This Nature Guide offers a useful means of identification of the most common types of fossil trilobites to be found in the US and Canada. Following a general description of trilobite anatomy and classification, the book provides descriptions and general localities of 41 species. The accompanying line drawings are exceptionally clear and detailed, making it easy to identify a particular specimen. Species are organized alphabetically within each geological period (Cambrian through Pennsylvanian). Although a dichotomous key is not provided, none is needed, given the clarity of the descriptions and drawings.

This book is suitable for amateur collectors of all ages, since even children can try to match the illustrations to their own specimens. Although the focus of this book is on North America, most of the genera had broad distributions; therefore this guide is useful for general identifications of common trilobite specimens collected worldwide. ( )