Description
A fascinating look at the ingenious engineering and incredible anatomical design of insects, and how they are inspiring scientists to create a more sustainable world.
Insects are the tiny superheroes of the natural world: from the way they can camouflage themselves to their amazing teamwork, their incredible superpowers have been inspiring scientists for generations. And the more we discover about insect behavior—how they use energy, navigate, adapt, and more—the more they can teach us about how to live.
Beautifully designed with full-color illustration throughout and packed with STEM content, Built Like a Bug invites readers to look beyond what they think they know about the teeny tiny creepy crawlers all around us. Could we one day adapt to avoid harmful foods like cockroaches? Will needles mimicking mosquitoes hurt less? How could drones modeled after dragonfly wings help prevent environmental disasters? What can termites teach us about how to stay cool in an increasingly warming world? Across eight chapters featuring sidebars, accessible language, and multiple examples from the insect world, science educator Anjali Joshi’s exploration of the amazing inventions borne from studying bug behavior will enthrall insect enthusiasts and insectophobes alike.
Author Bio
Anjali Joshi is a science educator and curriculum developer by day and children’s book author by night. At dawn and dusk, she spends her time fighting monsters, training Pokémon and keeping up with Gen Alpha slang. Anjali holds a Master of Science from the University of Oxford and has over 15 years of experience in the field of K–12 STEM education. She lives in Whitby, Ontario.
KATHLEEN NG is a Toronto-based artist who dabbles in a little bit of everything. She enjoys drawing bunnies, crocheting flowers, and playing around with clay.
Table of contents
Introduction
1 Survival of the Fittest: From mighty mosquitoes to clever cockroaches, insect adaptations have inspired incredible inventions in medicine and beyond.
2 What Stuff’s Made Of: Bugs are masters of all kinds of materials – slimy, stretchy, or strong. And no one does it better than web-weaving wonders of the world!
3 Keepin’ Earth Green and Clean: Termite titans, glowing fireflies, and beautiful butterflies are tiny Earth rangers that know a thing or two about energy efficiency.
4 Not Old MacDonald’s Farm! Whether it’s organizing like a leaf-cutter ant or collecting water like a darkling beetle, insect agriculture has inspired us to think about farming in a new light.
5 Robots, Robots Everywhere! Look no further than these dazzling dragonflies, robotic ants, and lifesaving roaches to discover the incredible future of some promising insect-inspired robots!
6 Transforming Trash: So many poopy possibilities when you think like dung beetles, termites, and silkworms!
7 Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk: Dancing bees and parasitic flies can get their message across in more ways than one!
8 Finding the Way: No need for a compass or a GPS—hawk moths, dung beetles, and sun-loving ants manage to find their way using the world around them.
Conclusion Engineering Like an Insect: Hands-on STEM Activities You Can Do at Home
Glossary
Resources
Index
Review Quotes
"[C]ontains hundreds of fascinating facts that encompass various disciplines and will spark enthusiasm in budding entomologists and young scientists alike. A great addition for school, public and individual collections."
“[A] stimulating overview, with substantial references for further study.”
“[W]ill entice STEM-loving students because of the topic and lure other readers because of its eye-catching illustrations and design, making this nonfiction book a worthy addition to classrooms and school libraries.”
“The book contains hundreds of fascinating facts that encompass various disciplines and will spark enthusiasm in budding entomologists and young scientists alike. A great addition for school, public and individual collections.”
“A fascinating look into the ways nature inspires scientific invention and development. A great resource for middle grade readers interested in insects and putting what they learn into action.”
“Joshi masterfully blends biology, engineering, and storytelling in a way that feels playful yet deeply informative . . . Built Like A Bug is more than a science book—it’s a gateway to innovation. It invites children to look closer, think deeper, and appreciate the brilliance of the natural world.”
— Momma Braga, 04/06/26