What Marcel Found

Uncover the amazing true story of a boy who made one of the most important archaeological discoveries in history—the Lascaux Cave Paintings—in this fascinating and beautiful nonfiction picture book.

It is 1940, and his country, France, is in a great battle.
But in the quiet of the woods, Marcel explores…

When Marcel Ravidat finds a secret underground tunnel in the woods, he doesn’t hesitate to explore. While World War II rages outside, this prehistoric cave is calm, still, and quiet. And then, Marcel discovers a treasure for the ages: hundreds and hundreds of extraordinary animal paintings made by humans more than 17,000 years ago. When he tells others of this discovery, the whole world shares in his curiosity and wonder.

This book shines a light on a boy’s awe-inspiring archaeological find during a dark time in the world. And it shows what the Lascaux Cave Paintings can teach us about what it means to make art, what it means to be human, and how creativity connects us all.