Subtitled; How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science, Sidman's book chronicles the life work of Maria Merian, a young girl who turned her love and fascination of nature into one of the most famous works of insect research and art the world has seen! And she lived in the 1600 and 1700s! Back then, to be interested in things such as "summer birds", or butterflies, and their different stages (pupa and caterpillars) could get you labeled a witch...and killed! But Merian coupled her talent for drawing and painting along with her intense interest in insects - butterflies and moths, mostly - into a lifelong journey to seek out and catalog as many species of these beautiful creatures as possible, from various places in the world (another element of her amazing life that did not come easily...it's not like she could hop on a plane to another continent back then!).
I loved the idea of this book, and was curious to get my paws on it. Then, once I started it, it took a little time to really settle into the short chapters and the story, as fascinating as it is. The artwork is gorgeous, and by pushing myself a little to stick with the story, I found myself having a hard time putting it down! What a brave person Merian was, to follow this dream and turn it into something that has lasted for hundreds of years! If she could do it back in the 17th century, then surely we can follow our dreams, too, right?! This book won't take long to finish and is worth seeing for yourself. A really powerful story, even if butterflies and moths are not your "thing"! 5 paws!
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