She Sells Seashells

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..

Nonfiction!
This is the story of a poor girl, Mary Anning, and her family in the early 1800s in England who was largely ignored by the very men who bought the fossils and seashells she sold. She was self educated as there was no money for school, and school was only for boys. All these years later she is now recognized as the first paleontologist. Finally! "She forged a path for EVERYONE curious enough to keep digging."
The illustrations by Emily Paik are fun, simple, colorful, expressive and delightful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, especially to a school, church library, or your local public library!.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Charlesbridge via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is a wonderful biography on Mary Anning, a woman from Victorian England who helped discovery fossils along the coast of England and helped pave the way for modern paleontology.

Learning about a woman in this field and her life story of how she made this discovery and grew into the person who defied gender norms of her day to provide future generations with a wealth of knowledge, was truly inspirational.

I cannot wait to buy the print version of this book and add it to my home library so my kids and I can reread it over and over again.

The book was beautifully written. The author made careful word choices that were very impactful. Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it.

I love an excellent picture book biography. I didn't know about Mary Anning, and now I am bursting with knowledge and am so excited to share it with someone!

I think that students are going to love this book and I hope it will inspire some future scientists!

Thank you to Net Galley and Charlesbridge for the eARC!

She Sells Seashells
Mary Anning, an Unlikely Paleontologist
by Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Pub DateJul 16 2024
Charlesbridge
Biographies & Memoirs| Children's Nonfiction| Science



Charlesbridge and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of She Sells Seashells for review:


The first thing Mary Anning did was collect shells and other curiosities to sell in her family's shop. She discovered fossils that changed our understanding of life on Earth forever. As paleontology emerged, educated male scientists did not recognize Mary's skills, nor did they include her in their discussions.


Mary was too busy making new discoveries to care about those rich educated men. In today's world, she is regarded as the first paleontologist. In the back of the book, Mary's remarkable life is explored, including where she lived, her relationships, and the challenges of being a woman in her time.


I give She Sells Seashells five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I love Mary Anning and try to read any children's books about her. This was a great one! I really liked the illustration style and way the story described her life and discoveries.

This will-written and well-illustrated book describes the amazing fossil finds of Mary Anning, who made many, many fossil finds, but was never recognized by the scientific community because she was a woman. Not only does the book clearly show her finds, it provides a social and historical context for understanding her life and times. Though she ways intellectually curious and interested in the finds she made, she was not accepted by the scholars who purchased her finds. Instead, she used her earnings to support her family.

Fascinating back matter provides even more information. Highly recommended for young readers.

A clever biography about Mary Anning, the world's first female paleontologist, that sheds light on the brilliant life of a once obscured historical figure. Young readers will learn how determination and curiosity pushed Anning to take care of her family and educate herself, despite not being allowed to receive a formal education. In this way, this book gently introduces young readers to the gender inequality that many females -- especially those in lower classes -- faced in early 19th century England.

The colorful illustrations help guide the story along and the back matter includes more information about Anning's discoveries, as well as interesting facts that will pique young readers' interest and perhaps motivate them to learn more about Anning and the field of paleontology.

#SheSellsSeashells #NetGalley

‘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.

She Sells Seashells: Mary Anning, an Unlikely Paleontologist by Heidi E. Y. Stemple is an awesome book! She Sells Seashells tells the story of Mary Anning, a woman in England who searches for fossils before it was cool for a woman to do so. I loved learning about Mary Anning and what she accomplished just for fun. I highly recommend She Sells Seashells: Mary Anning, an Unlikely Paleontologist by Heidi E. Y. Stemple! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

In an effort to find seashells and oddities to sell in her family's shop, Mary Anning accidentally became the world's first paleontologist. Her seaside discoveries ushered in a new understanding about ancient life on this planet. This is a fascinating biography that also examines the beginnings of a brand new type of science.

And, we owe it all to a woman.