Beastly Bionics

Breaking down the myriad ways that nature has influenced technology, travel, medicine, and more, this title presents middle grade readers with enough engaging content and design to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. Each chapter explores a number of inventions based on natural designs, like antibiotic insect wings, boa constrictor grips, and shock-absorbent woodpecker beaks. Even the ability of a starfish to adapt after losing an arm has given scientists and engineers ideas about how to build breakable robots. This title shows its audience that you don't have to reinvent the wheel to create something revolutionary and that inspiration is all around us if we only look hard enough. Author Jennifer Swanson has created a fast-paced nonfiction read that is well organized and navigable for children looking either for a cover-to-cover read or who simply want a browsable book that enables them to jump to different sections as their interest dictates. This would make a worthwhile addition to the recent trend of titles exploring the correlation between animals and technology and will likely do well in communities where other National Geographic Kids titles are popular. Elementary school libraries, particularly those with robust innovation and/or maker programs, should consider purchasing this book.