The Bug Girl

Maria Sibylla Merian was fascinated with insects. But in the mid-1600s, superstitions about bugs prevented most people from taking a closer look. That didn’t stop Maria. Filled with curiosity, she began to study and paint them. She even witnessed silkworms form cocoons and transform into moths- discovering metamorphosis! Painting and drawing as she studied, Maria pushed the boundaries of what girls were expected to do, eventually gaining recognition as one of the first entomologists and scientific illustrators. This illustrated biography celebrates a fascinating female pioneer who broke boundaries in both the arts and sciences.