Invented by Animals Meet the creatures who inspired our everyday technology

by Dorion, Christiane; Herba, Gosia

• ISBN13: 9780711260672
• ISBN10: 0711260672
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2021-04-06
• Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions

Summary

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS 2022
An international best-seller, translated into over 25 languages

Often human scientists try and solve a problem or invent a new tool and they realise that animals have already invented it for them. 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. 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. And meet the snail who has invented a house that stays cool inside even in the desert.   

Author Biography

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

Table of Contents

Introduction
Master of disguise—Mimic octopus
COLOR WITH STRUCTURE—Blue morpho butterfly
SLEEK SWIMMER—Shark
Master builders
Super-zoom vision—Eagle
Running upside down—Gecko
A terrific tail—Seahorse
Expert paper maker—Paper wasp
A formidable grip—Tree frog
Origami wings—Earwig
Self-repairing teeth—Jumbo squid
Web designer—Spider
The art of flying
Fog catcher—Namib beetle
Bumpy flippers—Humpback whale
Waterproof coat—Penguin
Suntrap fur coat—Polar bear
Diving without a splash—Kingfisher
Controlled flight—Dragonfly
Lead drummer—Woodpecker
Slithering champion—Snake
Low-energy swimming—Jellyfish
Avoiding collision—Locust
Robot world
Tunneling—Shipworm
SECRET LANGUAGE—Dolphin
Sonar—Bat
Mighty recyclers
Prickly quills—Porcupine
Gooey slime—Slug
Blood-sucking needle—Mosquito
A sticky situation—Dog and burrs
Animal innovation lab
Index