The Bug Girl Maria Merian's Scientific Vision

Maria Sibylla Merian was fascinated with insects. But when Maria was a girl in the mid-1600s, superstitions about bugs prevented most people from taking a close look. People thought bugs were evil—and anyone interested in such creatures was surely evil too. That didn’t stop Maria. Filled with curiosity, she began to study and paint them. She even witnessed silkworms form cocoons and transform into moths—discovering metamorphosis! Painting and drawing as she studied, Maria pushed the boundaries of what girls were expected to do, eventually gaining recognition as one of the first entomologists and scientific illustrators. This gorgeously illustrated biography celebrates a fascinating female pioneer who broke boundaries in both the arts and sciences.

Sarah Glenn Marsh writes young adult novels including Fear the Drowning Deep in addition to several forthcoming picture books. When she's not writing, Sarah enjoys watercolor painting, ghost hunting, and pursuits of the nerd variety. She lives in Richmond, Virginia. Filippo Vanzo is a Stockholm-based, Italian-born freelance illustrator and cartographer. He illustrates children’s books, covers, and maps.