WINNER OF THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS 2022
An international best-seller, translated into over 25 languages
In this book you will meet the animal inventors who have shared their super inventing powers to make amazing things for humans.
We have invented ways of solving problems, making unbelievable materials, ways of getting around, and working out how to survive on our own for millions of years. Often human scientists try and solve a problem or invent a new tool and they realize that animals have already invented it for them.
Sometimes when a human inventor gets stuck, they come to the animal kingdom to see if we can help them out. In this book you will meet the crème de la crème of animal innovators who have created or are in the process of inventing things that people use every day.
Meet the shark who invented a pair of swimming shorts so fast, they were banned from the Olympic games. Check out the snail who has invented a house that stays cool inside even in the desert. And take a closer look at the eagle whose super-zoom vision has inspired the invention of the world's tiniest and most powerful cameras. Every animal—and their invention—is a marvel in this unique non-fiction blend of science, technology, and wildlife that will change the way you look at the natural world.
Christiane Dorion is an award-winning author and educational consultant. She has written a number of children’s books about the natural world and has worked with WWF and other environmental organisations for over 30 years. You can visit her website at www.christianedorion.com.
Gosia Herba is an illustrator and art historian originally from Poland. She's worked as an illustrator of children's books, graphic novels, magazines, music labels, and advertisements for over 12 years. www.gosiaherba.pl
6-7 Contents
8-9 Introduction
10-11 Master of disguise – Mimic octopus
12-13 COLOR WITH STRUCTURE – Blue morpho butterfly
14-15 SLEEK SWIMMER – Shark
16-17 Master builders
18-19 Super-zoom vision – Eagle
20-21 Running upside down – Gecko
22-23 A terrific tail – Seahorse
24-25 Expert paper maker – Paper wasp
26-27 A formidable grip – Tree frog
28-29 Origami wings – Earwig
30-31 Self-repairing teeth – Jumbo squid
32-33 Web designer – Spider
34-35 The art of flying
36-37 Fog catcher – Namib beetle
38-39 Bumpy flippers – Humpback whale
40-41 Waterproof coat – Penguin
42-43 Suntrap fur coat – Polar bear
44-45 Diving without a splash – Kingfisher
46-47 Controlled flight – Dragonfly
48-49 Lead drummer – Woodpecker
50-51 Slithering champion – Snake
52-53 Low-energy swimming – Jellyfish
54-55 Avoiding collision – Locust
56-57 Robot world
58-59 Tunneling – Shipworm
60-61 SECRET LANGUAGE – Dolphin
62-63 Sonar – Bat
64-65 Mighty recyclers
66-67 Prickly quills – Porcupine
68-69 Gooey slime – Slug
70-71 Blood-sucking needle – Mosquito
72-73 A sticky situation – Dog and burrs
74-75 Animal innovation lab
76-77 Index
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