Summer Reads
BOOK REVIEWS BY LINDA STEPHEN
Rhinos in Nebraska: The Amazing Discovery of the Ashfall Fossil Beds by Alison Pearce Stevens
It’s summer and time to explore. Have you ever been to Ashfall Fossil Beds, three hours northwest of Lincoln? Ashfall is both a National Natural Landmark and a Nebraska State Park. Through clear, enthusiastic
writing, Rhinos in Nebraska tells the story of 50 years of discoveries at this active dig site. Most fossil finds “are just bits and pieces,” says Stevens, but at Ashfall Fossil Beds, paleontologists have found more than 200 perfectly preserved, intact fossils! See
photos in Rhinos in Nebraska or visit yourself to see fossils of prehistoric rhinos, horses, and camels, all buried 12 million years ago in volcanic ash at a watering hole. The book, written for a middle grade audience, is easy to read in an afternoon, and will leave you amazed for life. I highly recommend Rhinos in Nebraska for curious people of all ages. Rhinos in Nebraska (Henry Holt and Co., 2021, 144 pages) includes ink illustrations by Matt Huynh. Find in Lincoln at Francie & Finch Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, or at Lincoln City Libraries. To plan your trip, visit Ashfall.unl.edu.
The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. This nonfiction history book features photos, maps, artwork, and interviews with veterans of a World War II deception unit, which used inflatable tanks and other illusions to mislead Germans on the battlefields of Europe. Most of the recruits were artists. Highly recommend for readers who love history, stories of World War II, or examples of creativity under fire. (Princeton Architectural Press, 2015, 253 pages) Find at Lincoln City Libraries.
Linda Stephen is an artist, writer, and editor in Lincoln. Her origami picture book “The Day We Went to the Park” won the 2021 Nebraska Book Award – Illustration Honor. Contact Linda@UnfoldingCommunications.com.