ALA Booklist (Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 1996)

In this lively, informative title in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, a boy and his friends go on a dig in a local cornfield with their archaeologist friend Sophie. The children are disappointed when they don't find treasure or a mummy; all they dig up are rocks and pebbles and dust. But Sophie explains that archaeologists love garbage and that the fun is in the detective work, on the site and in the lab, finding out how ordinary people lived long ago. In addition to the main narrative, sidebars provide facts and activities (What Would Your Garbage Tell about You?), and the cartoon-style color drawings add informality, excitement, and comic relief. As is the norm now in concept books, it's taken for granted that the cast is ethnically diverse; one scientist in the lab is in a wheelchair. The affected blond kid who worries about dirtying her sneakers ends up getting totally involved (Cool!). So will many readers. (Reviewed December 1, 1996)

Horn Book

Accompanied by cartoonlike illustrations and humorous speech balloons, the text follows a group of kids who accompany an archaeologist on a dig. The discussion of what these scientists do is fairly in-depth but clearly described (though an explanation of carbon-dating is oversimplified and misleading). A few more warnings about not trying certain things at home (such as making a sharp archaic awl) would have been helpful.

Kirkus Reviews

<p>Readers will feel as if they're taking an active part in an archaeological dig in this informative entry in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, reminiscent of Aliki's Digging for Dinosaurs and entries in the Magic School Bus series. Student volunteers accompany Sophie, the archaeologist, to an unnamed dig in a cornfield, where remains of people from the Archaic Era are being uncovered. Scientific information is spelled out in a straightforward text, defining terms--artifact, midden, and feature--as well as processes, e.g., wet-screening dirt. Dialogue balloons show the students' questions and reactions to their discoveries, while a pet beagle's comments provide comic relief. Inserts complement the text by highlighting comparisons between past and present, how tools were made, and what a basket of modern garbage can reveal. The need for meticulous record-keeping and expert analysis is also included: There is a behind-the-scenes look at a lab plus a complete picture of field work, including the long hours, hot sun, and tedious sifting of dirt. With her inviting approach to a complex process, Duke (Aunt Isabel Makes Trouble, p. 1398, etc.) ensures that this eye-opening field trip will inspire dirt diggers and treasure-seekers everywhere.</p>

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4--This book has the appealing layout and tone of the successful "Magic School Bus" series (Scholastic), while still being firmly grounded in reality. Three children, a dog, and a cat accompany their archaeologist friend Sophie on a dig. The woman explains the scientific process, exuding enthusiasm for her chosen career. The inquisitive children, always referred to collectively, ask realistic questions in often humorous dialogue. Discussions regarding ancient and modern garbage are particularly amusing. Another nice touch is the discovery of animal bones, which are later reconstructed in a laboratory. The way of life practiced in the Archaic Era of 6,000 years ago is described via archaeological finds such as an awl and a stone knife. Students will find this lively book more fun than photographic treatments such as Dennis Fradin's Archaeology (Children's Press, 1983). Upbeat, conversational text, fact-filled sidebars, speech bubbles, and instructive illustrations provide a delightful cornucopia of information that students will return to again and again.--Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VA