Little People, BIG DREAMS: Mary Anning

When Mary was little, her family was very poor. She used to help her dad to comb for shells and bones up high on dangerous cliffs. After receiving a book as a gift from a kind benefactor, Mary learned all about fossils. She continued to hunt for them and made the startling discovery of a complete skeleton of an ichthyosaur. Sadly, she wasn't allowed to study along with all the other men, but she carried on making her own discoveries – including dinosaur poo! – and advising the Geological Society when they needed help. It took a lifetime to receive recognition but we all remember her now as the mother of paleontology. This roar-some book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the paleontologist's life.

Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, born in Barcelona, Spain, is a writer and creative director in constant search of new concepts for children’s books and the author of the multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series of picture books that explore the lives of outstanding people. Working for more than fifteen years for clients in top advertising agencies, her books combine creativity with learning, aiming to establish a new and fresh relationship between children and pop culture. ​

Popy Matigot is an illustrator who has worked on projects for magazines, newspapers, brands, and children’s literature. The digital and traditional media she is interested in—including painting, watercolor, pencil, and embroidery—speak to her colorful and varied imagination, creating artwork that sits somewhere between poetry and fantasy. Her work invites you to explore this joyful universe and give free rein to your own imagination.