DESIGN LIKE NATURE

Learn how scientists and kids are working to save the planet.

Biomimicry has been used across the fields of science and design, affecting things from apparel to urban planning. This title provides an overview of how both scientists and young people are using concepts found in nature to improve the environment, the food supply, and their health. Specialized vocabulary introduced in the text is printed in boldface italics, queuing readers to check out the glossary for definitions. Examples covered are fascinating: Some readers may know how burrs became the inspiration for Velcro, but how many have heard that the mosquito proboscis is the model for needles that deliver less-painful injections? For curious readers, the title may be too cursory, as the many facts are breezed past speedily, and some are not explored beyond the briefest mentions. For example, William Henry Perkin discovered mauveine, one of the first synthetic dyes, but the substance is referred to only as “black gunk” in the book. Readers who want to know more will be left on their own, especially as the list of resources is a single page of limited suggestions. The multiple full-color photographs that adorn each page can be equally uninformative, as when a weaver bird is shown in its elaborate home but both bird and nest are unlabeled.

This fascinating topic deserves depth to match its breadth.