Invisible Nature
A Secret World Beyond our Senses
Age 3+
Picture Books
The first book for younger children to explain the hidden forces of sight, sound, touch and smell that lie beyond our senses – but affect our lives, and are used by many different kinds of animal.
We all know about the five senses: sight, sound, smell and taste. But there are sounds no human ear can hear, scents no-one can smell, colours our eyes cannot detect, waves of radiation that pass right through us without our noticing … but known and used by many different animal species. They have their dangers as well as their uses, but are vital to all life on Earth. This fascinating unseen and secret world is revealed in Catherine Barr's latest book.
Fourteen colourful spreads display the impact on human and animal life of:
Microwaves
Ultra-violet and infra-red light
Electromagnetic waves
Ultrasound and infrasound
Scents and smells beyond human detection
Understanding these hidden forces enables us to use them in many ways, from photographing babies not yet born, to doors that automatically open, or tracking migratory animals. But many animals also use them. They help cats to catch mice, elephants to find mates, vampire bats to find victims. Ants 'talk' by exchanging smells. Indeed, without 'Invisible Nature', life on Earth would not exist at all.
Creators
Catherine Barr specializes in clear explanations of ‘big issues for small people’. She has worked with Greenpeace and London's Natural History Museum before becoming a full-time researcher-writer. She describes herself as "interested in writing non-fiction stories that spark questions and conversation". Her bestselling book, The Story of Life, explaining the principle of evolution, was shortlisted for the English Association Picture Book Award in 2016. Her previous book for Otter-Barry Books is 'Red Alert! 15 Endangered Animals Fighting to Survive'.
Anne Wilson has an MA in illustration from Central St Martins College of Art, London and has been practising as an illustrator for over 15 years. She has illustrated many books, including Catherine Barr's Red Alert. Her clear, colourful graphic style, incorporating figurative elements, layers and textures, using mixed media, printmaking and computer techniques, is ideally suited to presenting science topics to young readers.
