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Trapped in the Tar Pit
How Paleontologists Unearthed a City's Prehistoric Past
Illustrated by Alexander Vidal
Table of Contents
About The Book
Dig down, down, down into the history of an ancient tar pit in this fascinating nonfiction picture book about one of the most exciting fossil discoveries of the modern day!
Thousands of years ago, ancient animals roamed the Earth, unaware there was a lot of sticky tar hidden deep beneath their feet…until one day, an earthquake caused it to seep up to the surface. When unsuspecting animals stepped into the tar, they got stuck!
Centuries later, in the early 1900s, people started exploring the tar pit and found more bones the deeper they dug. Eventually, scientists realized the bones weren’t just any old bones but perfectly preserved fossils of ancient animals, just waiting to be dug up and puzzled back together!
Uncover this true story of a miraculous scientific discovery in the most unexpected of places.
Thousands of years ago, ancient animals roamed the Earth, unaware there was a lot of sticky tar hidden deep beneath their feet…until one day, an earthquake caused it to seep up to the surface. When unsuspecting animals stepped into the tar, they got stuck!
Centuries later, in the early 1900s, people started exploring the tar pit and found more bones the deeper they dug. Eventually, scientists realized the bones weren’t just any old bones but perfectly preserved fossils of ancient animals, just waiting to be dug up and puzzled back together!
Uncover this true story of a miraculous scientific discovery in the most unexpected of places.
About The Author
Photograph by Katrina Jayne Photography
Jessica Stremer is a mom and military spouse with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She combines her love of science and writing to create books that inspire kids to explore the world around them and beyond. She is the author of the nonfiction picture books Wonderfully Wild, Lights Out, and Trapped in the Tar Pit. When not writing, Jessica loves spending time with her family traveling, hiking, and camping.
About The Illustrator
Photo courtesy of author
Originally from New Mexico, Alexander Vidal studied cultural anthropology and spent time living in Africa and Asia before starting his career in illustration. Travel, exploration, and a love of animals and wild spaces continue to drive the themes of his work. He is the illustrator of the board book So Many Feet; nonfiction family activity book I Love Birds!: 52 Ways to Wonder, Wander, and Explore Birds with Kids; and picture books Cougar Crossing!, Just You and Me, The Bone Wars, and Trapped in the Tar Pit. Opuesto: A Borderland Book of Opposites is Alexander’s debut authored-illustrated picture book. He is a graduate of ArtCenter College of Design and lives in Los Angeles.
Product Details
- Publisher: Beach Lane Books (August 26, 2025)
- Length: 40 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665953184
- Ages: 4 - 8
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Raves and Reviews
Los Angeles may make readers think of movies, stars, and all things beautiful. But before it was Hollywood, just beneath the surface is a story. Thousands and thousands of years ago, prehistoric animals, birds, and insects lived on what is now considered La Brea—a neighborhood in Los Angeles, CA. Underneath the surface there are tar pits where these creatures were stuck, eventually offering up their fossils today. Author and illustrator do a wonderful job explaining to young children how fossils form.
– School Library Journal, 8/1/25
With infectious enthusiasm, Stremer invites readers to marvel at the extraordinary fossil riches that have come out of the La Brea Tar Pits—initially, over 750,000 specimens of everything from pollen grains to imperial mammoths.
– Booklist, August 2025
The fascinating story of the La Brea Tar Pits gets a wonderful introduction in Stremer’s latest offering. [The] text is a model of cause and effect, capturing the inherent drama of the original mammoth’s struggle while effortlessly condensing a long timeline without losing focus. Vidal’s digital illustrations consist of vibrant double-page spreads, which complement the text and breathe additional life into the story.
– Horn Book, September/October 2025 Issue
A captivating addition to the paleontology shelf.
– Kirkus, June 15, 2025 Issue
Awards and Honors
- Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Trapped in the Tar Pit
Fixed Layout eBook 9781665953184
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Author Photo (jpg): Jessica Stremer Photograph by Katrina Jayne Photography(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
