She Sells Seashells: Mary Anning, an Unlikely Paleontologist

Once forced to the sidelines of science, Mary Anning is now recognized as the world's first paleontologist. A rousing, empowering nonfiction biography for STEM-minded kids.

At first, Mary Anning collected shells and other curiosities to sell in her family’s shop. Then she began discovering fossils that were monumental to changing the course of how we understand life on Earth. But educated male scientists at the time—men who bought and studied Mary’s fossils—did not recognize her skills, nor did they include her in their discussions as the field of paleontology emerged.

Self-taught and passionate, Mary was too busy making new discoveries to worry about those rich educated men. Today she is recognized as the first paleontologist. Back matter expands on Mary's remarkable life, including where she lived, relationships, and the tricky dynamic of being a woman of her time.

Heidi E.Y. Stemple has written more than thirty books for children, including Yuck! You Suck!; Whose Nest Is Best?; Bad Girls; and I Am the Storm. Heidi lives and writes in Massachusetts.

Emily Paik is the illustrator of several books for children, including Hear the Wind and See Us Bloom. She is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design School and has worked on animation projects, including the Netflix series Carmen Sandiego. Emily lives in works in South Korea.