The Fossil Hunter

LoveReading4Kids Says

Mary Anning – young, poor, female – had none of the advantages of her contemporary scientists in Victorian England. What she did have though, was determination, knowledge and understanding gained from studying the fossils she found in the cliffs of her hometown Lyme Regis, plus the creativity and imaginative power to dream up creatures no one had imagined before.

The story of her life, her discoveries and her impact as one of the most important figures in early palaeontology is told brilliantly in this superb and inspiring information picture book. Mary clearly struck a chord with its creator Kate Winter, who does so much more than tell her story. The text is full of facts and details of Mary’s life and discoveries but the illustrations – beautifully observed and full of perfectly manipulated light and colour – connect us to Mary’s imagination. The three stunning gatefolds, one of which takes the form of Mary’s finds cabinet, work to open up her mind, so that we can see what she was thinking. Similarly, scenes of Mary out hunting for fossils in Lyme Regis, transport us to the blustery, cold beaches and cliffs where she made her amazing discoveries. This is one of those books in which subject and narrative are in absolute harmony and it's breathtaking, as a piece of art, a science guidebook and biography. Don’t miss.

Andrea Reece

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