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The Fossil Hunter

The Fossil Hunter

Author:

Kate Winter

Illustrator:

Published by:

Puffin

First Published:

25 Jan 2024

Ideal for readers aged

6-9y

My Review

This stunning picture book, like 'Lightning Mary' by Anthea Simmons, tells the story of pioneer paleontologist Mary Anning. Kate Winter's illustrations and storytelling are sublime - this is really one not to be missed! A particular highlight is the fold-out fossil cupboard which gives children a sense owning thier very own cabinet of fossil wonders! As you can see from the page count - 80 pages - it's twice as long as your average picturebook, so don't be duped into thinking this is a read for 3-5s. It's a brilliant fusion of fact and imagined history, perfect for curious 7-10 year olds. Winters is brilliant at immersing her readers in the wonder and excitement of discovery - you can't help but be enthused when you read her books!

Heads Up!

Kate Winter's more recent book, 'The Cave Explorer' is also fantastic and features in the Stone Age booklist!

Publisher Review

Unearth the mysteries of ancient fossils and discover the life and legacy of Mary Anning in this beautifully illustrated, fact-filled book for curious young readers. Have you ever found something mysterious? Something where you had no idea what it was but you had this feeling it was important, that it held a secret? Mary Anning was a fossil hunter, scouring the cliffs and seashores of Lyme Regis for strange rocks and shells. Monstrous marine reptiles and dinosaurs had once reigned the land and seas here millions of years ago, disappearing only to leave mysterious traces for humans to puzzle over. Mary's fossils paved the way for modern palaeontology and helped to piece together a picture of how the dinosaurs lived and evolved. Little did she know that 200 years later we would still be talking about her amazing discoveries and how she influenced our understanding of the history of the earth. Beautifully illustrated by brand-new talent Kate Winter, with stunning panoramic fold-out pages, this is a book to treasure and to read again and again, perfect for all fans of natural history and curious young explorers.
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