Author: John Acorn

Publisher: The University of Alberta Press

ISBN:-13: 978-0-88864-481-7

History book, science book, and bedtime storybook all in one! For its size, Deep Alberta is a book that would appeal to many readers on several levels. The range of topics covered in this concise format is broad, encompassing geography, biology, and geology as well.

Written in easily digestible sound bites, this is, first of all, a study of the fossil history of Alberta. As it is based on a radio series which was broadcast on CKUA Radio and sponsored by the Royal Tyrell Museum, it meets the requirements of taut radio scripting, with each topic reduced to a page of text and a page with a photo or illustration. Having never heard the broadcasts, I can’t say with certainty whether these were the actual scripts, but they could be—as they are tersely crafted, delivering a brief but punchy message or fun fact. The succinct discussion of each subject is thorough enough to be meaningful, while the restricted length will have the reader salivating for more.

The book also covers plenty of science. For serious students of paleontology, author John Acorn peppers the volume with mentions of discoverers and researchers, those involved at universities and museums that have furthered the cause of dinosaur science. In addition to bringing to life the animals themselves through renderings of the dinosaurs and photos of the bones, the author also pictures some of the scientists, both the historical and the present-day, people who may not enjoy celebrity in popular circles, but whose work has contributed much to our understanding of prehistoric life, and by association, to life on earth today. For example, we learn about the Sternbergs, a family of dino hunters who contributed to North American paleontology through their writing and work with museums, universities, and the Geological Survey of Canada; we get a glimpse of the scope of the discoveries of Barnum Brown, the American credited with finding Tyrannosaurus Rex, who made many of his best finds on Canadian soil; and we read about Lawrence Lambe, who named several familiar dinosaurs and for whom the Lambeosaurs was named. Knowing these bits of information about the individuals who dedicated their lives to the study of fossilized life adds a further dimension to the collection of vignettes.

A third, possibly less obvious and probably unexpected, application for this book is that of bedtime storybook. Although the writing is beyond the level that most young dinosaur lovers would tackle on their own, it would certainly keep them fascinated if it were read to them. Because each subject is covered so well in a few paragraphs, and because each topic has an appropriate photo or drawing, Deep Alberta could easily capture a child’s attention. However, it would behoove the parents to consult the References and Further Reading section of the book to “bone up” on the inevitable questions from curious minds.

The photographs and illustrations in the book help immensely in putting the fossils and where they have been uncovered in context, especially for someone who’s never visited Alberta. Photos of dig sites give a good depiction of the kinds of terrain where fossils might be found, and in fact, one page is devoted to the topic “How Do You Know Where to Dig?”

Acorn’s narrative humor shines through even in the written format. It is easy to see why his radio show was popular.

The above review was contributed by: Beth Burke, freelance editor. Beth is also a fiber artist, and a stay-at-home mom. Previous hats she has worn include procedure and proposal writer for government, commercial nuclear, and environmental services concerns; advertising copywriter; newspaper reporter; and college-level writing instructor.

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