Charlotte’s Bones: The Beluga Whale in a Farmer’s Field

Nearly 12,000 years ago, as the Ice Age came to an end, an inland sea existed in what is now the state of Vermont. Beluga whales swam and played in that inland sea, but one of them likely was caught in a marshy area and died there. Over thousands of years, her bones settled into the blue clay where she came to rest. It wasn’t until 1849 that those bones were uncovered as men building a railroad were digging in that area. Scientists studied the strange bones, realizing over time that a sea had existed and marine life like Beluga whales had been living in that area. This discovery really changed the way many thought about the age of the earth and its geologic history.

Author Erin Rounds has written a lovely, lyrical story of Charlotte’s journey and discovery accompanied by beautiful illustrations in serene colors. In addition, there are six pages of in-depth back matter to give youngsters much more background and information about this extraordinary find. The back matter includes information on other Ice Age creatures that lived in the area, a good glossary, and a list of other resources for further study. This is a winner.