In “Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales: Fossils of Washington State,” Elizabeth A. Nesbitt and David B. Williams offer a captivating popular-level paleontological journey through the ancient natural history of our state. The fossil record guides the reader through this journey, as the authors recount the history of various fossil discoveries, the fossil hunters and paleontologists who found and preserved them, and how they shape our understanding of Washington’s past.
Nesbitt, a retired UW professor and curator emerita of invertebrate and micropaleontology at the Burke Museum, and Williams, a naturalist and author, succeed in distilling a wealth of knowledge into compelling chapters of individual fossil stories that are distinctly insightful and place these fossils firmly within their wider geological context.
The book begins by laying essential groundwork, offering concise overviews of geology, the geologic timescale (eons, eras, periods, and epochs), paleontology, and fossils, with a specific focus on the Pacific Northwest. To the layperson, this can be foreign and overwhelming, but Nesbitt and Williams are educators at heart, and it shows as they skillfully guide the reader through the subject matter. The book then progresses chronologically through the geologic timescale, exploring the fossil record of various eras and periods, highlighting the evolution of Washington’s native flora and fauna.
Mastodons, giant ground sloths, “sabertoothed” salmon and rhinoceroses are some of the more sensational sounding subjects the book touches on. Yet, it is just as fascinating to learn about the evolution of megafauna, insects, nautiloids, and whale teeth, to name but a few. Long-time Washingtonians will appreciate the book’s grounding in local geography. From Birch Bay to SeaTac, Chuckanut to Pasco, Orcas Island to Republic, the fossil record of our state becomes a tangible treasure trove of historical insight.
“Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales” should appeal to readers of local history, science and nature books, or anyone curious to learn a bit more about paleontology. Visit wcls.org to find “Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales” and other similarly themed stories.
“Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales” is the May selection for the Books & Bites book group. Join Books & Bites at the Blaine Library at 1 p.m. Friday, May 16 for a time of community and lively conversation.
Jonathan Jakobitz is an avid reader and the branch manager of the Blaine Library.
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