DINOTHAW

"Dinosaurs in Antarctica? You must have rocks (or ice) in your head," thought Josh.

Then his dad, Steve, is asked to help a research team recover dinosaur bones recently found in a melting glacial cave, and Josh finds out how wrong he was. His earlier dinosaur-hunting in outback Queensland with his grandfather, and a dig in South Australia, convince the scientific team leader he would be a useful addition. Besides, Steve refuses to go without his son.

Landing on the Antarctic ice in a small aeroplane is just the start. The pressure is on to get the bones out as the weather closes in, and an accident on the ice almost spells disaster. With the help of a Russian helicopter pilot the team manages what seems impossible, only to get trapped in a sea of ice. Will they be successful?

DINOTHAW is fiction built on real palaeontology and geography: Antarctica was once joined to Australia as part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. Short chapters and an easy-to-read style make it a good fit for readers aged 7 to 12, including reluctant readers. Free lesson plan available from the author's website.