| Title | : | Mary Annings Curiosity |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1554988985 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781554988983 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 120 |
| Publication | : | First published May 1, 2017 |
| Awards | : | Diamond Willow Award (2018) |
Mary was born in 1799 in Lyme Regis, England, to a poor family. She and her older brother were the only two of ten children to survive. Her father, a carpenter and part-time fossil hunter, taught his children to look for fossils.
When her father injured himself and was unable to work, Mary quit school and took up fossil hunting full-time to help support her family, a task that became even more important when her father died, leaving the Annings in debt.
At the age of twelve, Mary, with her older brother Joe, found what they believed to be the skeleton of a gigantic crocodile, the Great Croc of the legends. Between dodging her rival fossil hunter, the Curiman, and the sheer work of carefully digging out the fossil, Mary took almost a year to excavate what would later be termed the Ichthyosaurus.
Mary Anning may have been uneducated, poor and a woman, but her life’s work of fossil hunting led her to make many discoveries that influenced our understanding of prehistoric creatures and the age of the Earth. In 2010, Mary was named among the ten British women who have most influenced the history of science. Charles Darwin even cited Mary’s fossilized creatures as evidence in his book On the Origin of Species.
In this triumphant novel about scientific discovery, Monica Kulling brings Mary Anning and her world to life for young readers.
Key Text Features
author's note
historical context
resources
facts
further reading
Mary Annings Curiosity Reviews
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A quick, enlightening, sweetly engaging (and fascinating) read is Monica Kulling's Mary Anning's Curiosity, presenting not only Mary Anning's life story from her miraculous deliverance as a toddler (being struck by lightning and surviving, whilst three adult women, including the neighbour holding her were killed) to her first major fossil find, her so-called curiosity, the very first discovery of what the scientific community now calls an ichthyosaur, an ancient aquatic lizard (in complete form), Mary Anning's Curiosity also introduces young readers to early 19th century England (especially to the coastal regions of Cornwall, to Lyme Regis in particular) and to the many problems and potential tragedies working class families such as the Annings often faced (no social safety net, the very real threat of prison for entire families if debts could not be paid, the ravages of diseases such as tuberculosis).
Highly recommended, with the expansive and detailed author's notes along with suggestions for further reading being appreciated added bonuses that much augment both teaching and learning potentials/values of Mary Anning's Curiosity. However, I do have to wonder a bit at the so vehemently negative depictions of Lord Henley in Mary Anning's Curiosity, simply because the same Lord Henley is depicted rather majorly differently and as a primarily positive and much supportive of Mary Anning individual in a picture book on the latter I have read, in Jeannine Atkins' Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon, and I am now of course left to ask and speculate as to whose depiction really is the truth here, or whether it actually lies somewhere between Jeannine Atkins' positive and Monica Kulling's negative and critical portrayals, and that sadly, said truth will also likely be very difficult to ascertain, as both authors have not used either footnotes or endnotes, which makes researching their presented information of the facts surrounding Mary Anning's childhood, including how Lord Henley has been portrayed, much more difficult. -
Mary Anning’s Curiosity is a gem of a book, perfect for curious readers, those who love dinosaurs, “monster” hunting, and those drawn to adventure and mystery. In the first pages we see Mary as a 15-month old baby survive a lightening strike that kills the three women with her. “Miracle child” or “devil’s own”? From that moment onward, Mary follows her own path.
Mary’s father, Pa, is a carpenter but his passion is hunting fossils on the beach near their seaside town of Lyme Regis. Pa sells his curiosities to supplement the family’s meagre income. His passion ignites a spark in Mary and her brother, Joseph. But it is dangerous work, which worries her mother, Ma, and not a life Ma wants for her daughter. Ma sends Mary to school and although Mary loves learning, she also wants to hunt for more of Pa’s “verteberries”, evidence, they are sure, of the legendary giant croc, hidden somewhere in the cliffs by the shore.
Competition by Captain Cury, another fossil hunter, ups the ante and when Pa falls terminally ill, Mary is more determined than ever to find the giant croc to help her family. When Joseph finds the first significant evidence of the “Lyme Regis dragon”, he and Mary try desperately to keep the fact from the crafty Captain Cury who would have no scruples about stealing such a find from the two children and claiming it for his own. Plagued by debt and the threat of debtor’s prison after Pa’s death, the family is increasingly desperate. Joseph is apprenticed to learn a trade and it falls to Mary to protect and dig out the fossilized skeleton of what she realizes is something much more important than a giant croc.
Help and hindrance come in equal measure but it's Mary Anning’s patience, determination and smarts that pay off.
In the author’s note we learn that Mary’s first big discovery was an ichthyosaur and this as well as her subsequent life of discoveries has contributed to our “knowledge and understanding of prehistoric life.”
I loved this story. Monica Kulling brings her finesse with language and character found in her picture books to this novel. She gives us the time and setting in an accessible way for young readers without being simplistic. She does not back away from the realities of poverty and loss that Mary’s family faces and she draws the reader in to want fervently for Mary’s success.
It is a story of discovery, an introduction to the time and place in history, and a mystery/adventure, perfect for the curious at heart. I could not put this book down.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. -
This would be my fourth (fifth?) read on Anning, but Gundula recommends, and it does look charming & interesting.
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This is a good introduction to the early life and work of Mary Anning for young readers.
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From the gorgeous cover to the lovely story within, this little book is an absolute treasure! A delightful tale about a determined young girl whose discoveries forever changed the scientific world. Thank you to Monica Kulling for writing this book and enlightening your readers about the incredible Mary Anning.
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I very much enjoyed this book! Even though it's a fictionalized account of real events I still felt like I was immersed in the time period and I learned so much about fossil hunting during that time. Mary is wonderfully engaging and I loved the additional information in the author's note about changes made, Mary's fate, and what happened to the Ichthyosaur she discovered and extracted as a child!
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It's the early 1800s, and the world knows nothing about paleontology. In fact, the word doesn't exist yet. Enter Mary Anning, the only surviving daughter to a poor family. Barely educated, and struggling under family debt, Mary loves the cliffs near her home in Lyme Regis, and helps her family make money by chipping fossils from the local chalk cliffs by the sea. Her father has taught her about the "verteberries" in the cliff, and has given her a cutting hammer for her birthday.
He believes there are creatures in the chalk, ancient sea creatures, and one day he and his children will find the "Giant Crocodile" and pay off their family debt...
This is a gorgeous story, about an amazing girl. Mary Anning overcomes hardship, poverty, grief and a hardscrabble existence, to become one of the world's first, and best known, fossil hunters, despite the fact that she lacked education, money and resources.
I think middle-grade readers will really enjoy this historical story based on the life of this fascinating, determined and incredibly brave young girl. Highly Recommended!
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of the book from the author (thank you Monica Kulling), but I only review books that I like. -
Each time young Mary Anning shouted, “I found sommat!” on the beach in southwest England in the early 1800s, it was usually quite a curiosity: a fossil such as a brittle star, ammonite, or “verteberry.” But when she discovered “her giant croc”—a fossilized Ichthyosaurus—she made history.
This well-researched fictionalized story of a real fossil hunter is a fascinating read. It truly brought the historical time period, setting, and characters alive.
A couple of my favourite bits in the story:
When the tide went out, it roared like a lion. When it returned, it tiptoed in like a cat on silent paws. (page 29)
Out of habit, Mary searched the ground as she walked, losing herself in thought. She tried to imagine the ancient sea that had once covered the land on which she walked, and all the creatures great and small—from tiny fish to ammonites to swimming great beasts—that had teemed in it. But it was like trying to imagine how deep the sky was and how many stars it contained. (pages 81-82)
Highly recommended. -
Excellent book to read aloud with elementary aged children. My daughter, age 7, really enjoyed the true story of a female scientist we never knew of before this book. Set in 1800s England, the book does not cover up the harsh life of a young, poor girl growing up along the cliffs near the sea. Death, harsh weather, debtors prison, no formal education -- they are all worked into 10 inspiring chapters about the young women who scoured the cliffs in search of curiosities -- fossils. If her great find remains on display when we make it to England ourselves, we'll be paying a visit.
Please purchase this book to encourage publishers and writers to give young readers something other than mermaids, princesses and fairies. I'll be buying a copy for our home library; our first read was an amazing find on a library shelf. -
What a wonderful discovery this book was! Mary Anning was a scientist/pioneer in an age that often threw roadblocks up for girls/women at every turn. Author Monica Kulling’s wonderful writing style captures the true spirit of this delightful, captivating scientist and has the reader totally engaged from the first page!
The reader is left in wonderment at Mary’s grit, determination and perseverance which allows her to fulfill a life long dream despite all hurdles the hurdles placed in her way. She did not allow circumstance of class, gender, or location to undermine her tenacity. The plucky attitude of Mary Anning as one of the first woman scientists is as inspiring now as them!
Highly Recommended for grade 3-8
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A wonderful story letting us into the imaged days and nights of this curiosity seeing family from our real life history! You'll fall in love with little Mary and her never-say-die spirit that carries her from the classroom to her heart's desire, in search of the fabled monster's remains. Was it the popular choice? No sir... but what's right for one may not always match the status quo and that, my friends, can lead us to discoveries and dreams come true we've only dared imagine. A great addition to your reading list for a bit of edutainment this summer.
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Based on the true story of Mary Anning who lived in early 1800s England and discovered one of world's biggest fossils when she was only a girl.
This would be a good classroom read-aloud for anyone looking for a story that in another place or during a period in history. Or anyone who is interested in fossils, dinosaurs, or paleontology. At only 100 pages, it's the perfect shorter read. -
Undeterred by her young age, Mary Anning's passion for discover shines through her family's hardship, in this engaging and informative story about paleontology.
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The perfect mix of adventure and history for middle grade readers. A delightful book!
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Do you like the natural sciences? Paleontology? Awesome female scientists? Stories about the great age of natural history discoveries? Children's books?
Me too. Do yourself a favor and pick this up. I think it's one of the best books I've read this year, and it's short enough to read on your lunch break.
Highly recommended for fans of excellent children's books and scientific history. I think this would also be a great read-aloud for homeschool curriculum.
Mood: Currently regretting my decision to get library degrees instead of a paleontology one. -
To think, a mere lass, with little schooling, did what those great scientists do all the time- and all of them big men, mind. It boggles my mind, it does. I can't help but wonder what else you are destined to do.
An out of the ordinary, gorgeous treasure of a book, Mary Anning's Curiosity is one of the few books I've read so far this year in one sitting. Written by Canadian author Monica Kulling, with marvelous illustrations by Melissa Castrillon, Mary Anning's Curiosity gives readers a look into the earlier life of groundbreaking, celebrated fossilist
Mary Anning and her earlier fossil discoveries in and around her place of birth of Lyme Regis, England.
Mary Anning's Curiosity mostly focuses upon Mary and the year in which she, and her brother Joe, discover, dig and excavate an incredible fossil that was later named the Ichthyosaurus. Before we dive into that time, though, readers are taken into a bit of introduction to Mary and the Anning household. Kulling concisely and candidly describes the serious hardships faced by Mary's Ma and Pa and their constant struggle with making enough to survive. We learn that Mary's Ma wants more for her daughter than this life- the life of following in her father's footsteps as an eccentric fossil hunter, forever in danger by the cliffs. And while Mary does indeed like school and learning "new words, fancy words"- the things that make her Ma happy- her life is the shoreline, the cliffs and beaches, carefully digging for curiosities- just like her Pa and brother. When Mary and Joe's dad becomes incapacitated after a fall, though, Mary's drive to hunt fossils, to make money and help her family, completely becomes her life from the age of eleven. In 1811, Mary and Joe's dig that would lead to the finding of the Ichthyosaurus, begins. Kulling fascinatingly describes Mary's intensity, focus, fervor and patience in her excavation; her tremendous and natural skills as a fossil hunter; as well as her and Joe's attempts to thwart the attention of a seemingly greedy, fossil-hungry Captain.
Overall, an excellent, unusual read, providing readers of all ages tremendous insight into the life of an incredible woman of science and discovery. The growing number of books in children's fiction and non-fiction titles that are delving into the lives of lesser-known trailblazers, staggering minds and discoveries is a joy to see and experience. With Mary Anning's Curiosity, Monica Kulling has provided a stellar entry into children's literature: one that not only excels as a fascinating shorter novel on its own accord, but also one that stands as a successful and awe-inspiring fictionalized biography. I do hope readers both young and old get a chance to pick this gem up!
I received a copy of this title courtesy of Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own. -
Middle grade readers will surely be fascinated by this slightly fictionalized version of the life and times of noted fossil hunter, Mary Anning, during the nineteenth century. The daughter of a carpenter who also hunted for fossils in his free time, Mary was adept at finding shells and ammonites, which her father sold to locals and tourists in their hometown of Lyme Regis, England. Times were hard for the family, and when Richard Anning, the Anning patriarch, died, Mary decided not to waste her time with school and to look for fossils as often as possible. Along with her older brother Joe, she made her first big discovery when she was only 12, an amazing Ichthyosaurus. The author provides abundant details that allow readers to feel as though they are alongside Mary, chipping away gently at her find, day after day, hoping against hope that the remains she is unearthing might get the family out of debt and that she can remove the creature before someone else claims it. The author also makes readers feel as though they are facing some of the social class and economic prejudices of those times. As do all good nonfiction titles, this one encourages readers to learn even more its subjects, in this case, Mary Anning, and fossils. I'm sure many of them will be amused at the reaction of some of the locals who weren't sure if this creature could be still alive. They will be saddened, just as I was, at the way her fossil was treated by its eventual owners, but relieved that it finally received the respect it deserved in the London Museum of Natural History.
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I first came across Mary Anning's Curiosity online and absolutely fell in love with the cover. The art that it presents is absolutely stunning in its colourful glory. In this case, I was absolutely right to judge this historical fiction middle grade novel by its cover.
Monica Kulling tells the story of Mary Anning when she was between the ages of eight and twelve. Mary Anning lived a fascinating life, and even her childhood was absolutely spectacular. I was unfamiliar with her at all until a couple years ago, which is a shame. Kulling has constructed such a lovely re-imagining of Anning's childhood, with a cohesive story that draws you into Anning's struggle with poverty and her search for a fossilised beach monster. The author's notes added a lot of easy to understand and very interesting information. This is the kind of book I would have loved as a child, which is what I measure children's fiction against. It's also a book I managed to enjoy as an adult.
I would absolutely recommend this book to any child or teenager, especially those interested in fossils or history. I checked this book out of the library, but I would happily buy a copy for any of my little cousins or my unborn niece. I also intend to keep an eye out for Kulling's other children's fiction. -
Oh, I enjoyed this book to the fullest! This real life story of a young girl with a passion for fossil hunting in her small town in England was quick passed and took no time at all to read from cover to cover. It includes a few illustrations, perfectly suited to immerse the young readers into the characters and location. The story covers topics such as financial hardships, death of family members, following your passion, and rivalry in a way that is not overwhelming to young readers. Even as an adult, I enjoyed this book for all that it was. I could see it being a good book to read when needing to write a biography for a school project.
Note: I received a free advance reading copy if this book. I am employed at Indigo Bookstore but my review represents my honest opinion. -
I knew something of Mary Anning before reading this little marvel of a book, but in the hands of Monica Kulling she came alive for me and will, I am sure, for young readers. While keeping true to the time in which Mary Anning lived, the author creates a believable character whose struggles with poverty and tragedy whilst remaining curious about the fossils is inspiring. Monica Kulling's particular gift is giving readers a flavour of a different time and its language and mores and yet is still very accessible for modern readers. I used to be a school librarian and would have bought this book immediately as it will appeal to those who like mysteries, fossils, and dinosaurs!
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A fascinating tale of famed fossil-ist Mary Anning and her first thrilling discovery and excavation of an ichthyosaur in the cliffs near her home. She was just 12 years old. The book shares the story of her and her family and village in a compelling and personal way, yet simple enough for a young reader to enjoy. Mary would go on to become on of the most famed scientists in her field, with many of her large and complete discoveries still on display today. It is certainly one story that is sure to spark much curiosity in the young and old alike.
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Mary Anning is one of the scientists on our list for 6th-grade scientist/inventor research so I know about her and her fossil work, but this fictional story by Kulling brought the setting of Lyme Regis to life, along with details of Mary's family and first discoveries. Now I want to go back to the nonfiction writings to compare. Perhaps partially because the novel features "Ma," "Pa," and "Mary" throughout I thought of Laura's Little House books, but I do think this would be of interest to young readers who enjoy the Wilder stories. Mary Anning has spunk, too.
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Monica Kulling always does an amazing job bringing different time periods to life and this book is no different. While keeping the vocabulary appropriate for an early chapter book, she gives us a glimpse of the worries of the poor in the early 19th century. Mary and her family will charm you and make you interested in fossils while you realize just how big of a debt science has to this young girl who had to drop out of school.
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Curiosity rules the lives of our children, and we have all but forgotten this as adults. After reading this wonderful story, you will realize how one curious little girl became one of the world's most important scientists.
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***********ARC FROM GIVEAWAY***********
What a delightful way to introduce children to the geological world. I will most definitely be passing this story book on to all of my nieces and nephews! -
Loved this book. From the beautiful cover art to the wonderful telling of the making of one of the world's greatest fossilists.
