LoveReading4Kids Says
Young children are by nature curious about the world and how everything works, and this highly visual and beautifully designed picture book wonderfully explains some difficult scientific concepts by putting them in the context first of animals and nature and then of daily human lives.
It also highlights how much of our learning comes from our senses and the challenge which Invisible Nature takes on so brilliantly is to explain things that we cannot see, feel, touch, hear or smell and yet which are a fundamental part of our everyday life. These include electromagnetism, microwaves, ultrasound, infrasound, ultra- violet and scents ( those that are beyond human perception but not that of an ant or an albatross) The author has declared her passion for presenting ‘ big issues for small people’ and the clarity of the text is well matched here by the colourful and detailed illustrations and page designs which engage and lead the eye through the explanation. One of the most fascinating images is at the end of the book where we see a human body and the impacts upon it of these invisible forces and you can see that some things pass through the body completely undetected – cosmic microwaves, radio waves and electromagnetism from the Earth. The reader will be awed and inspired to learn, for example, about ultra violet lichen which enable reindeer to find food in the dark Arctic winter or the magnetic map that migratory birds hold in their heads or be terrified by piranhas’ use of infrared to detect prey in murky waters.
While the use of ultrasound by bats may be familiar it had certainly not occurred to this reader that this was how automatic doors function. This brilliant and enticing information book will attract a wide readership and certainly deserves a place in every library.
Joanne Owen
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Catherine Barr Press Reviews
Extremely well written and beautifully illustrated...this wonderful book will inspire the young to discover more about the invisible sights, silent sounds, odourless smells and mysterious forces used by nature but also by scientists, doctors and even the police. An excellent addition to any library and home. -- English 4-11
Well illustrated by Anne Wilson in a clear, colourful and graphic style. This will be useful for browsing and for finding out all sorts of interesting facts. -- Books for Keeps 4 star review
I was struck by Anne Wilson's stunning illustration so vibrant with colour that we could be out there in nature and not looking at them on the pages of the book... Then I was drawn to Catherine Barr's words, explaining to me the way in which animals make use of the hidden sense to navigate a complex world.... There is so much fascinating information and detail in this book that I have only touched the surface and I urge you to find a copy and learn more too. - Armadillo Magazine
The first book for younger children to attempt to explain the unseen but powerful natural forces that govern life on our planet. A fascinating combination of natural history and scientific principles. - Achuka - Book of the Day
A book to fire curiosity and ignite the imagination. - Red Reading Hub
If your little ones have inquisitive minds and a love for all things nature, the fascinating new book by Catherine Barr will light up their imaginations. - Discover Animals
A fascinating look at how creatures use light, scent, sound and forces beyond human senses. -- Fiona Noble - The Bookseller
A stunningly visual non-fiction picture book for younger children, exploring the unseen but immensely powerful natural forces that govern life on our planet. A fascinating combination of natural history and scientific principles, using the lives of animals to explain it in a fun, clear way. - The Bookseller - Back to School
Fun and astonishing. -- Dame Esther Rantzen - Teach Primary Awards judge
Will satisfy the unquenchable thirst that children have for nature and how things work. - ReadingZone
A vibrant exploration of natural science that has been adapted by humans... The format of the book allows for quick gaining of knowledge and could be used across Key Stage 2 to support different elements of the curriculum. While not a 'heavy' book in terms of its vocabulary or breadth of explanations, it does keep things snappy, and the visuals positively glow on the page. Definitely a book to extend knowledge and to provide moments of awe and wonder each time it is read. - Just Imagine
With a spectacular palette of warm, rich and bold colours, children will find out how animals survive using a myriad of special abilities that will seem mysterious to humans. Covering familiar senses such as sound, sight, smell and touch, this book delves deeper to examine microwaves, infrared, ultrasound, and almost undetectable scents. A spectacular exposition of the senses we know, and senses that will be new and exciting to readers in lower KS2. -- Tom Tolkien - School Reading List - Recommended STEM Topic Books
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