Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist. Words by Linda Skeers and pictures by Marta Alvarez Miguens. Sourcebooks, Raincoast. 2020. $23.99 ages 5 and up

"Day after day, Mary scrambled over the cliffs. Week after she searched, Month after month. After almost a year, Mother Nature lent Mary a helping hand. The powerful wind and pounding rain from a devastating storm caused several landslides. In one night, the cliff's long buried ancient layers were exposed."

Mary Anning needed a hammer, a chisel, and an inquisitive mind to do the work she so loved. With tools in hand, and a sense of wonder for the world near the cliffs where she lived, she spent her days searching and bringing to earth the bones of an enormous, never-before-seen creature. Her discoveries were not appreciated at the time because of her gender.

Unafraid and fiercely independent, Mary accomplished many things that were not expected of the women of her time. She learned to read and write, studied hard, and kept notes about her many discoveries. Her brother often accompanied her on her searches and was there when she discovered
'a four-foot-long head with a pointed snout'. Unperturbed by the size of the discovery, Mary and her brother persuaded villagers to help them bring it to their home. Now, where would she find the strange creature's other parts?

She searched through days and months. Finally, nearly a year later she got help from a storm. Landslides led to visible bones. Mary now knew exactly where to spend her time. When it was fully exposed, the villagers were aghast. A collector offered a sum of money that would support Mary's family during hard times, so she sold it. Donated to a London museum, it garnered attention and a name - ichthyosaurus - meaning fish lizard.

Mary's discovery made scientific history. Mary continued working while others discussed what she had found. When she discovered 'poop', she was mocked. She did not let what scientists said dissuade from the work she loved.

"Even though Mary could identify a species from one
single bone and rebuild entire skeletons like a jigsaw
puzzle, she couldn't join the Geological Society of
London. Women were not allowed."

She knew her work was important, as did many others. Today, her accomplishments are well known. Thanks to excellent picture book biographies like this one, a new generation of readers will soon know more about her, too.

Back matter includes a section called Bone Bits and Fossil Facts, a Mary Anning timeline, and an author's note.