Girls Who Looked under Rocks

by Jeannine Atkins, Paula Conner (Illustrator)

Overview

The six women portrayed in this book—Maria Merian (b.1647), Anna Comstock (b.1854), Frances Hamerstrom (b.1907), Rachel Carson (b.1907), Miriam Rothschild (b.1908) and Jane Goodall (b.1934—all grew up to become award-winning scientists, writers and artists, as comfortable with a pen as with a magnifying glass. Often they were discouraged from getting dirty, much less pursuing careers in science. But they all became renowned scientists, frequently the only women in their fields. They overcame opposition and found ways to pass on their vision of how all lives in nature are beautifully connected. Their stories remind us to look and to look harder and then to look again. Under rotten logs or in puddles, there are amazing things to see.

Author Biography: Jeannine Atkins was a girl who looked under rocks. Particular trees and stones outside her house were familiar as her bedroom and made good spots to wonder. When she grew up, writing became her way to keep exploring and dreaming. She particularly likes combing libraries for stories about amazing girls and women. In addition to this book, they have inspired her picture books, which include Aani and the Tree Huggers and Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon. She lives with her husband and their daughter in Massachusetts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781584690115
Publisher:	Dawn Publications
Publication date:	07/01/2000
Edition description:	1 ED
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	111,809
Product dimensions:	5.95(w) x 8.96(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	990L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 11 Years

Editorial Reviews

Jeannine Atkins pays tribute to pioneer naturalists like Jane Goodall and Rachel Carson and honors the spirit of all youngsters enthralled by the natural world. Short biographies of six women trace their quest for greater knowledge to their childhoods, often in eras of strict gender roles. The painter-stepfather of Maria Sibylla Merian was scolded by neighbors for teaching the girl to draw along with her brothers in 17th century Germany. In early 20th century America, Frances Hamerstrom, who with her husband was at the forefront of ecological studies, had to sneak out of the family mansion at night to visit the marsh frogs. Details of those times and the girls' pluck are rendered beautifully in Paula Conner's pen-and-ink illustrations. 2000, Dawn, $8.95. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum

Children's Literature