Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist

by Linda Skeers (Author) Marta Álvarez Miguéns (Illustrator)

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A beautifully illustrated picture book biography of Mary Anning that will enlighten children about the discovery of the dinosaurs and the importance of female scientists, perfect for fans of The Girl Who Thought in Pictures.

Mary Anning loved scouring the beach near her home in England for shells and fossils. She fearlessly climbed over crumbling cliffs and rocky peaks, searching for new specimens.

One day, something caught Mary's eye. Bones. Dinosaur Bones. Mary's discoveries rocked the world of science and helped create a brand-new field of study: paleontology. But many people believed women couldn't be scientists, so Mary wasn't given the credit she deserved.

Nevertheless, Mary kept looking and learning more, making discoveries that reshaped scientific beliefs about the natural world. Educational backmatter includes a timeline of Mary Anning's life and lots of fantastic fossil facts!

The perfect choice for parents and teachers looking for: Dinosaur books for kids 5-7 and kids books about fossils. Feminist picture books about historical women, and daring books for girlsKids STEM books

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Hardcover
$17.99

Kirkus

A sturdy portrayal of Victorian scientist Mary Anning that showcases her accomplishments, intelligence, and perseverance. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3--Even as a young girl, Mary Anning (1799-1847) displayed a curiosity for excavating fossils and ancient bones. Anning explored the cliffs near her birthplace of Lyme Regis, England, and accompanied her father, a tradesman by day, on his fossil-hunting excursions. After discovering the head of an ancient creature, Anning became enthralled with searching for bones of other prehistoric animals. She committed her life's work to the pursuit of exhuming and writing about extinct species. Skeers's simple, straightforward prose details the paleontologist's personal history and career accomplishments, including her findings (she helped discover the first Ichthyosaurus and the first complete Plesiosaurus) and her difficulties with male contemporaries. Miguéns's colorful and charming illustrations enhance the informative and readable narrative. Readers will greatly appreciate the explanation of paleontological terms, a time line of Anning's life, and the author's note that fills in the gaps not covered in the book. VERDICT This enjoyable introduction to a pioneering paleontologist should intrigue and inspire young readers. An excellent purchase for school and public libraries.--Margaret Nunes, formerly at Gwinnett County P.L., GA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"A 2020 A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year" - A Mighty Girl
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781728209517
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Sourcebooks Explore
Publication date
July 07, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF003050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
JNF037050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Fossils
JNF007090 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Science & Technology
JNF007120 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Women
Library of Congress categories
England
Anning, Mary
Women paleontologists
Fossils

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