Supernavigators: How Animals Find Their Way

by David Barrie, Rebecca Stefoff (adapter), Qu Lan (illustrator)

64 pages, Hardcover

Published April 8, 2025

About the author

David Barrie is a crime writer who has lived in Paris for over twenty years. The city looms large in his NOIR CHIC crime novels. A sense of place has always been one of the foundations of quality crime fiction. Barrie’s novels are true to the city in which they are set: stylish, sophisticated and crafted with an eye for the tiniest detail.
As for Barrie’s own take on what he does, here’s an extract from a recent interview: “Crime fiction is a genre that has never turned its back on the simple pleasures of colourful characters and compelling plots. It’s not ashamed to be entertaining, even while it’s doing its best to keep the reader on his or her toes.”
If it’s dark, alluring and has a wicked sense of style, it’s probably NOIR CHIC.

Reviews

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best children’s science nonfiction books inspire curiosity in readers and show both how much scientists have learned and how much they still don’t know. Supernavigators does all that and more. The book begins with a reflection: humans use signs and maps to get around, but how do animals know how to navigate the world? Chapter by chapter, the author shows how animals use their senses – some of which they have in common with humans, as well as senses that are completely unique, such as magnetism, electrical, and maybe even a gravity sense (still unproven, but possible!). Turtles, birds, fish, and insects are all celebrated and explored in this comprehensive look at navigation. (Mammals have actually been studied the least, which is mentioned in depth at the end). One of my favorite parts is the explanation of how bees and other insects navigate by polarized light from the sun: celestial navigation! Dung beetles have even been confirmed to navigate by the light of the Milky Way. In the final pages, the author mentions how human impact on the world is changing animals’ ability to navigate successfully. Habitat destruction, light pollution, herbicides and other pollutants are all mentioned as risks. Suggestions for ways to help include reducing light pollution, planting pollinator gardens, and voting for and supporting changes at the governmental level.

A sense of wonder and excitement runs throughout the entire book; this is the kind of nonfiction book that inspires and excites readers. Soft, beautiful illustrations perfectly accompany the text and graphs and diagrams add further clarity. Highly recommended! Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Abeer Arain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible book that tells us about the marvels of animal navigation, utilizing olfaction, magnetic fields, ultrasonic waves, infrasounds, e-vectors of polarized light, moonlight, and more. Allah is indeed Al-Aleem - The Most Knolwdgable - We see Allah's Creative Power and Knowledge in the nature around us.
PS: There's no such thing as evolution :) Science, without the knowledge of One Creator, is incomplete. That is why these poor scientists waste their time believing Darwin and his fake theories...