Thomas the T. rex: The Journey of a Young Dinosaur to Los Angeles

Nine-year-old Thomas and his cousin Rita embark on a journey to Montana for a fossil hunting and study expedition with the Junior Scientist Club of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Thomas discovers a 66-million-year-old dinosaur nicknamed Thomas—one of the ten most complete T. rex skeletons in the world.

Through the eyes of Thomas and Rita, young readers learn about the T. rex and how dinosaurs lived, as well as the basics of excavation and the preparation of fossils for their public debut in the Museum’s new Dinosaur Hall, opened July 2011.

The book features vibrant watercolor paintings and actual photographs from the 2003 – 2005 excavation of Thomas, led by world-renowned paleontologist and exhibit lead curator, Dr. Luis Chiappe at the Museum’s Dinosaur Institute.