If you’re exploring the exciting world of fossils with your children, Mary Anning is definitely someone to introduce them to. A British woman from a humble background, her work on fossils in the 1800s has had a huge impact on what we know about prehistoric life today. For a quick guide to her life and discoveries, see my 8 amazing facts about Mary Anning post.
This post will take you through the best Mary Anning books for kids that will leave them feeling inspired and in awe of a woman who persevered through her challenges. They” find out about amazing prehistoric animals and what it was like to be a female scientist in the 19th Century (spoiler: it wasn’t easy).
Before you read on, just to let you know that this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way.
A Girl Called Mary
Best for: Younger children (preschool-5 years)
Why you might like this book: This book is told in rhyme and simple pictures for younger readers. Follow the story of Mary growing up by the sea and her amazing fossil discoveries including an ichthyosaur, plesiosaur, and even fossil poop! Full disclosure, I wrote this one. I find Mary Anning to be a great role model for children and wanted to share her remarkable story of perseverance and courage.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Waters, Gemma (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 27 Pages – 05/09/2019 (Publication Date) – Wonder at the World (Publisher)
Dinosaur Lady
Best for: Kindergarten/early elementary-aged children and Key Stage 1
Why you might like this book: The illustrations alone are a good enough reason to grab this book – they are beautiful. Children will love reading about how Mary, as a child herself, explored the beaches around her seaside home and discovered fossil bones from the past. If I was being picky, the prehistoric animals Mary finds are not *technically* dinosaurs but I don’t think most children will be bothered by that.
- Hardcover Book
- Skeers, Linda (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 07/07/2020 (Publication Date) – Sourcebooks Explore (Publisher)
Little People, Big Dreams: Mary Anning
Best for: Children who love the Little People, Big Dream series
Why you might like this book: The Little People, Big Dreams series is known for making biographies accessible to children with interesting stories and quirky illustrations. The hardback format makes them ideal for building a beautiful collection of inspiring people who have made a difference to our history.
- Hardcover Book
- Sanchez Vegara, Maria Isabel (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 03/16/2021 (Publication Date) – Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (Publisher)
The Fossil Hunter
Best for: Lower Key Stage 2 / elementary students
Why you might like this book: As well as covering some of Mary’s more dramatic finds, this one also introduces children to some of the more commonplace fossils from the south coast of England including ammonites, belemnites, and echinoids. They will also uncover some of the intriguing beliefs that people from that era held about fossils! A illustrated look inside Mary’s fossil collection is particularly special.
- Hardcover Book
- Kate Winter (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 04/06/2023 (Publication Date) – Puffin (Publisher)
Lightning Mary
Best for: Key Stage 2 or upper elementary children
Why you might like this book: If you want to hear Mary Anning’s story told from her point of view. This this engaging chapter book will help children understand the struggles Mary faced as both a woman in science and as someone from a background with limited income.
- Simmons, Anthea (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages – 09/01/2020 (Publication Date) – Andersen Press (Publisher)
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