WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery by Jane Kurtz & Giselle Potter
ABOUT THE BOOK
While other little girls were sipping tea perched on their chairs, Mary Morland was given the freedom to spend her time outside exploring. After her mother died, her father sent her to live with a professor who taught Mary how to examine plants, animals, rocks, and fossils. She soaked up all the knowledge she could and captured her discoveries in her journals. Mary continued studying and drawing fossils into adulthood, becoming a prominent fossil hunter whose finds impressed leading scientists of the day.
Eventually, Mary bonded with William Buckland, England’s best fossilist, over their love of paleontology, and the two got married. Together, they introduced the world to Megalosaurus, the first dinosaur that lived on land. At the time, William received credit for their accomplishments while Mary worked from the shadows. This book shines a spotlight on Mary, celebrating her irrepressible spirit, her unconventional life, and her endless enthusiastic pursuit of prehistoric knowledge.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Giselle Potter has illustrated many books, including Once Upon a Fairy Tale House by Mary Lyn Ray, Try It! by Mara Rockliff, All by Himself? by Elana K. Arnold, and Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne, as well as her own Tell Me What to Dream About, This Is My Dollhouse, and The Year I Didn’t Go to School, about traveling through Italy with her parents’ puppet troupe when she was eight. She lives in Rosendale, New York, with her husband and two daughters. Visit her at GisellePotter.com.
INTERIOR ILLUSTRATIONS
REVIEW
Mary Morland loved to explore the natural world. Despite being born in a time and place where women were expected to be dainty and delicate, Mary preferred to spend her time outdoors exploring. After being sent to live with strangers after her mother's death, Mary was mentored by her adopted father, Professor Pegge, who introduced her to plants and animals as well as rocks and fossils. She learned to record her findings in her journals along with sketches and drawings. Later, she spent time corresponding with other scientists. An encounter with William Buckland led to their working together and eventually marrying. William was more than happy to take advantage of Mary's knowledge and drawing skill as she continued to help him manage his collection and draw pictures to go with his work. Like many women of the time who were interested in science, Mary often did not receive credit for her work. This book corrects that mistake by sharing the important role she played in the development of paleontology as a science. The author asks questions frequently encouraging young readers to put themselves into Mary's shoes and think about what decisions they would make in her place. Potter's colorful watercolor art nicely complements the story. The picture showing a roomful of children playing while Mary shelves a book and her husband reads provides an entertaining look at what their life together may have been like. A lively introduction to a remarkable lady who didn't let her class and gender stop her from pursuing her passion.
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