Supernavigators - by David Barrie (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book explores the incredible navigational abilities of animals, like how birds find food, how humpback whales navigate across oceans, and how Arctic terns travel vast distances without getting lost. It reveals how some animals, like monarch butterflies and dung beetles, use the sun and the Milky Way for orientation, while others, like moths and sea turtles, rely on Earth's magnetic field. Based on the latest research and expert insights, this adaptation introduces young readers to the fascinating science behind animal navigation and the mysteries still to be uncovered.

Book Synopsis

"Fresh and fairly sophisticated... An especially appealing package" --Booklist
"Supernavigators stands out by instilling a sense of wonder." --Children's Book Review, Editor's Pick
"A sense of wonder and excitement runs throughout the entire book... Highly recommend!" --Youth Services Book Review

Adapted from David Barrie's award-winning Supernavigators, this wonderful young reader's edition spotlights over a dozen animals and how they get to places.

How do animals find their way? How does a bird leave its nest to find food? How does a humpback whale follow an arrow-straight course while it crosses an entire ocean? How does an Arctic tern travel 56,000 miles a year without getting lost?

We know some things about how animals accomplish these remarkable feats of navigation. Monarch butterflies travel from Canada to Mexico by orienting to the sun. It's the light from the Milky Way that steers dung beetles. Then, there are animals like moths and sea turtles that are guided by Earth's magnetic field.

In this Nautilus Award-winning adaptation, young readers learn about the amazing navigational capabilities of animals and recent discoveries that enhance our understanding, although fascinating mysteries remain.

David Barrie draws on the expertise of animal behaviorists and the research of Nobel Prize-winning scientists to bring us up to date on the cutting edge of animal intelligence.

Review Quotes

"A sense of wonder and excitement runs throughout the entire book; this is the kind of nonfiction book that inspires and excites readers. Soft, beautiful illustrations perfectly accompany the text and graphs and diagrams add further clarity. Highly recommended!"--Laura Gardner, Dartmouth Middle School "--Youth Services Book Review"

"In Supernavigators, readers are invited to head out on a captivating journey through the extraordinary world of animal navigation. This young readers' edition, adapted from David Barrie's award-winning adult title, presents complex scientific concepts in an engaging and accessible format, perfect for sparking curiosity in young minds... Six well-structured chapters help readers discover different navigation methods: landmark recognition, celestial navigation using the sun and stars, magnetic sensing, echolocation, polarized light detection, and more...Technical concepts like "azimuth," "inclination," and "dorsal rim area" are introduced alongside clear explanations, encouraging scientific literacy without being overwhelming....The page layouts effectively balance text with illustrations, using clear headings to guide readers through complex topics. Diagrams explaining concepts like the earth's rotation make abstract ideas concrete and comprehensible, and the accessible language respects young readers while maintaining scientific accuracy... An ideal resource for classrooms, libraries, and home collections, Supernavigators stands out by instilling a sense of wonder through science, rather than anthropomorphism. This adaptation of a two-time Nautilus Award-winner offers an intellectually stimulating exploration that will inspire young naturalists and future scientists alike, demonstrating how good science writing can educate while nurturing curiosity about our natural world, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards."-- "--Children's Book Review, Editor's Pick"

"This picture book for older readers, a successful adaptation of the well-received 2019 adult version, explores types of animal navigation and offers accessible explanations of how various insects, birds, mammals, and sea critters find their way around, whether through their local habitats or migrating across the globe. The fresh and fairly sophisticated content is presented in paragraphs of text immersed in inviting, graphic-rich spreads. Illustrations, maps, charts, diagrams, and other helpful visuals support topics ranging from outdated misconceptions (seventeenth century notions that storks escaped the cold months of winter by flying to the Moon) to how human actions impact the animal world. Coverage extends far beyond standard material about echolocation, ultra and infrasounds, polarized and ultraviolet vision, and olfaction, delving into recent research about magnetism, aquatic lateral lines and electrical pulses, gravitational forces, and celestial clues. A final chapter offers suggestions for supporting animal navigation and migration by maintaining natural habitats and decreasing light pollution. No notes or references, alas, but lots of current, engaging information presented in an especially appealing package."--Kathleen McBroom "--Booklist"

About the Author

David Barrie, a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation, has sailed all over the world and made many long passages. His book Sextant was short-listed for the Mountbatten Literary Award and received the Royal Institute of Navigation's Certificate of Achievement. His book Supernavigators was honored with both a Gold and Silver Nautilus Award in 2020.

Rebecca Stefoff is the author of more than two hundred books exploring topics as varied as ghosts, robots, bacteria, evolution, women pioneers, the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, and forensic crime solving. Raised in Indiana, Rebecca now lives in Oregon.

Qu Lan, born and raised in China, graduated in oil painting from the China Academy of Art before moving to France to work as a graphic designer. She later pursued her passion for illustration, collaborating with major publishers and companies like Hachette, Usborne, and Adobe. Her award-winning artwork is exhibited regularly worldwide