Reviews
There are so many incredible books available at the moment that it is impossible to read them all, no matter how hard I try! Here are my thoughts about some of the books I have read and how I think they could be used in school as well as Q and A sessions with authors and illustrators.
She Sold Seashells
On the 21st May 1799, a little girl was born in Lyme Regis. named Mary by her parents, Richard and Molly Anning, she was a bright, curious child, who, although not fully recognised in her own lifetime, is now one of the best known names in the field of palaeontology. In ‘She Sold Seashells’, author, Wolfgang Grulke, has reimagined her story.
Named after the nursery rhyme which she inspired, the book explores Mary’s life, looking at how both her position in society and being a woman denied her the recognition she deserved during her life time. Only one image of Mary was made in her lifetime, showing her in her forties. Grulke has used AI to create illustrations which are not supposed to be accurate portraits, but to support her story.
The book has been created in partnership with the Lyme Regis Museum which is built on the site of Mary Anning’s home and is perfect for sparking interest in this iconic figure who defied the preconceptions of her age, making an excellent addition to library and classroom shelves. Only recently- in May 2022- was Mary recognised with a statue in her home town: this book will help to bring her story to a new generation.
She Sold Seashells Wolfgang Grulke
@one ISBN: 978-1916039452
