Awesome Innovations Inspired by Birds

Birds fly with speed and grace. They build intricate nests. Birds are survivors. They live on every continent of the world. Humans learned to fly by copying birds. Today, many new discoveries come from the study of birds. Scientists, architects, doctors, and engineers learn from them.

Gr 4-6–Young readers who are fascinated by animals will enjoy these titles that showcase examples of biomimicry. Photos depict animals and the innovations they have inspired; “Fun Facts” offer extra details. The text explains the problems researchers are trying to solve and how nature offers possible solutions. Examples include the Japanese bullet train with a nose like a kingfisher’s beak and coatings based on sharkskin that reduce bacteria on surfaces. Back matter features a recap of key concepts and a list of suggestions for those who would like to pursue a career as an engineer, architect, or inventor. VERDICT A wonderful set to use in covering engineering and design standards.--School Library Journal, November 1, 2020