Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but spent most of her childhood in Ethiopia. Jane speaks about being an author at schools and conferences and helped start Ethiopia Reads (EthiopiaReads.org), a nonprofit that has opened the first libraries for children in Ethiopia. She is the author of many books for children, including The Bone Wars, illustrated by Alexander Vidal; What Do They Do with All that Poo?, illustrated by Allison Black; Do Kangaroos Wear Seat Belts?, illustrated by Jane Manning; Anna Was Here; Clara the Triumphant Rhinoceros, illustrated by Claire Messer; and the American Girl book Lanie.

Giselle Potter has illustrated many books, including Once Upon a Fairy Tale House by Mary Lyn Ray, Try It! by Mara Rockliff, All by Himself? by Elana K. Arnold, and Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne, as well as her own Tell Me What to Dream About, This Is My Dollhouse, and The Year I Didn't Go to School, about traveling through Italy with her parents' puppet troupe when she was eight. She lives in Rosendale, New York, with her husband and two daughters. Visit her at GisellePotter.com.

This lively picture-book biography introduces Mary Morland (1797-1857), whose contributions to natural history were highly unusual for a woman in early nineteenth-century England. Kurtz's amiable text poses frequent questions. . . engaging readers in the narrative as she highlights the era's strict gender constraints. As a young woman, Morland corresponded with the "famous French scientist" at the forefront of studying "ancient reptiles" (the term dinosaur hadn't been coined yet), impressing him with her scientific drawings and specimens. After marrying "England's best fossilist," Morland continued to make drawings to accompany her husband's writing; it was Morland's illustrations of Megalosaurus fossils her husband presented to the Geological Society of London (as a woman, Morland wouldn't have been welcome at the gathering). Potter's soft-toned watercolor illustrations are a good match for the conversational text; one especially effective double-page spread shows Morland and family in their unconventional "household of chaos" teeming with books, animals, fossils, and nine children. And "is that a pony running around the table with three of Mary's laughing children on its back? Yes. Yes, it is."--Horn Book "March / April 2026"

*Before the word dinosaur existed, a young female fossilist helped identify the creatures. In Kurtz's perky prose, Mary [Morland] springs to life as independent, curious, and relatable. Potter's delicate pastel illustrations evoke the naïve art of the period, as well as its social setting. One image depicts Mary's many children romping in their "household of chaos." These scenes perfectly suit the text's project of relevance and inspiration. A delightful STEAM biography that spotlights a female scientist who deserves to be better known.--Kirkus STARRED REVIEW "November 15, 2025 Issue"

*Wry interrogative narration energizes this engaging portrait of scientist and illustrator Mary Morland (1797-1857). A picture of the subject as curious about the natural world emerges through mentions of 19th-century social norms ("Did she perch on her chair like a prim little miss? Well, what would you do if the whole world was waiting outside?"). . . . Potter's signature watercolor scenes suitably evoke the era's aesthetics. While Kurtz is candid about the way Morland "worked in the shadows," the overall telling emphasizes the figure's enthusiastic embrace of the world's wonders.--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW "11/24/2025"

[Mary Morland's] remarkable life makes for a sensational story, and the fascinating book makes a point to contrast Mary's behavior with the societal expectations of the time. It's as inspirational as it is informative, frequently posing provocative questions along the way. Unusual and arresting illustrations have a nineteenth-century folk art feel, wonderfully capturing her unusual life and scientific sketches. A splendid spotlight on a lesser-known but significant scientific life.--Booklist "January 2026"

Publisher: Beach Lane Books

Pub date: 2026-02-24

Length: 48 pages