The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

About this book

In this beautiful nonfiction biography, a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman introduces readers to one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects. One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. Richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, The Grew Who Drew Butterflies will enthrall young scientists. Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe them? The Girl Who Drew Butterflies answers this question.

Censorship history

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science was banned or restricted in United States in 2024 for reasons documented in the ban records below. This case illustrates how censorship authorities regularly reach for novel justifications when standard categories do not apply.

Bans

Related