The Girl Who Drew Butterflies

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Marian's Art Changed Science
Joyce Sidman
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018 120 pages
Grades 3-7
Non-fiction

Newbery honor poet, Sidman, traces the life and contributions of seventeen-century Dutch naturalist and artist, Maria Marian. Marian was quite revolutionary for her time. She studied nature and had the confidence to record and share findings previously undiscovered. Marian ran away to a strange religious commune with her children, divorced her husband, traveled across the sea to the wilds of America, only to return to Holland and publish her own scientific journal on insects. Being the first person to track metamorphosis and being a careful and brilliant artist, her findings have inspired naturalists over the years and completely revolutionized the field.

This is a real "wow" of a book. Sidman carefully and conversationally narrates the story of this groundbreaking female scientist, who readers will never have heard of. Throughout the account, artwork from both the period and Marian's own sketchbook and writings accompany the text, along with original poems by Sidman. Extensive front and back matter include a glossary, a luxe map, an extensive timeline, sources, a bibliography, suggestions for further reading, image credits, and an index. All of this is presented in a beautiful packages where even the end papers are carefully crafted colorful butterflies. Every word, layout, and image is intentional and the result is a highly readable and visual treat for young readers, regardless of whether or not they are budding naturalists. A high-quality piece of non-fiction and a wonderful addition to the science, history, and biography shelves.