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Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life
“This in-depth, beautifully illustrated biography of Mary Anning sings with the passion and perseverance of the woman herself, who from girlhood on scoured the shifting cliffs of her native Dorset to dig out prehistoric mysteries and make sense of them—altering forever our view of the past.” —Joyce Sidman, Newbery Honor winner and Sibert Medal winner A fascinating, highly visual biography of Mary Anning, the Victorian fossil hunter who changed scientific thinking about prehistoric life and would become one of the most celebrated paleontologists of all time. Perfect for children learning about woman scientists like Ada Lovelace, Jane Goodall, and Katherine Johnson. Mary Anning grew up on the south coast of England in a region rich in fossils. As teenagers, she and her brother Joseph discovered England’s first complete ichthyosaur. Poor and uneducated, Anning would become one of the most celebrated paleontologists ever, though in her time she supported herself selling by fossils and received little formal recognition. Her findings helped shape scientific thinking about extinction and prehistoric life long before Darwin published his famous work on evolution. With engaging text, photographs, and stunning paleoart, Fossil Hunter introduces this self-taught scientist, now recognized as one of the greatest fossilists the world has ever known.
128 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 2023
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January 24, 2022
Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life is a detailed and engrossing account of the life and work of ground-breaking (literally) palaeontologist Mary Anning. It's well-pitched at its intended middle-grade audience, but makes an informative read for anyone with an amateur interest in the fossil record or the history of women in science.
Anning came from humble beginnings, as the daughter of a carpenter in the town of Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast of southern England. Aside from his trade, her father Richard also had an interest in excavating, collecting and selling the fossils that are found emerging from the area's eroding coastal cliffs. His tragic death following a cliff fall left Mary, her mother and one surviving sibling struggling to make a livelihood. Unable to attend school, due to her gender and financial circumstances, Mary pursued the fascination with fossils that she learned from her late father, selling ammonites to augment the family income.
In 1812, after her brother Joseph unearthed the large fossilised skull of an unidentified crocodile-like animal, Mary followed her conviction that the remainder of the fossilised skeleton may remain in situ in the cliff. Aged 12 or 13, she subsequently excavated and mounted the first complete ichthyosaur known by modern science (Ichthyosaurus platyodon, later renamed Temnodontosaurus platyodon), now on display at the Natural History Museum in London.
Over the next 30 years of her life, Anning excavated further ichthyosaurs, the first complete Plesiosaurus fossil, the first British example of a flying dinosaur - a pterosaur (Dimorphodon macronyx) and the first squaloraja fossil (Squaloraja polyspondyla). She developed professional associations with many renowned geologists - all male - who respected her opinions and sought examples of her work, but rarely gave her any credit for their published discoveries.
Cheryl Blackford explores the challenges faced by intelligent women born before their time, and celebrates Mary Anning's resilience and commitment in pursuing her life's work despite the social and financial barriers in her way.
The narrative part of the book is liberally illustrated with photographs and artistic renderings of the ancient animals, and is usefully augmented with a timeline, helpfully contextualising Mary Anning's discoveries against other major events of the time and intervening period. A glossary of terms also assists younger readers, not only with the meanings of fossil-related terms, but their proper pronunciation (Only one of these stood out to me as representing American pronunciation (Cheryl Blackford was born in Yorkshire, but is now based in Minnesota, USA): the phonemic given is fah-sill, whereas English and Australian readers would pronounce the word foss-ull).
I found Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life a stimulating read, having visited Lyme Regis and developed an interest in palaeontology at around the same age Mary Anning was assisting her father on his explorations. I've also recently re-read Jane Austen's Persuasion, a significant part of which is set in Lyme Regis. Interestingly, the scenes in Persuasion would have happened roughly contemporaneously with Mary Anning's discovery of her first ichthyosaur.
Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life is a well-conceived and written account of the life and achievements of one of modern science's great heroines. Mary Anning was a "hidden figure" in her own time, but her fame now deservedly eclipses that of the various "gentlemen scientists" who took the credit for her discoveries. This is an inspiring story that will be appreciated by any reader with an interest in natural history, the history of scientific endeavour, and/or the achievements of women in traditionally male-dominated fields. I'd highly recommend this title as a gift for a science-minded young recipient, or as a worthy addition to any school or public library's non-fiction collection.
My thanks to the author, Cheryl Blackford, publisher Clarion Books (formerly HMH Children's Books), and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this excellent title in advance of its publication on 25 January 2022.
Anning came from humble beginnings, as the daughter of a carpenter in the town of Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast of southern England. Aside from his trade, her father Richard also had an interest in excavating, collecting and selling the fossils that are found emerging from the area's eroding coastal cliffs. His tragic death following a cliff fall left Mary, her mother and one surviving sibling struggling to make a livelihood. Unable to attend school, due to her gender and financial circumstances, Mary pursued the fascination with fossils that she learned from her late father, selling ammonites to augment the family income.
In 1812, after her brother Joseph unearthed the large fossilised skull of an unidentified crocodile-like animal, Mary followed her conviction that the remainder of the fossilised skeleton may remain in situ in the cliff. Aged 12 or 13, she subsequently excavated and mounted the first complete ichthyosaur known by modern science (Ichthyosaurus platyodon, later renamed Temnodontosaurus platyodon), now on display at the Natural History Museum in London.
Over the next 30 years of her life, Anning excavated further ichthyosaurs, the first complete Plesiosaurus fossil, the first British example of a flying dinosaur - a pterosaur (Dimorphodon macronyx) and the first squaloraja fossil (Squaloraja polyspondyla). She developed professional associations with many renowned geologists - all male - who respected her opinions and sought examples of her work, but rarely gave her any credit for their published discoveries.
Cheryl Blackford explores the challenges faced by intelligent women born before their time, and celebrates Mary Anning's resilience and commitment in pursuing her life's work despite the social and financial barriers in her way.
"Mary Anning's legacy lies not only in the fossils she found and the contributions she made to science, but also in the example she set for women to follow."
The narrative part of the book is liberally illustrated with photographs and artistic renderings of the ancient animals, and is usefully augmented with a timeline, helpfully contextualising Mary Anning's discoveries against other major events of the time and intervening period. A glossary of terms also assists younger readers, not only with the meanings of fossil-related terms, but their proper pronunciation (Only one of these stood out to me as representing American pronunciation (Cheryl Blackford was born in Yorkshire, but is now based in Minnesota, USA): the phonemic given is fah-sill, whereas English and Australian readers would pronounce the word foss-ull).
I found Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life a stimulating read, having visited Lyme Regis and developed an interest in palaeontology at around the same age Mary Anning was assisting her father on his explorations. I've also recently re-read Jane Austen's Persuasion, a significant part of which is set in Lyme Regis. Interestingly, the scenes in Persuasion would have happened roughly contemporaneously with Mary Anning's discovery of her first ichthyosaur.
Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life is a well-conceived and written account of the life and achievements of one of modern science's great heroines. Mary Anning was a "hidden figure" in her own time, but her fame now deservedly eclipses that of the various "gentlemen scientists" who took the credit for her discoveries. This is an inspiring story that will be appreciated by any reader with an interest in natural history, the history of scientific endeavour, and/or the achievements of women in traditionally male-dominated fields. I'd highly recommend this title as a gift for a science-minded young recipient, or as a worthy addition to any school or public library's non-fiction collection.
My thanks to the author, Cheryl Blackford, publisher Clarion Books (formerly HMH Children's Books), and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this excellent title in advance of its publication on 25 January 2022.
January 10, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Fossil Hunter is a beautifully illustrated and well written biography of Mary Anning for young readers written by Cheryl Blackford. Due out 25th Jan 2022 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Clarion Books imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
I love children's nonfiction. This is a well written, factually based biography aimed at younger readers (~7-10 years of age) which manages to provide a kid-friendly version of Anning's often frustrating and impoverished life. She was rejected by the scientific establishment at the same time they were acknowledging her as an expert in her field. The book gleefully provides the information that she correctly identified coprolites as fossilized feces as well as identifying many other fosselized remains including early cephalopods (squids).
The text is age appropriate and engaging. The art by Ellen Duda is beautifully rendered and supports the text very well. This is definitely a book which would grab the interest of most kids. I found it interesting and learned quite a lot of information of which I was previously unaware.
The book includes a glossary, abbreviated chapter notes, some resources for viewing some of Anning's fossils in collections, a solid bibliography for further reading, and a cross referenced index (not included in the ARC provided for review).
Five stars. This would make a great selection for a classroom or public library, as well as a child's home library or gift.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Fossil Hunter is a beautifully illustrated and well written biography of Mary Anning for young readers written by Cheryl Blackford. Due out 25th Jan 2022 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Clarion Books imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
I love children's nonfiction. This is a well written, factually based biography aimed at younger readers (~7-10 years of age) which manages to provide a kid-friendly version of Anning's often frustrating and impoverished life. She was rejected by the scientific establishment at the same time they were acknowledging her as an expert in her field. The book gleefully provides the information that she correctly identified coprolites as fossilized feces as well as identifying many other fosselized remains including early cephalopods (squids).
The text is age appropriate and engaging. The art by Ellen Duda is beautifully rendered and supports the text very well. This is definitely a book which would grab the interest of most kids. I found it interesting and learned quite a lot of information of which I was previously unaware.
The book includes a glossary, abbreviated chapter notes, some resources for viewing some of Anning's fossils in collections, a solid bibliography for further reading, and a cross referenced index (not included in the ARC provided for review).
Five stars. This would make a great selection for a classroom or public library, as well as a child's home library or gift.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
February 3, 2026
I thrifted this book with the intent of saving it for my nieces when they’re a few years older (women in science? Yes please!) Children’s books are one of my favourite ways to learn about things. Clear topics, straightforward writing, explanations of technical terms, and lots of pictures. This was fun and I’m glad I read it and hope the kiddos will have a similar experience three or four years from now.
April 20, 2024
This is a fantastic biography for young readers, though simple to read it does not skimp on details! Full of fantastic pictures, photos, sketches, and notes it really brings Anning's world of fossils to life.
July 27, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read "Fossil Hunter" by Cheryl Blackford.
Mary Anning is a wonderfully heroic figure, and I am pleased that Ms. Blackford has written about Mary's life in a way that children can understand and appreciate it. We all know that children adore dinosaurs, so reading this book will be a delight for them. Mary Anning, the Fossil Hunter who was unsung for far too long finally has her story available to kids. I enjoy the book and the lovely illustrations very much. I recommend the book.
Mary Anning is a wonderfully heroic figure, and I am pleased that Ms. Blackford has written about Mary's life in a way that children can understand and appreciate it. We all know that children adore dinosaurs, so reading this book will be a delight for them. Mary Anning, the Fossil Hunter who was unsung for far too long finally has her story available to kids. I enjoy the book and the lovely illustrations very much. I recommend the book.
December 21, 2022
A lovely, true story about Mary Anning and her contributions to fossil discovery in England. Because she was a woman and in impoverished circumstances, she was not recognized for her discoveries. Blackford does a noteworthy job pulling together a story from very little source material.
May 16, 2023
Loved listening to this while crushing ocean sediments. Might or might not have cried in the lab.
May 17, 2022
I am always down for an educational book to read to my kiddos, especially about a topic we've not explored much. I hadn't heard of Mary Anning before this story and really hadn't given too much thought into fossil hunting.
Fossil Hunter is a story about Mary Anning- a young girl who grew up to be a mostly unrecognized scientist in her field. Mary lived in the 1800's when women were not allowed to be educated and weren't thought of as more than ornaments or menial workers. Mary's father was a fossil hunter who eventually perished while searching on dangerous terrain. Mary and her brother began searching for fossils and sold them to help their family survive.
Fossil hunting and selling became a means of survival for Mary. This book tells all about her life and her discoveries. She made many new discoveries even though her male colleagues didn't give her credit during her lifetime. Since photography wasn't an option, Mary had to learn to draw her finds. There are actually photos of her drawings and letters in the book.
Fossil Hunters was very informative and scientific but it showed the humanity behind a great scientist. Sometimes the words were large and complicated in keeping with the topic, so I would recommend this for an older student. Even though the science was heavy in parts, I think my boys understood how special Mary Anning and her journey are in history of geology and and natural history.
Fossil Hunter is a story about Mary Anning- a young girl who grew up to be a mostly unrecognized scientist in her field. Mary lived in the 1800's when women were not allowed to be educated and weren't thought of as more than ornaments or menial workers. Mary's father was a fossil hunter who eventually perished while searching on dangerous terrain. Mary and her brother began searching for fossils and sold them to help their family survive.
Fossil hunting and selling became a means of survival for Mary. This book tells all about her life and her discoveries. She made many new discoveries even though her male colleagues didn't give her credit during her lifetime. Since photography wasn't an option, Mary had to learn to draw her finds. There are actually photos of her drawings and letters in the book.
Fossil Hunters was very informative and scientific but it showed the humanity behind a great scientist. Sometimes the words were large and complicated in keeping with the topic, so I would recommend this for an older student. Even though the science was heavy in parts, I think my boys understood how special Mary Anning and her journey are in history of geology and and natural history.
read-ebooks
January 4, 2022Mary Anning was a self taught scientist as her family couldn’t afford to send her to school. Her father was a carpenter and also took her and her older brother Joseph with him fossil hunting, and they would sell the fossils in order to buy food. Once her father died, she continued fossil hunting to make ends meet for her family.
Most renowned male scientists of the time wouldn’t credit her for her discoveries in their publications or presentations, even if they purchased the fossils directly from her. At the age of twelve, she discovered England's first ichthyosaur.
The book included photographs of fossils that are showcased in museums still today, her sketches of fossils, snippets from letters she would write to friends, and paintings of what the animals she discovered would’ve looked like — the first paleoart.
The information is presented in an easy to understand manner, and includes a glossary of terms in the back. Even though I am not the target audience for this book (I’d say middle grade), I still learned a lot, as I had never heard of Mary Anning before reading this.
Thank you NetGalley and Clarion Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Publication date 1/25/22!
Content warnings: poverty, sexism, death of a parent, death of a pet
Most renowned male scientists of the time wouldn’t credit her for her discoveries in their publications or presentations, even if they purchased the fossils directly from her. At the age of twelve, she discovered England's first ichthyosaur.
The book included photographs of fossils that are showcased in museums still today, her sketches of fossils, snippets from letters she would write to friends, and paintings of what the animals she discovered would’ve looked like — the first paleoart.
The information is presented in an easy to understand manner, and includes a glossary of terms in the back. Even though I am not the target audience for this book (I’d say middle grade), I still learned a lot, as I had never heard of Mary Anning before reading this.
Thank you NetGalley and Clarion Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Publication date 1/25/22!
Content warnings: poverty, sexism, death of a parent, death of a pet
September 5, 2022
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I have had my eye on this book for a while after reading the blurb previously and I have to say it was well worth the wait - I thought it was a fantastic insight into the life of Mary Anning.
I loved that she has earned the respect now from and I fully support the proposal to get the statute of her in to Lyme Regis too - she more than deserves it! The book was really well planned and laid out in a way that made it easy to read, it added in the scientific details where needed but it felt natural and warm read.
I loved reading more about Mary and her findings and I started the book in an afternoon finishing it later on in the evening, it was actually a book that I wanted to carry on reading. The timeline and glossary at the end were great too.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, I have a fossil of my own that my uncle have me when I was about 7 or 8 and it is of a fossilised fern and I would love to be able to find my own.
My 4 year old daughter is completely dinosaur mad at the moment and I would love to read this with her and talk more about Mary, her life and achievements in what was a male dominated time to live and how she managed to thrive and overcome adversity she she is a little older. We holiday when we can in Dorset so even more of a reason to talk about this amazing lady!
I have had my eye on this book for a while after reading the blurb previously and I have to say it was well worth the wait - I thought it was a fantastic insight into the life of Mary Anning.
I loved that she has earned the respect now from and I fully support the proposal to get the statute of her in to Lyme Regis too - she more than deserves it! The book was really well planned and laid out in a way that made it easy to read, it added in the scientific details where needed but it felt natural and warm read.
I loved reading more about Mary and her findings and I started the book in an afternoon finishing it later on in the evening, it was actually a book that I wanted to carry on reading. The timeline and glossary at the end were great too.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, I have a fossil of my own that my uncle have me when I was about 7 or 8 and it is of a fossilised fern and I would love to be able to find my own.
My 4 year old daughter is completely dinosaur mad at the moment and I would love to read this with her and talk more about Mary, her life and achievements in what was a male dominated time to live and how she managed to thrive and overcome adversity she she is a little older. We holiday when we can in Dorset so even more of a reason to talk about this amazing lady!
December 22, 2021
This is an outstanding upper elementary or middle grade level book introducing a long ignored female scientist who broke barriers constraining her gender and furthered the study of prehistoric life.
Mary Anning was a poor British girl when she began fossil hunting with her father along the southern coast of England. She would continue to spend her life searching and finding countless valuable fossils of prehistoric marine creatures, including the first full ichthyosaur as well as plesiosaur fossils.
The book is incredibly readable, with excellent illustrations throughout to hold a child's interest. The language is precise and accurate, while not being too simplified. It is really a biography, science, and history book combined. There are great historical notes and asides for young learners who may not have as much general history background knowledge; for instance, Page 25 shows a portrait of Mary Anning and notes how it was common for people at that time not to smile in portraits, so her expression in the portrait didn't necessarily reflect her mood or feelings.
Each chapter begins with a quotation or excerpt from a primary source. The glossary is also helpful. I really enjoyed the whole book and intend to set it aside as something to look for when my daughter is older, should she be interested in important female historical figures.
Mary Anning was a poor British girl when she began fossil hunting with her father along the southern coast of England. She would continue to spend her life searching and finding countless valuable fossils of prehistoric marine creatures, including the first full ichthyosaur as well as plesiosaur fossils.
The book is incredibly readable, with excellent illustrations throughout to hold a child's interest. The language is precise and accurate, while not being too simplified. It is really a biography, science, and history book combined. There are great historical notes and asides for young learners who may not have as much general history background knowledge; for instance, Page 25 shows a portrait of Mary Anning and notes how it was common for people at that time not to smile in portraits, so her expression in the portrait didn't necessarily reflect her mood or feelings.
Each chapter begins with a quotation or excerpt from a primary source. The glossary is also helpful. I really enjoyed the whole book and intend to set it aside as something to look for when my daughter is older, should she be interested in important female historical figures.
March 25, 2022
Mary Anning was a poor, young girl with no formal education. How did she become one of England’s best fossil hunter! Mary Anning grew up in Lyme Regis, Dorset in an area of England that is rich in fossils from the Jurassic era. She learned fossil hunting skills from her father and when he died, used her knowledge and her expertise to make a living finding, preparing, and selling fossils. She would copy information (articles and drawings from scientific journals and books. She made many remarkable discoveries that advanced paleontological and geological knowledge. Mary found the first complete ichthyosaurus skeleton. She also found the first complete plesiosaur fossil and became the first British person to find a pterodactyl. Mary was the first person in the world to discover a squaloraja (an ancestor of the shark and ray) fossil. Mary rarely got any recognition for her work until after her death.
It is a riveting biography which has made me ant to know more about Mary Anning. This illustrated biography includes a pn author’s note, a timeline, notes, glossary and extensive bibiography. It’s a wonderfully illustrated biography to read.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
It is a riveting biography which has made me ant to know more about Mary Anning. This illustrated biography includes a pn author’s note, a timeline, notes, glossary and extensive bibiography. It’s a wonderfully illustrated biography to read.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
May 27, 2022
YA Biography of Mary Anning
A very informative, well written YA biography of Mary Anning. Contains full color photos and drawings and doesn’t dumb down language. Very respectful of YA readers.
A very informative, well written YA biography of Mary Anning. Contains full color photos and drawings and doesn’t dumb down language. Very respectful of YA readers.
October 19, 2022
Perfect for use in my classroom.
December 31, 2021
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Mary Anning is the single most important paleontologist you’ve never heard of. She discovered the first Plesiosaurus, the body of the first Ichthyosaur, and the first pterosaur outside of Germany. She first identified the “bezoar” stones in the stomachs of fossils to be coprolites (fossilized feces) and figured out that Belemnoids, an extinct cephalopod, had ink sacs like its modern relatives. Her specimens are among the most prized possessions of the Natural History Museum in London. And she barely received any credit in her time and today is barely known.
Cheryl Blackford, herself a geologist, sets out to address this in her middle grade biography of Anning. The book begins with a prehistoric interlude with the doomed ichthyosaur that would someday be discovered by the Anning siblings, Joseph and Mary, followed by a chapter introducing Anning and her excavations-- from there, the biography is chronological. The biographical style is somewhat inconsistent. The introduction with the ichthyosaur and the first chapter, "Crocodile or Sea Monster?" show signs of wanting to be a narrative biography: "Thirteen-year-old Mary Anning had been hunting for an elusive treasure for months.”[1] This stands out because the rest of the book is a typical facts-only biography with no other narrative sections. This may be because the copy I read is an uncorrected proof, so this may change between now and its forthcoming publication in January, 2022. Despite this uneven opening, the rest of the book is well-organized by general era of Mary's life, and it's not cluttered by sidebars or unrelated images.
Part of the fun for me is the inclusion of historical images. While I love paleontology in general, I find the early years of the science especially interesting. I'm fascinated with how people viewed prehistory before our modern understanding-- for example, when the Annings found their first ichthyosaur (a process that took a year, between 1811 and 1812), the only point of reference people had for the strange discovery was the crocodile. Because there were only limited specimens and research into these creatures was in its infancy, artistic reconstructions look a little goofy today, but I find them charming. Even more useful for the young reader learning about Anning are the exquisite sketches she made of her finds. It really gives the reader an impression of Anning’s dedication to her job. One thing I didn’t know was that, since she couldn’t afford books or journal subscriptions (an issue independent scholars still face to this day), she would painstakingly copy out whole articles by hand on whatever material available. Something about this particularly struck me. The paleoart by Ellen Duda in this book is very nice and serves to contextualize the fossils as living creatures well, but I was disappointed there were no illustrations of Anning’s era like on the cover. This I think is a similar issue to the inconsistent writing—the book feels like it doesn’t know what it wants to be.
These style issues aside, Fossil Hunter is a good, accessible introduction to the life and work of Mary Anning, and will hopefully influence young readers to learn more about the early years of paleontology, as well as about the woman who so often has been forgotten in discussions of this history.
Mary Anning is the single most important paleontologist you’ve never heard of. She discovered the first Plesiosaurus, the body of the first Ichthyosaur, and the first pterosaur outside of Germany. She first identified the “bezoar” stones in the stomachs of fossils to be coprolites (fossilized feces) and figured out that Belemnoids, an extinct cephalopod, had ink sacs like its modern relatives. Her specimens are among the most prized possessions of the Natural History Museum in London. And she barely received any credit in her time and today is barely known.
Cheryl Blackford, herself a geologist, sets out to address this in her middle grade biography of Anning. The book begins with a prehistoric interlude with the doomed ichthyosaur that would someday be discovered by the Anning siblings, Joseph and Mary, followed by a chapter introducing Anning and her excavations-- from there, the biography is chronological. The biographical style is somewhat inconsistent. The introduction with the ichthyosaur and the first chapter, "Crocodile or Sea Monster?" show signs of wanting to be a narrative biography: "Thirteen-year-old Mary Anning had been hunting for an elusive treasure for months.”[1] This stands out because the rest of the book is a typical facts-only biography with no other narrative sections. This may be because the copy I read is an uncorrected proof, so this may change between now and its forthcoming publication in January, 2022. Despite this uneven opening, the rest of the book is well-organized by general era of Mary's life, and it's not cluttered by sidebars or unrelated images.
Part of the fun for me is the inclusion of historical images. While I love paleontology in general, I find the early years of the science especially interesting. I'm fascinated with how people viewed prehistory before our modern understanding-- for example, when the Annings found their first ichthyosaur (a process that took a year, between 1811 and 1812), the only point of reference people had for the strange discovery was the crocodile. Because there were only limited specimens and research into these creatures was in its infancy, artistic reconstructions look a little goofy today, but I find them charming. Even more useful for the young reader learning about Anning are the exquisite sketches she made of her finds. It really gives the reader an impression of Anning’s dedication to her job. One thing I didn’t know was that, since she couldn’t afford books or journal subscriptions (an issue independent scholars still face to this day), she would painstakingly copy out whole articles by hand on whatever material available. Something about this particularly struck me. The paleoart by Ellen Duda in this book is very nice and serves to contextualize the fossils as living creatures well, but I was disappointed there were no illustrations of Anning’s era like on the cover. This I think is a similar issue to the inconsistent writing—the book feels like it doesn’t know what it wants to be.
These style issues aside, Fossil Hunter is a good, accessible introduction to the life and work of Mary Anning, and will hopefully influence young readers to learn more about the early years of paleontology, as well as about the woman who so often has been forgotten in discussions of this history.
October 22, 2021
An excellent to any classroom library or children’s bookshelf. A wonderful glimpse into Mary Anning’s life and her contributions to science. An easy, informative read with purposeful use of pictures, sketches, and drawings.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC of this title.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC of this title.
September 10, 2021
Mary Anning lived in Victorian England in a small village called Lyme Regis where she searched the cliffs at low tide for fossils, discovering some of the richest fossil beds, and beautifully intact specimens of her time. Anning sold most of her discoveries to support herself and her family, many to private collectors. She made a lifetime career in paleontology, and although today Anning is a celebrated and important paleontologist, during her lifetime her discoveries were credited to others and she was not welcomed into the scientific community.
I read this in egalley (thank you Netgalley) so I can't tell much about the physical book. It appears to be picture book size, with a colored illustration on the cover, however, the interior illustrations and photographs are amazing and intended for an older reader. The text is engaging and exciting. Includes colored illustrations, photographs of contemporaries and artifacts, a timeline, glossary, where to see Mary Anning's fossils and a thorough bibliography. I'm anxiously awaiting my copy, as I can't wait to talk it up.
Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
I read this in egalley (thank you Netgalley) so I can't tell much about the physical book. It appears to be picture book size, with a colored illustration on the cover, however, the interior illustrations and photographs are amazing and intended for an older reader. The text is engaging and exciting. Includes colored illustrations, photographs of contemporaries and artifacts, a timeline, glossary, where to see Mary Anning's fossils and a thorough bibliography. I'm anxiously awaiting my copy, as I can't wait to talk it up.
Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
February 6, 2024
Another YA book. I've read several YA biographies of Mary Anning. This is a good one. It makes a point of clarifying her scientific contributions.
April 21, 2022
Writing is hard. What’s even harder is to write in a way that breathes life into a topic most readers see as dull. In Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life, Cheryl Blackford, who studied geology, resuscitates a long forgotten hero as pivotal to the development of Earth Science and Natural History as the “hidden figures” who once helped NASA put this nation on moon.
Mary Anning, a poor British girl set out to feed her family as she dug fossils near Lyme Regis, Dorset. In 1812, the then-13-year-old she made a great find. It was the first ichthyosaur (Ichthysaur platyodon) to be studied by scientists. As several of the fossils she discovered, the rock skeleton is now in London’s Natural History Museum.
Blackford shows that her motive was plain. Anning did not start out to be a paleontologist, but curiosity and the instinct to discover the deeper truths about those natural treasures in the cliffs uncovered a scientist’s soul. The author describes her as “an intelligent, curious, practical individual not intimidated by those better educated and wealthier.” Those traits brought her to a destiny as a giant in paleontology. As readers will grasp, that is not hyperbole. As Blackford’s121-page manuscript, it is an attempt to give credit that she never got in life.
In the 19th century, the gender barriers kept her from the credit, not the work. Anning’s accomplishments publicly surfaced through distinguished males such as William Buckland, who in 1818 became Oxford University’s first geology professor. The doctor and geologist Gideon Mantell’s writing on dinosaurs was also influenced by the young woman’s discoveries. Moreso, unlike those males, she had to find ways outside institutions to fund her work.
Anning was aided by a few wealthy women friends’ money as she dug the plentiful fossils. They were strange impressions in stone, ignored by most people. Anning learned about the stony molds of the skeletons of dead animals from her father. He taught her to dig them and how to sell the finds to wealthy residents in the area and universities.
She taught herself to clean the bones of rock and debris, and was the first to present a complete
Plesiosaurus fossil, which in 1823 was hailed as her greatest find. The next year she was the first to determine that bezoar stones found with many skeletons were actually fossilized feces. In 1828, she uncovered the first pterosaur or pterodactyl remains. The next year, she found the first squaloraja fossil (Squaloraja polyspondyla) , and in 1830 uncovered an even more complete fossil dubbed Plesiosaurus macrocephaleus.
At a time when educators want to see more youth, especially girls, drawn to science, Fossil Hunter, through prose, images and illustrations shows that a humble person can make greatness. The developments that came from Anning changed science and its grasp on Earth’s development. The work is dynamic enough to grab the 10-year-old and up readers for which its intended. The author takes those readers on a deep dive into pretty heady facts. The saddest of which is how gender alone forced Anning’s accomplishments to go unacknowledged. Earth Science was a man’s domain. Blackford’s work goes a long way to push that farther into the past.
January 23, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this fascinating biography. It will be released January 25, 2022, by Clarion Books.
Mary Anning was born into poverty. The family couldn't afford school fees for their children so their father took Mary and Joseph, her older brother, with him when he went in search of fossils. They sold their finds to augment the meager earnings he made as a carpenter. The children became expert fossil finders.
After their father died, the children roamed the coast in search of buried treasure. Joseph found the skull of a huge fossil. Mary searched for a year before a storm exposed the body of the creature. Her mother hired men to remove the rock from the cliff and bring it to their basement. Mary painstakingly chipped away at the rock to reveal the bones hidden in it. It was the first complete ichthyosaurus skeleton ever found. Mary had discovered a way to support her family and follow her passion.
This book takes young readers through Anning's many fossil finds and scientific breakthroughs. At the same time it doesn't stint about the hardships Mary and her family endured. It makes it clear the challenges she faced because of her poverty, gender and class.
Not only is the cover artwork drop dead gorgeous, the whole book is visually stunning.
Gorgeous paintings showing prehistoric creatures in their natural habitat grace the pages. It abounds with nonfiction text features. Captioned photographs and paintings are found on almost every other page. There are labeled drawings and diagrams, and coloured maps. Each Chapter begins with a quote. The back matter includes a note by the author, acknowledgements, and a timeline that puts Anning's life and scientific findings in the context of larger global events. It also includes an illustrated glossary, a list of places where you can find Mary Anning's fossils today, source quotes, a bibliography, and an index.
Cheryl Blackford, the author, was born in England. She developed a passion for rocks at an early age and eventually became a geologist. She has been fossil hunting at Lyme Regis, and has studied Anning artifacts and archival materials.
I can't remember the first time I learned about Mary Anning. Her name was mentioned in some historical novel I read a long time ago. At that time I couldn't find out much about her. Today there are numerous books about this remarkable woman. This one, written for elementary/middle grade readers, is a wonderful addition to them.
I would pair this book up with the picture book, Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers & Marta Álvarez Miguéns (Illustrator). It will provide readers with background knowledge and get them excited to learn more about this amazing woman.
This is a must purchase. If I was still in the library I would buy two copies of it.
Mary Anning was born into poverty. The family couldn't afford school fees for their children so their father took Mary and Joseph, her older brother, with him when he went in search of fossils. They sold their finds to augment the meager earnings he made as a carpenter. The children became expert fossil finders.
After their father died, the children roamed the coast in search of buried treasure. Joseph found the skull of a huge fossil. Mary searched for a year before a storm exposed the body of the creature. Her mother hired men to remove the rock from the cliff and bring it to their basement. Mary painstakingly chipped away at the rock to reveal the bones hidden in it. It was the first complete ichthyosaurus skeleton ever found. Mary had discovered a way to support her family and follow her passion.
This book takes young readers through Anning's many fossil finds and scientific breakthroughs. At the same time it doesn't stint about the hardships Mary and her family endured. It makes it clear the challenges she faced because of her poverty, gender and class.
Not only is the cover artwork drop dead gorgeous, the whole book is visually stunning.
Gorgeous paintings showing prehistoric creatures in their natural habitat grace the pages. It abounds with nonfiction text features. Captioned photographs and paintings are found on almost every other page. There are labeled drawings and diagrams, and coloured maps. Each Chapter begins with a quote. The back matter includes a note by the author, acknowledgements, and a timeline that puts Anning's life and scientific findings in the context of larger global events. It also includes an illustrated glossary, a list of places where you can find Mary Anning's fossils today, source quotes, a bibliography, and an index.
Cheryl Blackford, the author, was born in England. She developed a passion for rocks at an early age and eventually became a geologist. She has been fossil hunting at Lyme Regis, and has studied Anning artifacts and archival materials.
I can't remember the first time I learned about Mary Anning. Her name was mentioned in some historical novel I read a long time ago. At that time I couldn't find out much about her. Today there are numerous books about this remarkable woman. This one, written for elementary/middle grade readers, is a wonderful addition to them.
I would pair this book up with the picture book, Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers & Marta Álvarez Miguéns (Illustrator). It will provide readers with background knowledge and get them excited to learn more about this amazing woman.
This is a must purchase. If I was still in the library I would buy two copies of it.
June 20, 2022
This was recommended by the children’s collection development person at work, so I placed a hold on it. When I got it I saw that it was more juvenile/tween nonfiction than picture book nonfiction, so I decided to read it on my own time. I had heard about Mary Anning previously in Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything and I think also in the one of his where he walks the length of England, one of the end points being Lyme Regis (where Mary Anning lived and worked).
What a wonderful book this is. It is inspiring in its depiction of Mary herself—poor, uneducated, female but nevertheless an intelligent, perseverant, inquisitive scientist (and businesswoman) in a time and place with few opportunities for women, who made huge contributions to science and our understanding of our world’s history. It also inspires (at least it did in me) a sense of wonder, of the awesome history and changes of our earth over unthinkably long periods of time, and our place in that chain as time carries forward. This could’ve made me feel small and insignificant on this vast scale, but on the contrary it made me feel deeply connected and an important part of a huge picture. I had forgotten how into fossils I was as a kid (I have a trilobite and a crinoid ossicle somewhere), and this rekindled that interest and feeling of wonder that somehow gets buried and forgotten without really knowing it under the day-to-day of life. I read a quote (maybe on the Goodreads app landing page even??) that I can’t remember who it’s attributed to, but I kept thinking about it as I read this book: The future has an ancient heart. What an amazing place we live on, with wonderful people to help us learn more about it.
Edit: Her dog Tray dies in a rock fall, which of course made me cry. So, if you are also a person sensitive to things like that, here is a heads up.
What a wonderful book this is. It is inspiring in its depiction of Mary herself—poor, uneducated, female but nevertheless an intelligent, perseverant, inquisitive scientist (and businesswoman) in a time and place with few opportunities for women, who made huge contributions to science and our understanding of our world’s history. It also inspires (at least it did in me) a sense of wonder, of the awesome history and changes of our earth over unthinkably long periods of time, and our place in that chain as time carries forward. This could’ve made me feel small and insignificant on this vast scale, but on the contrary it made me feel deeply connected and an important part of a huge picture. I had forgotten how into fossils I was as a kid (I have a trilobite and a crinoid ossicle somewhere), and this rekindled that interest and feeling of wonder that somehow gets buried and forgotten without really knowing it under the day-to-day of life. I read a quote (maybe on the Goodreads app landing page even??) that I can’t remember who it’s attributed to, but I kept thinking about it as I read this book: The future has an ancient heart. What an amazing place we live on, with wonderful people to help us learn more about it.
Edit: Her dog Tray dies in a rock fall, which of course made me cry. So, if you are also a person sensitive to things like that, here is a heads up.
October 9, 2021
I WILL be sharing Fossil Hunter with my students when we study fossils this year. I wish I had it the last three years for this unit. I can't wait for my female students to have another role model in a usually male dominated field.
Fossil Hunter is a book about Mary Anning. She was an influential self-taught scientist in the study of paleontology. When Mary was thirteen her brother found the fossil of a skull that was so heavy he needed the help of others to carry it. Mary knew there had to be a body to go with the skull and was determined to find it. She never gave up until she found it. Many thought the fossil was from a crocodile, but scientists soon determined that the fossils were not crocodiles due to the circular bones around the eyes. Scientists who bought her fossils used her knowledge to make a name for themselves, including the naming of her finds as a new species.
Like many women of that time, she was ignored by the scientific world run by men. It is important to note that she was finally recognized 150 years after her death by the Paleontological Association naming an award after her and the Royal Society including her in a list of the most influential women in the history of British Science. Five years later, 2015, a new species of Ichthyosaurus is named after her. They are long overdue tributes of a woman who followed her dreams, but it is good to know they are recognized.
This is a great read to learn how paleontologists moved from believing a fossil belongs to one species and the study to prove they do or not. This is definitely a five star read. I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Fossil Hunter is a book about Mary Anning. She was an influential self-taught scientist in the study of paleontology. When Mary was thirteen her brother found the fossil of a skull that was so heavy he needed the help of others to carry it. Mary knew there had to be a body to go with the skull and was determined to find it. She never gave up until she found it. Many thought the fossil was from a crocodile, but scientists soon determined that the fossils were not crocodiles due to the circular bones around the eyes. Scientists who bought her fossils used her knowledge to make a name for themselves, including the naming of her finds as a new species.
Like many women of that time, she was ignored by the scientific world run by men. It is important to note that she was finally recognized 150 years after her death by the Paleontological Association naming an award after her and the Royal Society including her in a list of the most influential women in the history of British Science. Five years later, 2015, a new species of Ichthyosaurus is named after her. They are long overdue tributes of a woman who followed her dreams, but it is good to know they are recognized.
This is a great read to learn how paleontologists moved from believing a fossil belongs to one species and the study to prove they do or not. This is definitely a five star read. I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2022
Several days ago a fun science story came across my news feed—the largest complete plesiosaur skeleton was recently discovered in the UK. The article went on to explain that the first plesiosaur skeleton was also discovered in England, about 200 years ago, by Mary Anning. And I think I audibly gasped because despite having read literally dozens and dozens books about dinosaurs as a child, I just learned about Mary Anning this month, in a new middle grade biography that release this week. (What timing!)
Anning was a Victorian era self-taught scientist and fossil hunter who made a living excavating and selling prehistoric fossils. Despite being barred from joining the geological society due to her gender, Anning would go on to be credited with discovering fossils that changed the way scientists understood prehistoric life, extinction, and evolution. Several of the fossils Anning discovered can still be seen in The Natural History Museum of London today.
Fossil Hunter’s engaging storytelling and beautiful illustrations were enjoyed by both myself and my children, and reminds me why I’ve learned that middle grade non-fiction books are one of my favorite ways to quickly fill in my knowledge gaps about history and science that I’ve missed or forgotten.
This book was recommended to me by: NetGalley. Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for providing me with an advanced copy for review.
I’d recommend it to: Anyone who is fascinated by dinosaurs and wants to learn more about one of the earliest and most prolific paleontologists! It would be a great addition to any elementary or middle school classroom, library, or home.
Anning was a Victorian era self-taught scientist and fossil hunter who made a living excavating and selling prehistoric fossils. Despite being barred from joining the geological society due to her gender, Anning would go on to be credited with discovering fossils that changed the way scientists understood prehistoric life, extinction, and evolution. Several of the fossils Anning discovered can still be seen in The Natural History Museum of London today.
Fossil Hunter’s engaging storytelling and beautiful illustrations were enjoyed by both myself and my children, and reminds me why I’ve learned that middle grade non-fiction books are one of my favorite ways to quickly fill in my knowledge gaps about history and science that I’ve missed or forgotten.
This book was recommended to me by: NetGalley. Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for providing me with an advanced copy for review.
I’d recommend it to: Anyone who is fascinated by dinosaurs and wants to learn more about one of the earliest and most prolific paleontologists! It would be a great addition to any elementary or middle school classroom, library, or home.
January 27, 2022
This is a great nonfiction young adult book. I also really enjoyed it as an adult. My daughter is weeks away from her 10th birthday and did struggle with a few of the words but quickly got the hang of it. She read over half of it before she declared she didn't want to read anymore as it was too hard, so I finished it off for her and thought it was wonderful. I would put this book at more for 12 plus years old and I feel adults would find it very interesting too. But with both absolutely loved the pictures in this book. I had never heard of Mary Anning and was fascinating reading this book. I really do believe that this book should be read in schools as part of a history ,science or geography lesson. This book would be perfect for a school library or anyone with an interest in natural history, geography or Geology. Also those like me who love to read or share with their children the fascinating facts that one were once overlooked in history and where not recognised for the work they did. Also showing children that they can do anything they put there mind to.
The layout of this book was brilliant and it flowed so well making it a delight to read. I would of really liked to see the dinosaurs names written out phonetically so we could pronounce the names correctly without the intervention of Google. I find it brilliant who more and more books like this one has come to light to highlight the unsung women of science and nature finally recognised for the true genius they are.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating this brilliant account of Mary Annings fantastic life and discovery of new fascinating dinosaur fossils.
The layout of this book was brilliant and it flowed so well making it a delight to read. I would of really liked to see the dinosaurs names written out phonetically so we could pronounce the names correctly without the intervention of Google. I find it brilliant who more and more books like this one has come to light to highlight the unsung women of science and nature finally recognised for the true genius they are.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating this brilliant account of Mary Annings fantastic life and discovery of new fascinating dinosaur fossils.
September 16, 2021
Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC of Fossil Hunter by Cheryl Blackford. I love that the author showcases Mary Anning and her amazing fossil discoveries in the early 1800s. Mary was a trail blazer in fossil hunting in Lyme Regis, England because at the time women weren't supposed to be doing anything but be a house wife and mother. (I had heard of her because I read the historical fiction book, Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier.) Mary's family couldn't afford to pay for any schooling for her but she learned how to find fossils from her father. She made amazing discoveries of ichthyosaur and plesiosaur fossils and the male geologists and scientists studied them intensely to learn about how these animals and earth's rocks and layers evolved. Unfortunately, Mary never got the recognition she deserved until well after her death. In this book, there are amazing photos and illustrations that show you the fossils discussed. A glossary and timeline are also included that help with the technical terms and put Mary's accomplishments into context to what what happening around the world and after her death. There is also a nice resource of where you can find her fossils now since many of Mary's fossils and documents have been lost since she was female and no one took care of her legacy properly. I think upper elementary and middle school students would enjoy reading about this original paleontologist, Mary Anning.
November 27, 2022
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I came across it as a middle grade nonfiction book, but that categorization can apply to readers in the 4th grade, and it's too advanced for that. I would put this in the hands of independent readers aged 12 to 16.
Blackford narrates the life and work of Mary Anning, who found fossils along the rocky shores of Lyme Regis from the time that she was a tween and into her adulthood. Anning made significant contributions to the emerging field of paleontology; however, she received very little money and hardly any credit for doing so. Educated, wealthy men befriended her, but they paid her too little for her findings and did not advocate for her receiving sufficient credit for her work.
The book has 90 pages or so of explanation of her life and work, presented in pretty heavy text with some great photographs and illustrations. The account is detailed, complex, and nuanced in ways that I find more appropriate for mature middle schoolers or younger high schoolers.
This would make a great source for a book report on women scientists doing pioneering work (with few resources and little credit).
The back matter includes an author's note, acknowledgements, a time line, glossary (with some photographs of fossils and paintings of dinosaurs), a list of where to find fossils unearthed by Anning, a bibliography, image credits, and an index.
Blackford narrates the life and work of Mary Anning, who found fossils along the rocky shores of Lyme Regis from the time that she was a tween and into her adulthood. Anning made significant contributions to the emerging field of paleontology; however, she received very little money and hardly any credit for doing so. Educated, wealthy men befriended her, but they paid her too little for her findings and did not advocate for her receiving sufficient credit for her work.
The book has 90 pages or so of explanation of her life and work, presented in pretty heavy text with some great photographs and illustrations. The account is detailed, complex, and nuanced in ways that I find more appropriate for mature middle schoolers or younger high schoolers.
This would make a great source for a book report on women scientists doing pioneering work (with few resources and little credit).
The back matter includes an author's note, acknowledgements, a time line, glossary (with some photographs of fossils and paintings of dinosaurs), a list of where to find fossils unearthed by Anning, a bibliography, image credits, and an index.
January 23, 2022
This lady is crazy awesome. I'm glad she's getting recognition now when she didn't during her lifetime. Her story is captivating. I first heard of her via a picture book biography; this one fleshes out her life with the few details we have of her. (No one cared about female paleontologists, so, many of her writings are lost to time). Mary's dad taught her how to find fossils and she took to it like a duck to water. When he died, she kept up the practice and ended up supporting her family by selling her finds. And man, the things she found! She was a pioneer in the field of paleontology and didn't get any recognition because she was a girl. I appreciated that this biography doesn't try to hide her faith or the faith of other fossil lovers of her day. How to mesh religious views and geology is a challenge people today still face.
I enjoyed the book. It gets in-depth but it's still understandable. Even though it's short, I'm not sure how many middle schoolers will pick up this book. I'd give it to the burgeoning scientists who will be sucked in by the topic. Mostly words, a few pictures/illustrations, glossary/index in the back. Also a page detailing where to see Mary's discoveries in person these days.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the book. It gets in-depth but it's still understandable. Even though it's short, I'm not sure how many middle schoolers will pick up this book. I'd give it to the burgeoning scientists who will be sucked in by the topic. Mostly words, a few pictures/illustrations, glossary/index in the back. Also a page detailing where to see Mary's discoveries in person these days.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
May 9, 2022
I received a temporary digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mary Anning is one of the world's most celebrated paleontologists, known for discovering fossils--such as the ichthyosaurus and plesiosaurus--that would end up studied by scientists and displayed in museums. Despite all her discoveries, Mary Anning lived a life full of adversities and wasn't always accepted in the scientific community just because she was a woman. Nevertheless, she continued her studies, sketches, and searches for fossils and helped expand the understanding of our world for generations to come.
We have been reading picture books about Mary Anning for years thanks to my daughter's love of dinosaurs and determination to become a paleontologist. This nonfiction chapter book gave us a much more in-depth look at Mary's life and life's work.
This book has a beautifully illustrated cover, endpapers, and chapter headers. The images within are mostly a collection of paintings and paleoart from Mary Anning herself (plus some stock photos) with italicized text in blue boxes/bubbles to explain each.
Includes a timeline, glossary, and a list of places to see Mary Anning's fossils!
Mary Anning is one of the world's most celebrated paleontologists, known for discovering fossils--such as the ichthyosaurus and plesiosaurus--that would end up studied by scientists and displayed in museums. Despite all her discoveries, Mary Anning lived a life full of adversities and wasn't always accepted in the scientific community just because she was a woman. Nevertheless, she continued her studies, sketches, and searches for fossils and helped expand the understanding of our world for generations to come.
We have been reading picture books about Mary Anning for years thanks to my daughter's love of dinosaurs and determination to become a paleontologist. This nonfiction chapter book gave us a much more in-depth look at Mary's life and life's work.
This book has a beautifully illustrated cover, endpapers, and chapter headers. The images within are mostly a collection of paintings and paleoart from Mary Anning herself (plus some stock photos) with italicized text in blue boxes/bubbles to explain each.
Includes a timeline, glossary, and a list of places to see Mary Anning's fossils!
June 23, 2022
This is one of a few new books we received this year about Mary Anning, most of the others were short picture book biographies. This one is longer and meant for a middle grade audience. I really enjoyed learning about her life and contribution to paleontology.
The book has 10 short chapters and is filled with illustrated images that often dramatically reveal what the creatures Mary found looked like when they lived. The book; while focusing on her fossil recovery; does try to give information about her life and the time period in which she lived. It also discusses that while she was female, she was also of a lower social class in England at the time and those two factors led to her being left out of the natural science societies that existed at the time. Her male colleagues did think highly of her and they made sure she had a pension, but most of her personal papers have gone missing after her nephew sold them. Which leaves a more personal biography unattainable.
The book does mention that Mary is now more well known than many of the men who were her contemporaries. I think middle grade readers looking for a science read will enjoy this book.
I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.
The book has 10 short chapters and is filled with illustrated images that often dramatically reveal what the creatures Mary found looked like when they lived. The book; while focusing on her fossil recovery; does try to give information about her life and the time period in which she lived. It also discusses that while she was female, she was also of a lower social class in England at the time and those two factors led to her being left out of the natural science societies that existed at the time. Her male colleagues did think highly of her and they made sure she had a pension, but most of her personal papers have gone missing after her nephew sold them. Which leaves a more personal biography unattainable.
The book does mention that Mary is now more well known than many of the men who were her contemporaries. I think middle grade readers looking for a science read will enjoy this book.
I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.
May 29, 2024
This was such an informative and interesting biographical read! A must for school libraries.
Author Cheryl Blackford has a degree in geology from the University of Durham in England, and has been an avid fossil and rock hunter since the age of thirteen. This is her first biography written for children and it is superbly informative. For adults, the chapters can be easily read on a cozy evening. As a biography, it is chronologically written and easily followable throughout Anning’s life and experiences as a female fossil hunter from a low socioeconomic class during a time when such a career choice was unheard of. With her work digging out fossils and selling them to wealthy collectors, she helped grow the field of paleontology during the time of much debate between scientists such as Charles Darwin. Anning would sell a variety of fossils found in the cliffs of the beach near Lyme Regis, from small ammonites sold outside the family’s home, to the first complete plesiosaur fossil. She would borrow books and copy out of them to learn all that she could as educational opportunities were well beyond her reach but she did have friends in high places that helped out. The biography is absolutely fascinating as “Mary pursued fossil hunting with dogged determination.”
Author Cheryl Blackford has a degree in geology from the University of Durham in England, and has been an avid fossil and rock hunter since the age of thirteen. This is her first biography written for children and it is superbly informative. For adults, the chapters can be easily read on a cozy evening. As a biography, it is chronologically written and easily followable throughout Anning’s life and experiences as a female fossil hunter from a low socioeconomic class during a time when such a career choice was unheard of. With her work digging out fossils and selling them to wealthy collectors, she helped grow the field of paleontology during the time of much debate between scientists such as Charles Darwin. Anning would sell a variety of fossils found in the cliffs of the beach near Lyme Regis, from small ammonites sold outside the family’s home, to the first complete plesiosaur fossil. She would borrow books and copy out of them to learn all that she could as educational opportunities were well beyond her reach but she did have friends in high places that helped out. The biography is absolutely fascinating as “Mary pursued fossil hunting with dogged determination.”
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