When you write a book about bugs, people naturally assume you are crazy about bugs. But it’s not that I am crazy about bugs, I am crazy about nature! I love the beauty, mystery, wonder, grandeur and even minuteness of it. I love its strength and unpredictability. For something that encompasses us so completely, how can one not admire and respect nature?
As for bugs, I will admit since writing A Bug-Lightful Discovery, I have grown to appreciate bugs even more. And I do love that something so tiny, in the scheme of things, can teach us such grand lessons.
Nature is one of our greatest teachers. Humans, in fact, have studied and observed nature for centuries incorporating some of its greatest wonders into our lives. This is called…
Biomimicry
Biomimicry is a practice that learns from and mimics the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges—and find hope.
- Flying was born from watching birds and how air increases lift as it flows over the curve of the bird’s wing. Other aspects of flight were inspired from whales, dragonflies, and moths! Click here for more interesting details.
- The Bullet Train was modeled after the long-narrow beak of the Kingfisher bird not to mention aspects of owls and penguins. Click asknature for a fascinating video.
- Velcro with its hook-like structure was mimicked from the burrs of the Burdock plant.
- Micro needles used by doctors were inspired by the elongated appendage from a mosquito’s head, called a proboscis. The proboscis penetrates the skin unknowingly and painlessly.
Many things are born from nature’s example and inspiration, including my new children’s book A Bug-Lightful Discovery! Now throw in (not literally, of course!) a seven-year-old girl for an added dose of inspiration. Now you have a story!
A Bug-Lightful Discovery was a year in the making.
Very quick for the literary world. A year-long process that began from a brief unexpected moment in nature. The four of us—neighbors Ellery, Jacqueline, Emelia and myself—were standing on my cabin porch soaking in the beauty of the morning. A black dot appeared in the air coming directly towards the cabin and us. When….THUMP! The black dot clumsily landed on one of the steps below us leading up to the cabin.
The size of a half dollar but oblong not round. Black as can be with six spindly legs and two antenna the length of its entire body that stretched endlessly towards the sky. In short, it resembled a big alien-looking critter sent from a far-off galaxy here to deliver a message to us. And with all that swirling through my brain, as we gazed down at this intruder, Emelia without hesitation states, “I’m going to STOMP on it!!!”
Much to my horror—at the seven-year-old not the alien intruder—I immediately exclaimed boldly, “Oh no you’re not!”
And with all the innocence a child possess, she asks in a puzzled tone, “Why not?”
Taking advantage of this teaching moment I stated, “It has a purpose and deserves to live as much as you and I do.”
And like any seven-year-old, her puzzled tone turned to a puzzled look and now I am the alien from another planet and Emelia STOMPS off the porch to her Gramma Jane’s cabin.
The end….
Or so I thought, until I couldn’t stop thinking about this encounter and our exchange. It was really only a matter of seconds that we shared, but I will admit I was rather surprised that Emelia’s first instinct was to stomp on the beetle for no good reason. When I look back on this encounter now, however, I am not sure why I was so surprised by her reaction. The adolescent mind doesn’t exactly think through the consequences of their actions. Growing up I know I had done my share of stomping on a bug for no good reason. But my adult mind knows better! And as Maya Angelou said, “…when you know better, do better.”
As the day progressed, I shared this encounter with Gramma Jane and her friend Suzie, and it was then I knew this was a lesson worth teaching other children. After all, I write childrens’ books to teach children about the wonders of nature and to help them gain a better appreciation for nature. But even I would have never imagined – from a few second encounter – that a new children’s book would be born, and another journey into the literary world was about to begin…
illustrated by Luella Jane Wright
Great post, Karen! I enjoyed the examples of biomimicry, especially micro needles inspired by a mosquito’s proboscis.
A beautiful and insightful reminder of how we are all connected and all the inspiration nature provides that make our lives, our health and our just being on this planet better. A wonderful way to honor Earth Day. Thanks Karen!