Publication Date: December 28, 2006 | Age Range: 6 - 9 years
Mary Anning, born in England in 1799, made an astounding discovery at age 12 when she unearthed the first full skeleton of a giant ichthyosaur in the cliffs above her home in Lyme Regis. This incident — in which she was helped by a little dog she rescued from a cemetery — was the beginning of a long career that saw Mary become the world’s best-known fossil hunter. Best-selling author Laurence Anholt turns Mary’s fascinating life into a perfect read-aloud, while Sheila Moxley’s luscious pictures vividly evoke the coastal setting and dramas of Mary's exciting life.
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Anholt's cumbersome and text-laden story centers on the early years of Mary Anning, born in 1799 and known in her native England for her discovery of ancient fossils. From the moment that her beloved father, nicknamed "Pepper" for his "speckled beard," extracts a "snakestone" (a fossil of a snake) from the clay cliffs near their seaside home, Mary spends her days searching alone for similar "curiosities," while peers taunt her with the titular nickname. Soon after her father dies, Mary discovers a dog (with a coat like "speckled pepper") near his grave. Encouraged by the Philpot sisters, local scientists, the mournful girl continues to collect fossils and searches for the giant sea monster's bones, which, legend has it, lay hidden in the cliffs. Her devoted pet leads his young mistress to the skeleton of this ichthyosaur, then vanishes. As with the death of Mary's father, the text glosses over the dog's disappearance, but readers will likely see it as a shadow cast over the discovery and marking another significant loss in young Mary's life. Moxley's (Skip Across the Ocean) vividly hued, primitivist artwork features some creatively skewed perspectives as well as several potentially disturbing images: a farmhouse teeters on the edge of eroding cliffs, while nearby are half-submerged cows and a person apparently gesturing in distress. Anholt convincingly lays the groundwork for Anning to go on to become a noted scientist and local hero, but youngsters will likely find this account of her childhood sad rather than celebratory. Ages 5-9. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4-Mary Anning, born in England in 1799, made an astounding discovery at the age of 12 when she unearthed the first full skeleton of an ichthyosaur in the cliffs above her home in Lyme Regis. Anholt begins his picture-book biography with a dramatic episode in which baby Mary is said to have been struck by lightning. The well-shaped, fictionalized account creates a cozy view of her relationship with her father, who taught her to recognize the many forms of fossils in the crumbly Dorset cliffs before his death when she was perhaps 10 or 11. A mysterious, small dog Mary finds in the cemetery becomes the agent in finding the enormous fossil. Two wealthy women, allegedly scientists, tutor Mary as she develops a small business selling fossils as curiosities to tourists. Pleasing folk-art views spread across the pages in luscious blues and greens, magenta, and pumpkin, following the plucky child's odyssey that led to her lifelong contribution to paleontology. Children will be attracted by the jacket view of dinosaurs climbing the path through the cliffs below Mary. Picture bands bordering one side or the other of most pages handsomely unify each spread. The substantial text reads aloud well. The author provides a short closing note on Anning's place in science and also claims that she is the inspiration of the traditional rhyme "she sells seashells by the seashore." No attributions of factual material are provided. Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
In a career spanning three decades, British author/illustrator Laurence Anholt has produced over 200 children's books, which are published in more than 30 languages. Books like the hilarious Seriously Silly Stories and the self-illustrated Anholt's Artists series have sold many millions of copies around the world. Laurence has also collaborated on numerous picture books with his wife, the artist, Catherine Anholt.
In 2013, Laurence created his first novel for adults. The extraordinary Passionate Boy is a strange, bawdy and magical tale, which is now available from Amazon as a download for Kindle or iPad.
Born in 1959, Laurence Anholt was brought up mainly in Holland where he developed a lasting love of Art. He went on to study Painting for 8 years, culminating in a Master's Degree from the Royal Academy of Art in London. Catherine and Laurence live and work in a house on a hill with studios and wild flower meadow, overlooking the sea in Devon, southwest England.
Laurence's books have won numerous awards, including the prestigious Nestlé Smarties Gold Award on two occasions. For more than a decade, Laurence has been amongst the top 200 Most Borrowed Authors from UK libraries across all genres. He was included in the Independent on Sunday's Top 10 Children's Authors in the UK and was described by William Watt as "one of the most versatile authors writing for children today".
Catherine and Laurence have been closely involved with a number of literacy schemes such as the UK Government funded Bookstart scheme. Their publication Babies Love Books (also a much-loved picture book) encourages parents to share books with babies from the earliest possible age. Their work has taken the Anholts inside Buckingham Palace and Downing Street on several occasions.
Laurence's self‐illustrated Anholt's Artists series, is an introduction to great artists for young children. These beautiful books are used as part of the national school curriculum in many countries and are sold in galleries and museums all over the world. The books, which include Camille and the Sunflowers, Degas and the Little Dancer and The Magical Garden of Claude Monet have taken Laurence on many fascinating journeys of discovery. Each scrupulously researched story is based on an actual encounter between a real child and a great artist. In several instances, Laurence has been assisted by relatives of the artists or by the protagonists themselves - for example, Laurence developed a long-standing friendship with Sylvette David, Picasso's Girl With a Ponytail. This series currently includes 9 titles and it has been adapted in many forms, including Apps for iPads, stage and TV productions and a full scale van Gogh musical which Laurence launched in Korea. The Anholt's Artists books are renowned not only for their educational value, but also for their life-affirming themes of aspiration, tolerance and acceptance of those who are different.
Laurence Anholt is a much sought after public speaker, talking about literature and his own zany view of life at conferences such as the European Council of International Schools Conference, the Society of Authors' Bi-Annual Conference and the Edinburgh Festival.
The Anholts have three grown up children, Claire and twins, Tom and Maddy. Claire currently works for the UN Secretariat in New York, Maddy is an actor living in London and Tom is a successful artist based in Berlin. Tom Anholt provided the artwork for Laurence's recent adult novel, Passionate Boy, which is set in the world of contemporary Fine Art.
Laurence Anholt's interests include art, literature, adventure travel and Buddhist meditation.
For further information visit the Anholts' website: http://www.anholt.co.uk
I can't remember a more beautifully written children's book since my children were born. The way the story was told was so simple and yet so powerful, I have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone with children. I read it to my 3 and 5 year old girls and they ask for it every night. Simply beautiful.
There are a few picture books out about Mary Anning! All of them are good, but this is THE ONE to read to younger kids! The illustrations are vibrant and colorful. The story is punchy and fun! Kids will be amazed by the story of a young girl who gets struck by lightning as an infant, survives, and as a child finds the fossil of one of the world's largest dinosaurs! It's all true! There's even a dog companion! Buy it and read it to your kids, they won't soon forget it!
They were captivated from the very opening when Mary was the only survivor of a lightening strike. The fact that Mary made her first major discovery when she was only twelve demonstrates to children that it is possible for them to achieve great/important things. My girls were so interested in paleontology after reading this book that it has spurred them on to learning more about Mary Anning, fossils and evolution. They have since gone fossil hunting and were thrilled to be just like Stone Girl, Bone Girl!
