Survival of the Fittest

March 25, 2024
The title of this STEM graphic novel chapter book refers not to a tooth-and-nail battle of wills, but rather an anthropomorphized animal game show during which contestants “of all sizes and skills compete to come up with the most useful... the most creative... the most brilliant design for an invention based on something that exists in the natural world!” In keeping with the episode’s theme of engineering, each contestant—these range from a pugnacious diabolical ironclad beetle to a humpback whale participating remotely—must persuade the three shark judges in seeing how their species-specific attribute can “solve an important problem.” After demonstrating the power of its grip, a gecko explains how the nanoscale hairs that “create an electromagnetic attraction between my feet and whatever surface I’m on” could be employed by robots to repair satellites in orbit or catch and remove space junk. A cheeky running joke about how the tiger shark judge—who “loves eating, swimming, and eating while swimming”—only wants to know how each feature would help her capture more dinner provides a connective through line to this didactic series launch by Donnelly (Big Money), illustrated via static naif-style artwork by Saburi (Bernard Writes a Book). Ages 7–11.

Starred review from February 15, 2024
In a game show format, six animals pitch natural qualities or features that have inspired human technological innovations. Shark Tank has nothing on this wild creature smackdown. The panel of judges is literally a tank of sharks, and the six contestants range from a peacock mantis shrimp with a super-fast punch and a shy gecko with nanohairs on its feet that can grip nearly any surface to a confident humpback whale sporting hydrodynamic bumps, or tubercles, on its fins. "Sponsored" by the growers of Leafy Green Solar Curtains ("The only curtains that store sunlight as energy...while they block your neighbors from seeing you play video games in your underwear!"), the contest ultimately awards one lucky winner a Best in Engineering Design. But Donnelly goes on to explain why, for instance, the whale's lumpy tubercles inspired more aerodynamic fan blades and how the gecko's toes have led to advances in spacecraft and to devices that allow humans to stick to glass walls. Along with leaving plenty of space for the variously timid or aggressive pitches and lucid anatomical descriptions, Saburi's tidily drawn cartoon panels give both the banter and the presentations a properly rapid flow that adds to the fun and suspense. "Nature," as the hermit crab host observes at the outset, "was the first inventor--so let's see what we can learn!" An epic clash, well worth the investment. (Graphic nonfiction. 8-11)

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Starred review from May 24, 2024

Gr 1-3-This STEM graphic novel combines engineering design with the high-pressure setting of a game show judged by a shark tank-literally. A hammerhead shark, a lanternshark, and a tiger shark listen to the contestants as they pitch their products. Each invention is based on the real-world abilities of the animal presenting the item. For example, the chameleon has created a gripper that grasps things as gently as her own tongue can, and the humpback whale has designed more efficient wind turbines based on the shape of her own fins. Readers will enjoy the humor throughout, such as the lanternshark asking if the gecko's robot design can fight aliens, or the hermit crab host changing to a different shell covering (bowl, teacup, soup can) for each segment of the show. Offstage scenes show more of the work that goes into creating a television show, including camera operators, control room personnel, even the green room where contestants wait. Back matter includes details about real-world products and ideas that are the inspiration for each of those shown in the story, along with a URL for further details about each one. VERDICT This enjoyable blend of graphic novel, humor, game shows, and inventions is a great choice to introduce a STEM unit on engineering or animal adaptations.-Suzanne Costner

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