Happy Book Birthday!

Happy Book Birthday!

When scientist and explorer Maria Reiche visited Peru’s Nazca Lines in 1941, she was immediately captivated by the larger-than-life animal carvings. But what were they, and why were they there? This STEAM nonfiction picture book for young readers reveals the story behind one of the greatest indigenous artworks in the Americas, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Author Michaela MacColl’s lyrical writing and extensive research showcase Maria’s triumphant tale, accompanied by art from Peruvian illustrator Elisa Chavarri, a past recipient of the Pura Belpré Honor.

★ "A 100-foot-long spider, a 210-foot-long killer whale, a 325-foot-long hummingbird: these are among the more than 700 gargantuan geoglyphs (designs made by carving lines in the desert sand thousands of years ago), many of which were uncovered by a determined young woman wearing a pith helmet and wielding a broom in the 1940s Peruvian desert. This picture-book biography of German mathematician, archaeologist, and preservationist Maria Reiche emphasizes both the continuing mystery of who created these enormous sand etchings and the sheer grit of the woman who revealed them... the illustrations, done in acrylic gouache, use multicolored geometric shapes to highlight the geoglyphs, wonderfully capturing their variety and scale. Readers will be left in awe of the geoglyphs themselves and the persistence of the woman who discovered and protected them. A terrific STEM read."

—Booklist, starred review

Set in the late 1800s, here is the story of Ning, a Chinese American girl who struggles to find her place in the world when she is forced to leave her home in Shanghai to go live in America with a father she barely knows. This middle-grade historical novel is based on the family history of award-winning author Michaela MacColl.

  • Bank Street College Best Book of the Year

  • Connecticut Book Awards 2022, Finalist

  • Junior Library Guild Gold Selection

  • School Library Journal, Starred Review

  • NCSS/CBS Notable Social Studies Trade Book

  • 2021 Grateful American Award, Honorable Mention

What’s New?

Romance. Murder. Intrigue.

Hidden Histories

Young heroines from history get into all sorts of trouble. From Queen Victoria to Jane Austen to an orphan on a train in the Arizona Territory — Michaela’s historical fiction will transport you in time and place. Have fun!