Nature Got There First: Inventions Inspired by Nature
This browsable title presents fascinating facts about inventions inspired by nature, showing the similarities between the workings of I-beams and the make-up of dinosaur vertebrae; the mechanics of sailboats and the physiognomy of jellyfish; and the movements of giant squids and jet engine design. Organized by broad categories (“Buildings,” “Fastenings,” “Hydraulics”), the examples and images are vivid, though Gates does not always distinguish between inventors’ deliberately copying nature and coincidental similarities between natural and human-designed features. With several different types of text on each spread—introductory text, examples, explanatory captions, and more—as well as illustrations, photos, and diagrams, the book may be too busy for some to read straight through, though the organization will attract reluctant readers and browsers. The well-chosen images are both inviting and clearly illustrate the points made in the text and captions. The back matter includes an index and a glossary of scientific terms, but pronunciations are omitted. This is an informative, appealing look at the connections between natural and human design. Grades 3-6. --Miriam Aronin