The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018.
ISBN: 978-0544717138
. 160 pages. Ages 10 and up.
*Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner
“From youth on, I have been occupied with the investigation of insects.”
—Maria Sibylla Merian, 1667
Everyone knows that butterflies come from caterpillars, right?
Not in the 17th century, they didn’t. How would they have known? Caterpillars are small, and their metamorphosis took place in hidden places. There were no books describing this process, or Monarch kits to send away for. These “worms” were considered pests, and no one connected them to the beautiful “summer birds” that sailed through the air. Only a very sharp-eyed and persistent person would be able to uncover such an extraordinary process, and only a person with artistic skill could document it in living color.
That person was Maria Sibylla Merian.
An artist at a time when women weren’t allowed to be. A scientist before there were scientists. An adventurer who journeyed far and wide in search of the truth of metamorphosis.
Dive into this fully-illustrated account of her life, bursting with art, history and juicy details.
Robert F. Sibert Medal
Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award, Honorable Mention
New York Public Library’s Top Ten Best Books of 2018
Kirkus Best Book of the Year
Booklist Editor’s Choice
Book Page Best Book of the Year
Garden State Teen Book Award Winner in Nonfiction
“Sidman’s writing radiates Maria’s passion and curiosity for the natural world, and it is as absorbing as fiction.”
*Booklist, (starred review)
“An excellent choice for young artists, budding scientists, fledgling entomologists, and fans of biography.”
*School Library Journal, starred review
“An exceptionally crafted visual biography of a pioneering entomologist and naturalist who lived a life devoted to discovery.”
*Kirkus, starred review
Resources
Joyce’s Acceptance Speech for the Robert F. Sibert Award
Joyce’s Acceptance Speech for the Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award
More Information & Useful Links
“A Pioneering Woman of Science Emerges”
How Merian is being rediscovered, from the New York Times
“The Woman Who Made Science Beautiful”
An overview of Merian’s life from The Atlantic magazine
The Maria Merian Society
An international group open to anyone interested in Merian studies. The site includes biographical and research information, as well as links to her works online.
Smithsonian Libraries
Maria Merian’s Surinam images
Russian Academy of Sciences
Digital Archive of Maria Merian’s original watercolors. (This site is in Russian; to translate text, open in Google Chrome)
More About:
Caterpillars: Extensive list of caterpillars & butterflies images worldwide
Curiosity Cabinets: Images from 17th century collections
Copper Engraving: video demonstrating the engraving process
Labadists: A history of this religious movement
Metamorphosis:
National Geographic’s 3-D scans of pupae
Real time video of a caterpillar turning into a pupa
Paint & Pigments: Colors of Art, a website about paints
Slavery:
Understanding Slavery Initiative (warning: graphic description)
The Abolition Project
Witch Trials: A list of major witch trials, 1428-1783