I hope you read my last post Wind Turbines and Whale Fins
Based on that post here are some book recommendations. If you would like to purchase any of these books, check out my STEAM Stories Book Store
Nature Did It First: Engineering Through Biomimicry
Author: Karen Ansberry
Illustrator: Jennifer DiRubbio
Publisher: Dawn Publications, 2020
I’m loving this 2020 release picture book called Nature Did It First:Engineering Through Biomimcry. It is a book about how people are using solutions that nature has already worked out to solve human problems. It does such a good job of making this very kid relatable. Each of the examples starts with a child in an illustration related to that example and a rhyming poem. The next spread gives details of how nature’s solution is being used for human problems. A great STEM/STEAM addition to any library.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Author: William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
In this nonfiction story, co-written by the boy himself, William and his family face some dire circumstances. Williams wonder of mechanical things leads him to educate himself and solve a community problem with his new knowledge. I love seeing children’s ingenuity in action. This book should inspire any kid that even though they are a kid, they can take charge of their own learning and even solve some pretty big problems. Be sure to read the back matter. There is also a version for older students (ages 10+)
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature
by Janine M. Benyus
Biomimcry by Jennie Benyus is one of the books that changed my life and gives me hope for the future. Our future rests on sustainability and nature processes have already figured that out. By following nature’s example, we humans just might figure out a way to live on this planet without destroying it in the process. There are several other good books on Biomimcry but this is the one to read first.
For more information on biomimicry go to asknature.org