The Girl Who Drew Butterflies cover
CE Pick ✦ Award Winner

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies

Featured Reading List Award Winners STEM Reading Enrichment & Readiness

Overview & Summary

This biography tells the remarkable story of Maria Sibylla Merian, a 17th-century German-born artist and naturalist who, at a time when insects were widely believed to spontaneously generate from mud, painstakingly documented the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies and moths through detailed illustration -- and later traveled to South America alone to study tropical insects. Joyce Sidman's biography, aimed at young readers, restores a pioneering woman scientist to her rightful place in the history of entomology.

Available Formats

  • 🎧Audiobook
  • 📖Hardcover
  • 📱Kindle
  • 📖Paperback

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Who This Book Is For

Ideal for High school students (Grades 9–12) with an interest in STEM subjects like Biology and Science. Great for students who want to build sharp analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Grade LevelUpper (9-12)
Lexile ComplexityHigh School & Up (1100L+)

Why CE Recommends This Book

Selected for Academic Enrichment & Readiness. Pushing slightly beyond standard classroom expectations, this title widens vocabulary, supports steady Lexile growth, and builds the academic rigor needed for advanced middle and high school courses.

Academic & Admissions Takeaways
Grade & Readiness: Aligned for Upper (9-12).
Lexile Complexity: Targeted for High School & Up (1100L+).
Subject Alignment: Strengthens logic and scientific inquiry in Biology, Science.
Reading Goal: Lexile growth, classroom discussion readiness & essay depth.