Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery

While Mary Morland (1797–1857) was born during a time in which girls were to be seen and seemingly not heard, she broke through those norms and explored the world around her, becoming particularly fascinated with rocks and fossils, illustrating anything that spoke to her and corresponding with scientists in the field of geology. . . . This is an inspiring story of an early pioneer scientist the world should know. The artwork is fun and detailed. The first half of the book points to how unconventional Morland was in her upbringing and then gets more detailed in her adventurous life of fossils and science and raising her children to be as inquisitive as she was. While it touches on how she was not credited for her illustrations that helped scientists understand dinosaurs more, the tone is uplifting in sharing what was not as widely known as it is now. . . . An excellent picture book biography about the beginnings of the study of dinosaurs all thanks to a curious and little-known woman. -- School Library Journal * 2/13/26 *
This lively picture-book biography introduces Mary Morland (1797–1857), whose contributions to natural history were highly unusual for a woman in early nineteenth-century England. Kurtz’s amiable text poses frequent questions. . . engaging readers in the narrative as she highlights the era’s strict gender constraints. As a young woman, Morland corresponded with the “famous French scientist” at the forefront of studying “ancient reptiles” (the term dinosaur hadn’t been coined yet), impressing him with her scientific drawings and specimens. After marrying “England’s best fossilist,” Morland continued to make drawings to accompany her husband’s writing; it was Morland’s illustrations of Megalosaurus fossils her husband presented to the Geological Society of London (as a woman, Morland wouldn’t have been welcome at the gathering). Potter’s soft-toned watercolor illustrations are a good match for the conversational text; one especially effective double-page spread shows Morland and family in their unconventional “household of chaos” teeming with books, animals, fossils, and nine children. And “is that a pony running around the table with three of Mary’s laughing children on its back? Yes. Yes, it is.” -- Horn Book * March / April 2026 *
[Mary Morland’s] remarkable life makes for a sensational story, and the fascinating book makes a point to contrast Mary’s behavior with the societal expectations of the time. It’s as inspirational as it is informative, frequently posing provocative questions along the way. Unusual and arresting illustrations have a nineteenth-century folk art feel, wonderfully capturing her unusual life and scientific sketches. A splendid spotlight on a lesser-known but significant scientific life. -- Booklist * January 2026 *
*Wry interrogative narration energizes this engaging portrait of scientist and illustrator Mary Morland (1797–1857). A picture of the subject as curious about the natural world emerges through mentions of 19th-century social norms (“Did she perch on her chair like a prim little miss? Well, what would you do if the whole world was waiting outside?”). . . . Potter’s signature watercolor scenes suitably evoke the era’s aesthetics. While Kurtz is candid about the way Morland “worked in the shadows,” the overall telling emphasizes the figure’s enthusiastic embrace of the world’s wonders. -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW * 11/24/2025 *
*Before the word dinosaur existed, a young female fossilist helped identify the creatures. In Kurtz’s perky prose, Mary [Morland] springs to life as independent, curious, and relatable. Potter’s delicate pastel illustrations evoke the naïve art of the period, as well as its social setting. One image depicts Mary’s many children romping in their “household of chaos.” These scenes perfectly suit the text’s project of relevance and inspiration. A delightful STEAM biography that spotlights a female scientist who deserves to be better known. -- Kirkus STARRED REVIEW * November 15, 2025 Issue *