Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life by Cheryl Blackford (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a digital copy of this children's nonfiction from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Fossil Hunter:
How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life
by Cheryl Blackford
Published by Clarion Books
on January 25, 2022
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 128 pages
Ages: 10+ years

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Synopsis:
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 women scientists like Ada Lovelace, Jane Goodall, and Katherine Johnson. 

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. 


Our Thoughts:

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! 


Many thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this engrossing children's nonfiction biography on Mary Anning! 


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