ADVENTURES OF A KID PALEONTOLOGIST Named a Winner of 2024 #50PreciousWords Contest

Written By Danielle Dattolo

April 13, 2024—ADVENTURES OF A KID PALEONTOLOGIST was named a prize winner of the 2024 international #50PreciousWords contest, hosted by award-winning children’s author Vivian Kirkfield.

ADVENTURES OF A KID PALEONTOLOGIST follows a young girl as she hunts for dinosaur bones on a family hike. Read the full story below.

The #50PreciousWords contest is a challenge to tell a complete story for kids 12 and under in 50 words or less. Each submission must contain a beginning, middle, and end. Participants in the contest also support the #50PreciousWords Literacy Initiative, which has donated more than 700 brand-new children's books to schools in need while supporting indie bookstores. This year, nearly 300 more books were delivered to New Hampshire schools in partnership with The Bookery.

ADVENTURES OF A KID PALEONTOLOGIST

I leap over feathery ferns 

And ancient tree roots etched into limestone,

Keeping my eyes peeled for dinosaur bones. 

In the world’s oldest fossil forest

I’m the youngest-ever paleontologist,

At least until our hike’s over. 

Cairo is home—

Cairo, New York—

And my backyard is 385 million years old.

Danielle Dattolo
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