school to get a head start --You can do this! -- Acknowledgments -- Scientific names-pronunciation and guide -- Geologic extinction timeline -- Permission letter template -- Teacher's or independent study guide -- Classroom projects -- Planning field trips -- Help with answering questions -- Bones Rock! website information -- List of illustrations -- References.