The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science is a juvenile non-fiction book about a female artist born in the seventeenth century who had a scientific curiosity about insects. Long before the field of entomology was established, Maria Merian was a pioneer who transcended societal constraints to pursue her passion. The author Joyce Sidman has created a beautiful book worthy of Maria Merian’s artistic legacy. It combines the story of Merian’s life with European history, the subject of scientific observation and Merian’s own artwork.
This is a great chapter book for tween readers or anyone who appreciates what happens when art meets science.