US Nature Got There First (Inventions Inspired by Nature) Hardcover – 7 Jun. 2010

What a great idea for a children's book: a look at how technology mimics nature, with examples from nature and technology presented in attractive drawings, photos and short explanatory text.The book consists of a series of double-page spreads covering themes such as "stored energy" and "floating and buoyancy". Of course, it won't appeal to all children, but the right child should find it very engrossing.On a more critical note, while the books lives up to the title "nature got there first", it falls rather short of establishing the link in its subtitle: "inventions inspired by nature". The book provides little to no evidence that any of the inventions it describes were, in fact, inspired by nature. I for one would be extremely surprised if the invention of the heart defibrillator were inspired by the electric eel, or if a dentist's probe were inspired by a Madagascan monkey's fingers, as is suggested here!The layout of text boxes and pictures on the page also doesn't help in establishing which invention is supposed to be compared with which natural phenomenon. Graphical features such as scraps of notebook paper and rivetted metal plates are used to frame text without any obvious pattern to the choice.There are also various statements that are misleading or inaccurate, such as "hand-held spray cans use a similar mechanism to the bombardier beetle's" - no they don't! Also, the hairs on a Venus flytrap don't really act much like electric light switches. The frequency of reflected ultrasound doesn't automatically change as a bat nears its target. A cheetah's claws aren't always extended (although it does lack claw sheaths). I could go on. They're all minor things, really, but poor in an educational book.The level of vocabulary and assumed knowledge of physics also seems rather varied. Although there is a helpful glossary at the back, I wonder if it wouldn't have been better to include the explanation in the body of the book. Terms such as "arrestor wire" aren't in the glossary. "Ultrasound" is defined as "high frequency sound", but any child who understands the concept of acoustic frequency is likely to have come across the term "ultrasound" already.These minor quibbles aside, this is fun and nicely produced book, which I would recommend to any child with a curiosity about the world."There is for a free man no occupation more worthy and delightful than to contemplate the beauteous works of nature and honour the infinite wisdom and goodness of God." - John Ray [1660]

I liked the 'nature got there first' facts and the comparisions between modern inventions and the natural world however I really disliked the illustrations and lay out of the book - although it's great to have a proper index in children's book. I note this book is an updated edition but the photos of people seemed to be 1970s, photos were duplicated in the book and for a book about nature it had a lot of drawn illustrations. If you compare this book to a modern documentary or children's book presentation this book seems antique. The lack of presumably updating the illustraions seemed lazy and at odds with the aim to get children interested in Science.You can flick through some pages on the 'look inside this book' link. I'm no expert on mechanics but that looks like an old photo to me. How difficult is it to update with a photo of a modern car and engine?Interesting for the facts but I don't think many 21st century children will thank you if they received this as a present.It needs a complete illustration overhaul in my opinion.

Although this book is ostensively aimed at older children as it parallels mechanical inventions to natural mechanisms - obviously some knowledge or prior engagement would help - it still works for younger children.This is why I recommend it.Why does it work?The combination of images and ideas - the suggestion that there are commonalities between natural processes and the natural world and the human world of mechanics and construction. And, in fairness to this book, it's not just for boys. My daughters are fascinated by it. Of course they don't think in the terms I do but, for a parent, it makes a lot of sense.Teaching children the value of science, as part of the order of things, in a way that inspires awe and fascination is, for me, the best thing about this type of book - once you step away from the debates of science versus and religion and listen to each field and really listen - you begin to appreciate the wonder in the world.Thoroughly recommended.

Did you think we invented infra-red imaging first? We didn't - Nature Got There First! Pit vipers are equipped with infra-red sensors on either side of their jaws that can form a thermal image of their prey in total darkness - and that's only one of the astonishing revelations in this wonderful book written for children but equally fascinating for adults. What about sonar? A human invention, surely? Not a bit of it - Nature Got There First! Dolphins have a fatty organ in their heads called a 'melon' that focuses sound waves into a sonar beam enabling dolphins to hunt shoals of fish by listening for echoes reflected from their prey! The instances in which nature got there first are countless across every aspect of existence and all I can say is: "Aint Evolution wonderful?" Please buy this book for your children, your grandchildren, your local school library, your nextdoor neighbours and their children - in fact, buy it for Uncle Tom Cobbley and All!

The biggest problem with this book is that it assumes a substantial amount of knowledge from the reader. While it is a very original and interesting concept - comparing human inventions to various aspects of the natural world - the book itself is presented slightly haphazardly, sometimes speaking on a childish level, and at others spekaing in a much more academic tone. As quite rightly pointed out in another review, the links between the inventions highlighted and their natural "inspirations" are often tenuous, and should be presented as interesting paralells as opposed to being cited as direct ancestors of human innovation. While certain children will still find the concepts explored intriguing, there is little here for a child without a degree of grounding in science, and the educational value is slightly dubious. Interesting but far from great.