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Average rating4.5
In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Mary Anning, the mother of paleontology, and daring fossil hunter. When Mary was little, her family was very poor. She used to help her dad to comb for shells and bones up high on dangerous cliffs. After receiving a book as a gift from a kind benefactor, Mary learned all about fossils. She continued to hunt for them and made the startling discovery of a complete skeleton of an ichthyosaur. Sadly, she wasn't allowed to study along with all the other men, but she carried on making her own discoveries—including dinosaur poo!—and advising the Geological Society when they needed help. It took a lifetime to receive recognition but we all remember her now as the mother of paleontology. This roar-some book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the paleontologist's life. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!
Featured Series
8 primary books49 released booksLittle People, BIG DREAMS is a 49-book series with 48 released primary works first released in 1921 with contributions by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara, and Amaia Arrazola.
Reviews with the most likes.
More nonfiction for my child. I love it.
And education for me! My kid is possibly entering the obligatory Dinosaur Phase (oh I do hope so), so I thought this would be nice. DINOS! I had never heard of Mary Anning before this. As a parent, I am increasingly being made aware of just how much of the Stone Age I am. Anyway, we learned together.
Art style was lovely. I spent a lot of time pondering it.
Concepts from this book that I had to explain to my 3 yr old (and what I said):
- Poor: not having money
- The male scientists stealing Mary's work: uhhhhhhhh A lot of these Little People, Big Dreams books are clearly advancing a feminist agenda. Which is great. I am feminist. They are fighting the good fight. But sexism and the patriarchy is something I am really challenged in explaining to my kids. “Some people think boys are better than girls”? Uhh, screw that, I'd rather not even tell them that. “Long ago, girls weren't allowed to do certain things?” That applies to boys too. “The patriarchy keeps both men AND women down. And that's not even to touch on non-binary, transgender people. We have a patriarchy because we're irrational apes, okay, and so we don't always make the best choices, like as a society. Some think it grew out of the agricultural revolution - yes indeed lots of present-day power structures really started then” shut up Mom just please shut up.
It's funny. I just hate saddling my small small kids with all this grown-up, Stone Age bullshit and sadness of our specific societal/American/Western/WEIRD -isms. I kind of want to keep them pure and innocent, rather than recruit them into the good fight already? I am also really struggling with how to parent a son vs. a daughter, given that it's like, “look here, son, the boys are assholes stealing Mary Anning's work cuz she's a girl, poor Mary Anning - hey, kids, don't fight”. Ugh. Oh glob. What to do.