She Sells Seashells

‘Mary Anning was an unlikely palaeontologist’. This opening line immediately piqued my curiosity and had my itching to pick up ‘She Sells Sea Shells’.

An inspiring and informative book for children and adults alike, this book tells the story of an early woman in STEM, gender equality, education and hardship. Most of all, however, it celebrates Mary’s intellectual curiosity, perseverance, and quiet contribution to palaeontology.

This is an insightful and reflective read for school age children, and a great conversation starter about issues of gender, education and privilege which are still relevant today.

Reading of Mary’s experience brought a tear to my eye, with the beautiful illustrations adding emotional depth, and highlighting Mary’s resilient character. I’m so happy we picked up this story, and look forward to learning more about Mary’s life.

Thank you Charlesbridge and NetGalley for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Mary Anning was not educated at school. Such things were unheard of for a woman of the time, and especially a woman of the working class. However, years later, her name is now beginning to be known for being the first Paleontologist.

As a child she lived on the Jurassic Coast, on the southern end of the UK, where there were fossils to be found, and sold to day trippers. That was how she made her living. And as she grew older, she taught her self more about what these fossils were, and discovered the Ichthyosaur, the Plesiosaur and Pterodactly. Of course, at the time, she got no credit for it, because well, she was a woman and didn’t have an education.


I love how children’s picture books are brining up people who have been forgotten by history, and letting others know what their contributions were.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 15th of July 2024.

This is a fabulous children's nonfiction book about an English woman who contributed a great deal to science without ever being recognized as a scientist during her lifetime. Told in an understandable, sympathetic way, younger readers and listeners will find themselves cheering on Mary Anning and perhaps imagining that they too are hunting for and discovering important new fossils. The illustrations are beautiful and enhance the story. I hope this book will make it into the hands of many teachers and young readers. I will be incorporating it into my classroom. Thank you to #NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this fascinating book She Sells Seashell by Heidi Stemple in exchange for a honest review.This is the story of Mary Anning a young girl who found and sold fossils to provide for her family.Born in 1799, a time when most girls were not educated, Mary was a self taught scientist.She found the fossils of many dinosaurs and sold them to scientists who took the credit for her finds.She found the skeletons of many dinosaurs and ancient animals..This is a book that finally shines light on a historical woman figure.who helped shape the scientific world.Well written and illustrated..