Famous Finds and Finders

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"Children 8 and older will find all sorts of intriguing sights and role models in “Famous Finds and Finders,” an enthusiastic and accessible sampling of notable discoveries—bones, treasures, lost cities—compiled and written by Tom Velčovský and Štěpánka Sekaninová. The entries in this oversize gallimaufry represent findings from such a vast range of places and eras that the authors seem gleefully to have thrown in every goodie that came to mind, from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the ruined Cretan palace at Knossos (see right) to a Druidic bust from the Czech Republic to a sunken Nazi warship at the bottom of the North Sea. Each of the 40 phenomena is accompanied by a handful of factoids and a small map to show where it was found, but prime of place goes to Adam Wolf’s satisfyingly melodramatic illustrations." —The Wall Street Journal

"I’ll confess that this next book is the kind of pure, rarified nerd-fare that 12-year-old me would have totally have adored." —Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production – A School Library Journal Blog

Selected for the CBC’s 2023 November Hot Off The Press Reading List

"It’s amazing how much information is included in such limited space. Enough of a description is given to not only tell the story of the discovery, but pique the interest of the readers and encourage them to learn more." —Maria Touet, Malden Catholic High School, Malden, MA (Youth Services Book Review)

"What a fun read! This book will take you all over the place with awesome locations, and the history behind them - as well as the person who discovered each site! Great for kids who are interested in history, this will give them the chance to look into several different cultures and some of the treasures that were found at each location." —Rebecca Hill, Blogger

"This is a fascinating book of information on famous archeological finds. I learned a lot of things I didn't know, and my 9-year-old found it all very interesting." —Shilo Quetchenbach, NetGalley Reviewer

"Young me would have been all over this. Current aged me was all over this. A fun and inviting look at artifacts that is sure to pique curiosity." —NetGalley-Librarian

"A solid exploration of the world of discovery. Each short section introduces a find or an explorer. We learn about how the discovery was made, the place it held in history, and how it was lost." —Martha D., NetGalley Reviewer

"Famous Finds and Finders is an informative read, with a great deal of well organized information. I wish I had found this book when I was a young reader, as I would have loved getting a real look at the discoveries made, tools used, and maps detailing pertinent information." —Sharon Tyler, NetGalley-Reviewer

"Famous Finds and Finders: Searching For The Past is an informative and engaging book that focuses on archeological discoveries through the years. One thing I especially like about it is that each artifact is associated with a discoverer. Wolfe's illustrations bring the stories to life, depicting historical figures, artifacts, and landscapes in an engaging and informative way. Learning is further enhanced by maps and timelines, which provide context and a visual representation of when and where events occurred. Famous Finds and Finders is targeted for readers 9-12 years old, but I can say on good authority that a 40 year old adult will love this book too!" —YA Books Central

"This incredible nonfiction work takes you on a journey through lost human civilizations, buried rulers, and so much more! With a peek into how archeologists and paleontologists work to make discoveries, this book emphasizes the importance of preserving history.It will take you on a journey all around the world to forty remarkle discoveries. It's split up into five different categories, including people & animals, towns & cities, works of art, under the sea, and the underground. It's also packed with incredible illustrations and maps. What a clever and engaging way to learn about the past!" —Fun Reads for Kids, IG