Cover Image: Dinosaur Lady

Dinosaur Lady

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Member Reviews

This is a beautiful and informative picture book. The picture book format was a little difficult to manage digitally, but the story is woven beautifully with the artwork.

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I read Shark Lady a while back truly enjoyed it. 5 stars for this pretty picture book. ! What a good read! I am so sorry to say, I did not know about the lady that this is based on. I have now found myself googling more information to share with my students. It is a fascinating read and I am going to recommend to my students and parents as well as purchase a copy for the classroom.

Interesting and factual, old and young alike would enjoy this true story. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy to read for pleasure. Highly recommended.

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This book is fantastic! I think this will be a great addition to our library for readers of picture book biographies, nonfiction about dinosaurs and for women's history month displays! I think the storyline and illustrations do a fantastic job of keeping the reader interested in the story and ready to keep turning the pages. Looking forward to sharing with my students so they can learn everything I did from reading this one!

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Oh my. Can I give this five stars over and over because I want to. I relate to this sweet dinosaur lady so hard. My son loved this book. We read it together and I kept telling him that I would love to be her. He agreed and we both decided we want to go hunting for dinosaurs. But seriously, this was beautifully illustrated and really fun to read.

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This was an interesting look at an interesting person, and the artwork was also...interesting? I think it will be great for schools and libraries, but I can't really see a kid picking it over and over for bedtime story.

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My Thoughts
This book is awesome! Dinosaurs and girl-power combined with brilliant and bright illustrations that transport you as well as story-telling that keeps you hooked till the very end make this a must-have!

What I loved about this (a lot, as you can see!):
--- the eye-catching and clever cover, where the title is written out with bones, ensured I picked this read. And once you open the book, Miguéns’ illustrations continue to charm you at every turn with their beauty, and surprise you with the details.
--- the fact that it tells the story of Mary Anning, aka the First Paleontologist, to the youngest readers (and older ones like me who did not know about her till this book)
--- how Linda Skeers effortlessly captures and highlights Anning’s perseverance and curiosity and her passion for learning; she also slips in scientific terms into the pages without making it seem like a text book or a non-fiction book (which in fact, it is!)
--- that this book is full of so many inspiring and teachable moments. I totally appreciated that Skeers does not downplay the barriers women faced in that day and age, and reading about how Anning continued in spite of all the adversities (financial and gender-related barriers) is truly empowering. It captures the frustrations and struggles of Anning’s life while keeping the focus on her lifelong journey of learning and achievements. It was truly wonderful to note that many distinguished male scientists of the time came to her for advice!
how both Skeers’ words and Miguéns’ illustrations highlight the thrill of discovery (like when Anning and her brother first discovered the eye of the dinosaur looking out at them on the beach!); as well the thrill and hard work of learning and overcoming obstacles.
--- the timeline and additional notes included at the end of the book that help the readers understand the story better, as well as provide more interesting reading and resources for curious(actually, all) readers.
that it is written in an easy to read and understand way for the target audience (who might need help with some of the scientific terms, but they might surprise you since those are all dinosaur related) but still appealing to readers of all ages (including adults).

And the other side:
Well, nothing really to add in a ‘what I did not like about this book’ section – nothing at all!

Additional Notes
--- Check out the SourceBooks website for a really useful study guide provided by as an accompaniment to this book.
--- I recall seeing another book by Linda Skeers earlier, where she references Mary Anning, but somehow don’t think I read it. I am going to look for it now. You should take a look too – Women Who Dared
--- And yes, another find because of this book I am looking forward to read is Shark Lady by Jess Keating and illustrated by Miguens.

In Summary
What more can I say? It is simply a great read – an educational, inspiring, entertaining, empowering and exciting read! So go get it now!! I know I am getting a physical copy for myself ..and adding this to that list of truly giftable books for all occasions and all ages.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley and SourceBooks for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

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Although I have read other books about Mary Anning and her discoveries, I found Dinosaur Lady to be an enjoyable introduction to the work of this "paleontologist". The illustrations under gird and extend the text and I know that my elementary students will be fascinated by the book.

I am always looking for books about female scientists to add to the STEM section of my library and can't wait to add this one.

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An engaging book about one of the earliest paleontologists, Mary Anning, who discovered five previously unknown dinosaurs in her lifetime, as well as many minor discoveries that changed how scientists looked at the past- she discovered dinosaur poop, y'all! Though she didn't get all the credit she deserved at the time, in 2010 she was recognized by the Royal society as one of the ten British women who have most influenced the history of science. The story is interesting, and should intrigue boys and girls alike, especially those who are into dinosaurs. The text is followed by a "bits and facts" spread about dinosaurs and fossils, a timeline of Anning's life, and an author's note with more information. The illustrations are vibrant and filled with lively detail, and punctuate the text well.

#NetGalley

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A great introduction to Mary Anning! I loved the colourful pictures also. Now I want to learn more about her and dinosaurs.

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I enjoyed reading this book! It is very interesting that the first dinosaur skeleton was found by a woman who simply enjoyed collecting fossils, and how her interest grew. We have a friend who has made discoveries of dinosaur fossils in the same way. The one thing I did not appreciate about this book was that “millions of years” was presented as fact.

I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

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This book was okay. I didn’t love it. Lots of good information but just was not entertaining. The illustrations were just okay for me too.

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Mary Anning grew up by the sea in England and spent her childhood searching the shores for shells, rocks, and fossils. Her curiosity led her to research everything she could about the bones and fossils she found. One day, while on the beach with her brother, they discovered a dinosaur skull before the word 'dinosaur' even existed! Her discovery went off to a museum for others to ponder over. Meanwhile, Mary continued to make new and exciting discoveries despite the limitations she had at a time when women weren't even allowed to go to university. Nonetheless, her discoveries helped form paleontology!

Dinosaur Lady is a wonderful look at the life and discoveries Mary Anning, the first paleontologist, with lovely illustrations that make you feel like you are right there with her combing the beach and discovering bone formations in the cliff sides.

I really enjoyed that some of the scientific names of the fossils and shells that Mary collected were included in the story, like ammonite and coprolite, as well as the overall museum feel of the book! I also love a good story about a woman persevering despite her limitations! This book is inspiring!

Includes a spread about 'bone bits and facts' as well as a timeline spread of Mary's life and discoveries!

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This book is great. It is hard to find wonderfully illustrated and fun books about women who made a difference.

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'Dinosaur Lady' by Linda Skeers with illustrations by Marta Alvarez Miguens is a picture book based on a real person.

Mary Anning grew up in England by the beach. She liked to dig in the rocks and sand for shells and fossils. One day she found something really different. It was the skeleton of a creature named an Ichthyosaurus, a dinosaur. Her work was the beginning of field paleontology.

I was a big fan of the author's first book 'Shark Lady,' and this one was just as good. Really great storytelling with really great artwork.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Sourcebooks Kids and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

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"She sells seashells on the seashore." Many of us hear that tongue twister as children, but we do not hear the story of the woman it is based on. Mary Anning's life is described for us in this lovely picture book biography. We read of her collecting fossils and shells that her family sold to tourists to support themselves. With no formal training, she taught herself what to look for and discovered the skeleton of what was named "ichthyosaurus." Although she lived at a time when women were not expected or even allowed to be scientists, Mary made amazing finds in the field of fossils and the men who were allowed to pursue their scientific dreams came to her for answers.

Illustrations show Mary climbing over cliffs and rocks, digging with her hammer and chisel in all kinds of weather. They also show "geologists, scientists, and scholars" trailing along behind her. Along with an author's note there are also a timeline of Miss Anning's life and "Bone Bits and Fossil Facts" among the back matter. Although we may feel frustrated on her behalf, at least we have the satisfaction that Mary's contributions to the field are finally being recognized. With books like these, young readers will have the chance to appreciate her perseverance and self-taught expertise.

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*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Dinosaur Lady is a fascinating look at the life of Mary Anning who helped create the field of paleontology. In 1811 she unearthed a never before seen animal that was millions of years old. She was curious and adventurous and kept exploring, even in a time when girls were supposed to be demure and lady like. She kept making discoveries that excited the world, but her name was never mentioned. While we don't often hear her name, Mary Anning was a force in scientific research. The illustrations capture a reader's interest and even the frustration of being left out of the "boys club." A great timeline is also included in the endpapers.

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Dinosaur Lady is an illustrated biography of Mary Anning, a fossilist who is widely regarded as one of the first paleontologists helping to define the discipline in addition to making significant contributions and discoveries. Due out 7th July 2020 from Sourcebooks, it's 40 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

I love children's nonfiction. This is a well written, factually based, beautifully illustrated biography aimed at younger readers (~4-8 years of age) which manages to provide a kid-friendly version of Anning's often frustrating and impoverished life. She was rejected by the scientific establishment at the same time they were acknowledging her as an expert in her field. The book gleefully provides the information that she correctly identified coprolites as fossilized feces as well as identifying fossilized ink sacs from early cephalopods (squids).

The text is age appropriate and engaging. The art is beautifully rendered and supports the text very well. This is definitely a book which would grab the interest of most kids. I found it interesting and learned quite a lot of information of which I was previously unaware.

The book includes an abbreviated timeline of Anning's discoveries and contributions along with contemporary occurrences as well as a short glossary.

Five stars. This would make a great selection for a classroom or public library, as well as the child's home library or a gift.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

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I remember when my nephew was really little and how much he loved dinosaurs and declared that he was going to be a paleontologist, at the time this would have been the perfect book for him and I feel like many budding paleontologists will love this book.
Dinosaur Lady by Linda Skeers celebrates Mary Anning and her skills in what we come to learn throughout the book as being very much a man's world. What starts as Mary's hobby soon becomes what keeps Mary's family fed and clothed after her father dies. Her finds have shaped the world of paleontology and she continued to spend her life dedicated to finding fossils and sharing them with the world.
I find that non-fiction content that reads like fiction is quite engaging for children and hooks them into the story. The timeline and definitions at the end of the book is the icing on the cake and give the reader a lot of interesting information in a different form and help them understand what the terms are that they discovered throughout the book.
I like that Linda didn't avoid the sexism that was evident during the time and I feel that she wrote about it tactfully and respectfully. I like that regardless of the sexism that Mary continued to work at discovering fossils and this is great for children to see that regardless of what they come up against they just need to keep going.
I think this is a fantastic book and will make a wondering addition to any child's library.

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Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for sharing this book with me in exchange for an honest review. Fans of Jess Keatings Shark Lady will love Dinosaur Lady! This is a book about Mary Anning who changed the way the scientific world viewed the natural world and helped kick-start Paleontology with her discoveries. Mary was a brave, daring, and intelligent woman who dared to be different. This is a great story to show how asking questions and having curiosity can lead to great things and how never backing down in the face of adversity can help change the world. I highly recommend this picture book.

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Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers is a nonfiction picturebook that is currently scheduled for release on July 1 2020. As a kid, Mary Anning loved hunting for fossils with her father. One day, that hobby led to an unexpected discovery: the skeleton of a creature no one had never seen before! Mary had unearthed a dinosaur fossil, the first to ever be discovered. Her find reshaped scientific beliefs about the natural world and led to the beginning of a brand new field of study: paleontology. For the rest of her life, Mary continued to make astonishing finds and her fossils are displayed in museums all across the world! The daring discoveries of Mary Anning not only changed the scientific world, but also helped change people’s attitudes towards women scientists.

Dinosaur Lady is a picturebook that not only talks about the early years and discoveries in paleontology, but how women were viewed in science, and to a certain degree still are. I liked the illustrations, they added a great deal of detail and heart to each page. I thought the information included was interesting and was accessible. I think the narrative and information were well balanced and should keep the reader's interest. I also liked the additional information that was included at the end of the book. I really enjoyed the read and think the book just might inspire kids interested in topic others might try to dissuade them from perusing to keep on studying and working towards their goals.

Dinosaur Lady is a engaging and informative book that would be a great addition to all libraries. Hopefully it will encourage more young scientists to follow their interests.

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