The Fossil Woman – A Life of Mary Anning

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This is a truly wonderful book that covers so much ground and is fascinating on many different levels. Whether you are interested in the fossils of the Jurassic Coast, the social history of early 19th Century rural England, or just how a poor, barely educated young girl could rise to become one of the greatest and most respected palaeontologists in the World, then this book is for you.

Tom Sharpe’s writing style is immensely readable, and he skilfully paints pictures that beautifully describe the life of Mary Anning, a life that must have felt to Mary like an endless series of insurmountable challenges. There is a lot of myth and misinformation surrounding Mary Anning’s life – both accidental and invented – and the author manages to cut through the layers of fake news to reveal the person and her life. When the truth is unavailable, he neither sensationalises nor guesses, instead referencing an immense wealth of archive material to provide the reader with the most likely set of circumstances or turn of events.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet Tom when he did a talk on Mary Anning at Dorset Museum in 2022, but you don’t need to meet him to feel the enthusiasm and knowledge he has for this subject, just read this book.

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Dinosaur Hey Clay Modelling Kit

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This Dinosaur clay set makes an awesome gift for any junior dinosaur enthusiast! You can download the Hey Clay app onto your mobile device and follow the instructions to build your adorable clay dinosaur models. This soft modelling clay is great for play-based learning and sensory development. The clay even hardens over 24 hours so your child can keep and play with their dino designs in the future!

Paleontology an illustrated history book

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Today’s product of the week is a book called “Paleontology an Illustrated History” by David Bainbridge. This book brings together stunning illustrations ranging from early sketches and engravings to eye-popping paleoart and high-tech computer reconstructions! Check out our online shop for more products.

Interested in this book? Click the link below!

Paleontology: An Illustrated History – The Etches Collection Shop

Plushy Pterodactyl

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How awesome is this Pterodactyl? Pterodactyl is an informal term for Pterosaurs, based on the genus of the first pterosaur known to science, Pterodactylus Antiquus, which lived alongside the dinosaurs. That may sound scary but fret not; this cuddly flying reptile will make a great addition to any child's collection and get along with other extinct or present-day stuffed animals just fine!

The Tyneham Story by Robert Westwood

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Today’s product of the week is a fantastic book on the story of Tyneham village by Robert Westwood. This book explores the local history of a village that was evacuated to help the war effort during the Second World War. The village was evacuated in December 1943 in order to allow British soldiers to prepare for D-Day and this book is a great read if you are interested in local Dorset history. Check out our online shop for more products.

Colourful Ammonite magnet

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Today’s product of the week is a colourful Ammonite fridge magnet. The Ammonite in the picture comes from Madagascar. The photograph was taken here at The Etches Collection by our Social Media and Digital Marketing Manager Ash Hall. The Ammonite displays a stunning pearlescent body chamber, and the colours really pop when the magnet is on the fridge. Check out our online shop for more products. 

This magnet is available at the link below:

The Etches Collection Colourful Ammonite Fridge Magnet – The Etches Collection Shop