Author & Illustrators
The creator of The Fossil Hunter has struck gold again with this fantastically illustrated narrative non-fiction picture book. It tells the story of Marcel Ravidat and his dog, who discovered the Lascaux cave paintings.
The book is a masterclass in how to successfully weave story and history together – the pages are full of a mixture of narrative and timelines, glossaries and annotated images – all topped off with incredible artwork that leaves just the right amount to the imagination. In this, it reflects the brilliant way in which Winter describes the work of all those who have studied and hypothesised about the art in the Lascaux caves, having to use imagination to infer and fill the gap between what is discovered and what can only be guessed at.
The intrigue and mystery surrounding the cave paintings feels touchable in this book – children will feel like they’ve had an experience and discovered something for themselves (a high point in the book is one of the fold-out surprise spreads illustrating the moment when Marcel lights a match and he and his friends see the cave paintings for the very first time) – which is what the very best science based picture books are all about!
This is an essential classroom addition when teaching about prehistory and the Stone Age!
The Fossil Hunter by Kate Winter is a gem of a book. It is a splendid addition for any child learning about Mary Anning, fossils, dinosaurs and what life was like for a working-class woman 200 years ago. The book is hardback, large and begins with a timeline of Mary Anning’s life with page numbers corresponding to different eras.
This eye-catching book is full of facts and perfect to dip into or read altogether. Topics are highlighted, such as the challenge of being a Victorian woman, where recognition for scientific discovery did not happen and the unfairness of this, and why her story is important. Every page has watercolour illustrations which can spread across whole pages, and there are beautiful panoramic fold-out pages where you find out more facts about fossils, dinosaurs or a look into Mary’s cabinet.
This great book to share with children (or any age!) about the inspirational Mary Anning is highly recommended.
review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Curriculum links (if relevant)
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