Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life
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How does a poor woman with no formal education become one of 19th Century England's best fossil hunters? How do her amazing fossil finds inform the theories of prominent geologists as they debate the origins of life on earth?
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. With her brother Joseph she found the first ichthyosaur to be scientifically studied, and then went on to find many more stunning ichthyosaurs, the world's first complete plesiosaur, England's first complete pterosaur, and the world's first squaloraja. Find out more about this extraordinary woman's life and work in this richly illustrated biography that includes a timeline, glossary and extensive bibiography.
How does a poor woman with no formal education become one of 19th Century England's best fossil hunters? How do her amazing fossil finds inform the theories of prominent geologists as they debate the origins of life on earth?
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. With her brother Joseph she found the first ichthyosaur to be scientifically studied, and then went on to find many more stunning ichthyosaurs, the world's first complete plesiosaur, England's first complete pterosaur, and the world's first squaloraja. Find out more about this extraordinary woman's life and work in this richly illustrated biography that includes a timeline, glossary and extensive bibiography.
Reviews
"Solid, respectful scholarship tailored for mature, serious-minded young readers." "This admiring tribute is well written and thoroughly researched." Kirkus Reviews, Dec 2021.
"A personal and compelling glimpse into an important scientific mind." Booklist, Dec 2021.
“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.
"Deftly weaving in paleontological and geological facts, this riveting account presents an unflinching look at what it meant to be born poor, uneducated, female, and brilliant, at a time when women were denied the opportunity to become scientists. I couldn’t put it down.” –Sarah Albee, NYT bestselling author of Accidental Archeologists and Bugged.
"Solid, respectful scholarship tailored for mature, serious-minded young readers." "This admiring tribute is well written and thoroughly researched." Kirkus Reviews, Dec 2021.
"A personal and compelling glimpse into an important scientific mind." Booklist, Dec 2021.
“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.
"Deftly weaving in paleontological and geological facts, this riveting account presents an unflinching look at what it meant to be born poor, uneducated, female, and brilliant, at a time when women were denied the opportunity to become scientists. I couldn’t put it down.” –Sarah Albee, NYT bestselling author of Accidental Archeologists and Bugged.