The Bug Girl: Maria Merian’s Scientific Vision
by Sarah Glenn Marsh ill Filippo Vanzo
 | The Bug Girl: Maria Merian's Scientific Vision by Sarah Glenn Marsh introduces readers to a girl who began her life's work at a young age. Marsh chronicles Maria's early interest in butterflies: observing the winged insects' life cycle, experimenting with their eating preferences, and documenting her findings with drawings. By the time she was thirteen years old she had disproved the prevailing notion of spontaneous generation. An impressive accomplishment! Maria Merian's fascination with insects and other forms of life continued throughout her life. In her later years she continued her research, traveling to Suriname with her daughter. The narrative introduces the scientific terms spontaneous generation and metamorphosis. An Author's Note adds historical context, referencing Galileo, Peter the Great, and the role of women in seventeen century Europe. |
Combining scientific curiosity with detailed artistic illustration, Merian was one of the first female naturalists. Her work serves an inspiration for those who study nature as well as those who enjoy realistic compositions.
 Flilppo Vanzo's illustrations feature close-ups that highlight young Maria's face filled with wonder. |  |
An added bonus: Reproductions of some of Merian's engraved, hand-colored plates can be found on the inside front and back covers. Her work is exquisite in its meticulous detail and artistic rendering.
Try This
Observe butterflies in nature. These videos are helpful as you can press pause at any time to observe butterflies closely. Choose one of these fascinating insects and create your own butterfly illustration. Try drawing on your own or use a tutorial video for step by step instructions.
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Young Entomologists
Meet Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly, a fictional character with a fascination for butterflies. Pair this with the charming picture book Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian and a the more detailed in-depth nonfiction The Girl Who Drew Butterflies.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
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