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A picture-book biography of Anna Atkins--the first person to publish a book of photography

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A gorgeous picture book biography of botanist and photographer Anna Atkins--the first person to ever publish a book of photography

After losing her mother very early in life, Anna Atkins (1799–1871) was raised by her loving father. He gave her a scientific education, which was highly unusual for women and girls in the early 19th century. Fascinated with the plant life around her, Anna became a botanist. She recorded all her findings in detailed illustrations and engravings, until the invention of cyanotype photography in 1842. Anna used this new technology in order to catalogue plant specimens - a true marriage of science and art. In 1843, Anna published the book Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions with handwritten text and cyanotype photographs. It is considered the first book of photographs ever published. Weaving together histories of women, science, and art, The Bluest of Blues will inspire young readers to embark on their own journeys of discovery and creativity.

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"An amalgamation of fiction and biography, The Bluest of Blues tells the life story of Anne Atkins, botanist and photographer, whose Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions is widely regarded as the first book of photographs ever published and provides a diligent survey and classification of British seaweed. Encouraged by her scientist father, Atkins began by drawing specimens before learning to use a camera, and Sir John Herschel introduced her to the cyanotype process, which used sunlight to create blue images. Fiona Robinson reproduces some of these alongside her own delicate, scintillating multimedia illustrations, almost exclusively in shades of blue. Her book celebrates the life and work of a little-known and, it seems, very modest female pioneer whose contributions to science are only just now being recognised." Financial Times

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Fiona Robinson is the author-illustrator of Ada´s Ideas, Whale Shines, What Animals Really Like, The Useful Moose: A Truthful, Moose-full Tale, and The 3-2-3 Detective Agency. What Animals Really Like received the 2012 Irma Black Award and a starred review from Kirkus. Bank Street named it one of the 2012 Best Children´s Books of the Year and School Library Journal called it "sublime silliness." Her work has been honored by the Royal Academy of Arts and has been featured in many gallery shows. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York.

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