Jack Horner: Dinosaur Hunter

Gr 1-3–A fossil collector from childhood, Jack Horner overcame profound dyslexia to become a renowned paleontologist, serve as consultant on Jurassic Park (and even inspire the character Alan Grant), and discover the first clutch of fossilized dinosaur eggs in North America. With a recurrent “CRUNCH. SWOOSH” to evoke the sounds of digging in dirt and loose rocks, Shephard portrays Horner in an accurately representational style, in a mix of large panels and full-page scenes—going from labs to rugged landscapes to a movie set and finishing up by lounging comfortably against a friendly looking T. rex. “Jack understands dinosaurs aren’t alive anymore, but he wishes they were.” Readers may feel the same. Gholz tells Horner’s story and explains his contributions to paleontology in brief, simple language, concluding with more details about Horner’s struggles and career along with an invitation to budding fossil hunters to draw and name a dino of their own.