Supernavigators: How Animals Find Their Way

Book Review of Supernavigators: How Animals Find Their Way
The Children’s Book Review

What to Expect: Animal biology, navigation science, environmental awareness, natural world exploration, STEM concepts.

In Supernavigators, readers are invited to head out on a captivating journey through the extraordinary world of animal navigation.

This young readers’ edition, adapted from David Barrie’s award-winning adult title, presents complex scientific concepts in an engaging and accessible format, perfect for sparking curiosity in young minds. Opening with a relatable scenario—children lost in a park—it then expands into the extraordinary navigational abilities of various animals, from microscopic bacteria to majestic whales. Six well-structured chapters help readers discover different navigation methods: landmark recognition, celestial navigation using the sun and stars, magnetic sensing, echolocation, polarized light detection, and more.

The book examines fascinating subjects like how desert ants count their steps to measure distance, how dung beetles navigate by the Milky Way, and how bar-tailed godwits fly nonstop for thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean. Technical concepts like “azimuth,” “inclination,” and “dorsal rim area” are introduced alongside clear explanations, encouraging scientific literacy without being overwhelming. The environmental message woven throughout culminates powerfully in the final chapters, where it’s addressed how human activities—light pollution, habitat destruction, climate change—threaten these navigational marvels.

As stated in the book’s conclusion: “…we humans belong to the natural world. To live well and flourish, we must not only preserve the wonders that nature has bestowed upon us, but also recognize how deeply we depend on them.”

Qu Lan’s illustrations deserve special praise for enhancing the impact of this book—both understanding and aesthetic appreciation. The artwork shifts in palette to match different environments—underwater blues, desert oranges, night sky purples—while providing visual clarity to complex concepts like magnetic fields, polarized light, and brain structures. The page layouts effectively balance text with illustrations, using clear headings to guide readers through complex topics. Diagrams explaining concepts like the earth’s rotation make abstract ideas concrete and comprehensible, and the accessible language respects young readers while maintaining scientific accuracy

An ideal resource for classrooms, libraries, and home collections, Supernavigators stands out by instilling a sense of wonder through science, rather than anthropomorphism. This adaptation of a two-time Nautilus Award-winner offers an intellectually stimulating exploration that will inspire young naturalists and future scientists alike, demonstrating how good science writing can educate while nurturing curiosity about our natural world, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.

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About the Author

David Barrie, a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation, has sailed all over the world and made many long passages. His book Sextant was short-listed for the Mountbatten Literary Award and received the Royal Institute of Navigation’s Certificate of Achievement. His book Supernavigators was honored with both a Gold and Silver Nautilus Award in 2020.

About the Adaptor

Rebecca Stefoff is the author of more than two hundred books exploring topics as varied as ghosts, robots, bacteria, evolution, women pioneers, the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, and forensic crime solving. Raised in Indiana, Rebecca now lives in Oregon.

About the Illustrator

Qu Lan, born and raised in China, graduated in oil painting from the China Academy of Art before moving to France to work as a graphic designer. She later pursued her passion for illustration, collaborating with major publishers and companies like Hachette, Usborne, and Adobe. Her award-winning artwork is exhibited regularly worldwide.