“The strange animal poked around the study, sniffing, searching. Carl Linnaeus watched for clues. Where did this little fellow fit in the animal kingdom? People had their theories. Was it a type of bear or badger? A canine? A cat? Or something else entirely? Nobody knew. The Crown Prince had one royal request: figure out what it is.” — What Linnaeus Saw
EXPLORE nature
When trailblazing scientist Carl Linnaeus brought order to the chaotic study of plants and animals, he changed the way we see the natural world.
What famous people thought of him:
Charles Darwin considered him one of his “two gods.” Benjamin Franklin labeled him “the great Naturalist.” The Queen of Sweden gossiped to her mom that he was “a very witty man, even if he doesn’t look it.” The Pope banned his books, but Thomas Jefferson was so enthusiastic he bought copies for friends.
WHAT LINNAEUS SAW is…
a mystery
a biography
BIOGRAPHY…HISTORY!
Science detectives…explorers…
Reviewed in Kirkus Reviews. “a highly engaging and entertaining page-turning presentation…. An outstanding biography of a brilliant and fascinating man....” STARRED review
Reviewed in School Library Journal. “Beil’s storytelling skill elevates the biographical information, mimicking the excitement and mystery of scientific discovery.” (Thank you, Casey O’Leary, Meredith Nicholson School 96, IN!)
Reviewed in Booklist. Read what Angela Leeper had to say HERE.
Recommended in Natural History Magazine “Gifts for Budding Scientists,” by Dolly Setton, senior editor, and her 11-year-old son, Eli.
AND…
Winner of the Award of Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Literature by the international Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries, 2020.
ABOUT karen beil
Early training as a news reporter taught Karen Beil to dig for answers to tough questions. This skill came in handy while researching her new book, the narrative nonfiction, WHAT LINNAEUS SAW: A Scientist’s Quest to Name Every Living Thing. One skill she didn’t learn as a journalist, though, was how to read 18th century Latin. (It would have been helpful!)