Who Knew?

August 1, 2024
Grades 2-4 Both adults and kids use products designed with the help of biomimicry, which Madden describes as "looking towards nature to solve human problems." Adults appreciate the reflective markers that are visible on roadways in the dark, but few people realize that these useful devices were inspired by a cat's eyes in the dark night. Kids wear shoes secured with Velcro, but most are unaware that the hooks on burdock seeds inspired the now-familiar fastener technology. Other examples include the sleek design of Japan's bullet train (based on the kingfisher bird's beak) and the invention of drones, with their ability to fly in any direction and to hover (inspired by hummingbirds). The relatively brief text on each double-page spread focuses on an invention and what inspired it, rather than on the inventor's experience. A large, eye-catching color photo introduces each animal, plant, or other natural feature a human invention mimicked. Many books are available for introducing children to the concept of biomimicry, but this is a handsome one, and it's well-designed for classroom sharing.

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October 15, 2024
Nature is the ultimate inspiration. Packed with 18 spreads of engineering marvels, this book offers a brief introduction to the world of biomimicry (defined here as "the design and creation of materials, buildings, and processes that are modeled on nature"). Madden covers the Japanese Rail's bullet train (based on the kingfisher bird's beak), a type of concrete inspired by coral reefs, and space-focused examples, such as the lower body negative pressure device, designed by mimicking the blood flow of the long-legged giraffe. Many readers will be surprised to learn that the tiny nanotubes found in an astronaut's spacesuit were designed by engineers who found inspiration from the hollow hair follicles of a polar bear. The pages are vivid and engaging, full of brilliantly colored photos of plants and animals, from a close-up of a lobster that inspired an X-ray device to a vibrant image of a pink lotus leading to the development of self-cleaning fabrics. The insets of the engineering creations, however, are a bit small, with text that's somewhat difficult to read. STEM enthusiasts may find themselves wanting more from the descriptions of some of the engineering products; on the whole, though, this is a fascinating introduction. A simple yet intriguing look at nature-based engineering.(Informational picture book. 7-10)

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