Here are some beautiful books about insects, bugs, Australian animals, ocean animals and exciting nature stories!
Enjoy!
Insectarium by Dave Goulson Illustrated by Emily Carter
“Insects are essential for life as we know it. There are at least one million species of insects, together making up over 80 per cent of all living species on Earth. Around 10,000 new species of insects are discovered every year. In Insectarium learn about the secret world thriving right underneath your feet. How did insects evolve into what they are today? How do they work together and how do they defend themselves?
Explore the rooms of Insectarium and meet the beautiful demoiselle and the gigantic goliath beetle. Learn why these small creatures have such a huge impact on the world around us, and why we should be protecting them.
This latest addition to the Welcome to the Museum series will appeal to any budding entomologist or nature lover with a thirst for more knowledge.”
Bothered by Bugs by Emily Gravett
“In Bothered By Bugs, Pete the Badger is choosing a delicious recipe from his new fruit cookbook when his peace is interrupted by a teeny tiny fly. The fly becomes a swarm and soon all the animals are being bothered by bugs and insects of all kinds – so they help Pete rid the forest of/capture every single one. But . . . disaster! Now nobody’s around to clean up the poo, and come autumn, there’s not a berry or a cherry to be found. Will Pete and the other animals learn their lesson and restore order to the forest?”
I know it’s silly, but I could buy this book just for the last picture. Imagine all the wonderful discussions about bugs and life you could have inspired by all the animals in jars!
Little Llama’s Big Question by Rachel Robertson
I love the bold, amazingly beautiful collage illustrations! An inquisitive Little Lama is asking her Big Mum about the names of baby animals. I saw some stunning artwork that children made using this book as inspiration. This is a delightful collage inspiration for animal lovers.
Sensational Australian Animals by Stephanie Owen Reeder Illustrated by Cher Hart
You can read more about this wonderful book about Australian animals at Cher Hart’s website. As my readers know, I am fond of everything Australian after living in Queensland. This book is stunning and perfect for little biomimicry enthusiasts.
“Explore the fascinating world of native Australian animals through the five basic senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
Covering more than 145 truly astounding animals – from sharp-eyed whale sharks to sticky-bellied green tree frogs – Sensational Australian Animals showcases the strange things these creatures can do with their eyes, ears, noses, mouths and skin! Meet birds that laugh, frogs that quack and fish that sing. Discover mammals that glow in the dark and seahorses disguised as seaweed. Be surprised by turtles that breathe through their bums and squirm at lizards that clean their eyes with their tongues. And then there’s the dangerous creatures that bite and sting!
Be intrigued, amazed and astonished by what insects, birds, spiders, fish and many other animals are capable of!”
Lifesize Ocean Animals by Sophie Henn
“Step into the book and see how you measure up against some of the world’s most incredible LIFESIZE OCEAN ANIMALS. Go face to face with a turtle, see how you’d look with megalodon teeth, dive down for a peek at an anglerfish and open the FOLD-OUT PAGES to discover a GIGANTIC spider crab!
This interactive non-fiction adventure features LIFESIZE illustrations of some of the world’s smallest and largest ocean animals and invites children to think about how they compare with these wonderful creatures.
This huge, playful book is the perfect introduction to animals for children from picture book star, Sophy Henn.
Dive into the book for an underwater adventure . . .”
Nature Tales: An Anthology of Seasonal Stories from Around the World by Dawn Casey Illustrated by Anja Sušanj
“Delve into this beautiful treasury of stories, inspired by nature. This collection features 18 folk tales, myths and age-old stories of animals, birds and plants from all around the world – from North America to Brazil, Ireland, Morocco, Finland, Mexico, Poland, Japan, Germany and Siberia. Retold by award-winning author Dawn Casey and with intricate artwork by Anja Sušanj.
A stunningly illustrated edition to treasure for years to come, Nature Tales is the perfect gift to open up the wonder of nature to readers of all ages.”
Nyla’s Glowing Underwater Garden: A Coral Reef Adventure by Åsa Jomård & TheBeezyTeacher
“When might a glowing underwater garden be useful for a pygmy seahorse?
This beautiful book will captivate young children, introducing them to the enchanting world of life in a coral reef. Through the story of Nyla, a pygmy seahorse, children will learn about the adaptations and changes made by marine life due to climate change, such as corals glowing in fluorescent colours. Children will embark on a colourful journey into the captivating world of corals, discovering the vital role they play as ecosystem engineers.
Follow the journey of Nyla as she navigates through the impacts of a big storm that uproots her home. This is a powerful and moving picture book, filled with real-life photos, depicting the effects of heat waves and storms on coral reefs. Children can also identify with other relatable themes, including friendship and coping with change.
This engaging and educational book not only sheds light on the challenges faced by marine ecosystems but also encourages children to explore the incredible adaptations of coral reefs and the remarkable abilities of pygmy seahorses to change color. Give the gift of love for our oceans and marine conservation with Nyla’s Glowing Underwater Garden: A Coral Reef Adventure.”
Text and images from Amazon!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.