Beauty and the Beak: How Science, Technology, and a 3D-Printed Beak Rescued a Bald Eagle

by Deborah Lee Rose, Jane Veltkamp

Meet Beauty, the bald eagle that made world news when she was injured, rescued and received a 3D-printed prosthetic beak. Follow Beauty's brave and inspiring story as she grows up in the wild, is rescued after being illegally shot, and receives a new beak specially engineered by a human team including a raptor biologist, engineer and dentist. Learn more about how bald eagles as a species came back from near extinction, and about nationwide efforts to conserve this American symbol.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Animals, Science, Birds, Stem, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2017

Reviews

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently reviewed a book from Cornell Lab’s children’s book imprint PERSNICKETY PRESS and was very impressed with the great information about the wildlife (think primarily birds) featured in the book and also about the telling of the story itself. Now they have brought forth the story of "Beauty" the Bald Eagle who lost his beak from a poacher's shot and faced dying because he could no longer exist without it.

But this story has a delightfully happy ending and it is due to the empathy and skill of folks who used the technology of the 3-D printer to create a temporary prosthetic beak for Beauty ensuring a chance for survival.

The text is written in easy to understand language that gives a background story that is a supposition based on, it is assumed, studies about the early life and development of the Bald Eagle. Then it resolves into the sad happening of when the eagle is injured and his desperate attempt at survival, being found and rescued, and then the development of the life-saving prosthetic.

Beautifully done photographs of eagles in the wild as well as those of the process of caring for Beauty tell this heart wrenching story and will help young readers learn of compassion, empathy, care and use of their skills to help wounded animals. There is also extensive back story information from the Cornell Lab that is fully factual and great for further study and learning about eagles and endangered species.

This is a great book for helping young minds to understand the importance of wildlife conservation and it also brings out the modern ability of using a consortium of people with various skills to enable the preservation or survival of individual critters. The combined technological skills for the coding of the 3-D printer, the dental surgical skills for attaching the prosthesis, and the design efforts to create a life-like beak for Beauty is truly astonishing and quite an encouragement for future generations.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.

[Gary Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beak begins as a bald eagle chick is born. The chick is followed to adulthood when she is wounded by a human predator. The weakened, disfigured bald eagle is discovered scavenging in a dump by a police officer and taken to a raptor sanctuary. Named Beauty, the eagle is not only nursed back to health, but with the help of 3-D dental technology she is successfully fitted with a prosthetic beak that restores much of her ability to function normally.

This book’s photographs are excellent. The first part shows how a bald eagle develops into maturity and fends for itself in the wild. The second part shows Beauty in rehabilitation and undergoing the procedure for attaching the prosthetic beak. The science is explained in accessible language and clearly demonstrates that humans are capable of helpful impulses that ingenuity can harness with technology to improve our world and its varied inhabitants.

Beauty and the Beak’s extensive notes and back matter comprise roughly 40% of the book. While the primary narrative accompanying the photographs is geared toward younger-grade readers, the language in the ancillary material is noticeably more complex and devoid of photos.

[Henry Herz · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEAUTY AND THE BEAK is a narrative non-fiction picture book about the life of an American bald eagle, named Beauty. Fittingly, the book is published by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The story takes young readers on a journey that begins with the birth of the protagonist in nest high in a tree. The eagle's idyllic lifestyle, like her beak, is shattered one day by a hunter's bullet. A caring policeman, then a wildlife center, help the injured eagle. Eventually she is taken to a raptor center (by one of the co-authors!), and is provided with a 3-D printed prosthetic beak. Young readers will feel empathy for the injured animals, and are given a positive lesson about caring for our fellow inhabitants of Earth.

Deborah Lee Rose is an award-winning children's book author, and her co-author, Jane Veltkamp, is a raptor biologist and rehabilitator. The influence of the latter is clear, as both the story and the end notes (clocking in at an unusually large, but welcome, 16 pages) are jam-packed with information about eagles. The book's word count and lexile level are relatively high for a picture book, but work well with the book's science focus.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAK is filled with eagle photos from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library. These are complemented by lovely, subtle background illustrations, giving the book the warm, welcoming feel of a scrapbook.

Overall, this is a terrific book to feed your own fledglings, and encourage interest in both nature and becoming a caring person.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book totally wins the non-fiction game because it has SO MUCH additional info at the end of the book. Everything from how endangered bald eagles are to info on it being the national bird to additional books to explore. It's insanely well done. I also like that the book acknowledges that her beak is indeed growing back, and they're still learning how that happens and if it'll ever grow back completely. A great example of science in action... you try and you learn. Very impressed with this title, and I hope it gets some award acknowledgement for the work that went into it.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book filled with beautiful photography, the true story of Beauty the Eagle will keep your attention. You learn about Beauty and the life of Bald Eagles in general, with many facts at the end of the book. The story itself is rather anticlimactic but would be interesting for children.

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This starts out with the story of Beauty, a young bald eagle who had part of her beak shot off by a hunter. Beauty was rescued and placed in the care of a raptor center, where she is able to receive a 3D printed beak to replace what she lost.

Beyond Beauty's story, a young reader can learn about how eagles use their beaks; the habits and behaviors of the Bald Eagle; and background about the Bald Eagle as a US symbol. There are QR codes that allow the reader to scan and listen to the sounds of a bald eagle, watch an eagle cam, and learn about other raptors. There is information on how to become an advocate for bald eagles as well as what to do if you find a wounded, sick, or stranded Bald Eagle.

This book is a great way to learn about eagles and also get kids interested in learning more about related topics of US History, Native American culture, and 3D printing technology, especially as it pertains to prosthetic devices.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beauty, a bald eagle, was shot and lost most of her upper beak. She was unable to eat, drink or preen herself. Fortunately, she was rescued and cared for at an animal wildlife center, but Janie, the biologist who cared for her, felt a prosthetic beak would really help Beauty. An engineer created a 3D-printed beak and a dentist helped attach the prosthetic.

This really is a lovely book...it shows the care and empathy and teamwork that went into Beauty's care. It has wonderful photographs. It shows how scientists are still learning...because Beauty's beak has begun to regenerate slowly...but they don't know how or whether it will grow back fully. It discusses conservation and protection of animals. A perfect STEM book!

[Renee Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beak: How Science, Technology, and a 3D-Printed Beak Rescued a Bald Eagle is a rare nonfiction gem. Excellent photographs and a compelling wildlife rescue story make this a must-have for STEM collections for children. Beauty, an American bald eagle, was rescued by a policeman after her beak was shattered by a poacher's bullet. Weak and starving, Beauty required careful hand feeding and was unable to preen her own feathers. Raptor biologist Janie Veltkamp knew that Beauty needed a new beak to survive, so she teamed with engineer Nate Calvin to design and attach a prosthetic beak created with a 3D printer. Written at an accessible level for children with facts engagingly interwoven into the story and with end pages filled with resources.

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A photoessay about a rescued bald eagle named Beauty. At four-year-old, her beak was maimed by a gunshot. She was found starving to death by a policeman and brought to a raptor rehab facility for tending. The full-color close-up photos are stunning. The story is first heartrending then heartwarming. The story is followed by tons of backmatter about Beauty today, bald eagles, symbols, and conservation. Certain to be a high-interest read, so display it prominently. I had one quibble. The storytelling describes Beauty's "life" from egg through fledging, and first migration. Beautiful, un-captioned photos illustrate. But surely these are not photos of Beauty's nest/ parents and herself as an eaglet? Photo credits list a variety of photographers and no other information. Young readers may assume that these photos are all of Beauty. Maybe they are.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read a few pages of this book before I passed it on. It was a cute little tale of an eagle named Beauty. I read the few pages starting with when she was shot and how they built a new beak with a 3D printer. The end of the book has more of a non-fiction set up with information about eagles.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring and heart-warming account of a Bald Eagle whose upper beak was shot away and the dedicated people who stepped in to save her. Using a 3-D printer, they created a prosthetic upper beak which enabled the eagle to eat and drink by herself.

Simple straightforward text and page-filling excellent photographs make this very effective for young readers. The back matter is extensive and very good. A great choice for STEM.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a 3-D printer save an eagles life? Well of course it can. Readers will delight in this story that follows a female eagle. The Bald eagle is a magnificent bird. This year, 2017, marks the 10th anniversary of this species being removed from the Endangered Threatened Species list.

Readers will follow the story of Beauty. Fantastic photos invite readers to see her soar and share her life’s journey from the time she hatched until the moment her life tragically changed. These magnificent photos capture Beauty encountered in battles with other eagles over territory, how she caught fish for food and even what she looked like after being shot. Beauty’s beak was shattered after a gunshot wound from a hunter. Found by a police officer, she was taken to Janie, a raptor biologist. After some help from a few dentist friends, Beauty had a new 3-D printer beak.

Parents and teachers can engage kids with dialogue surrounding eagles, endangered species and science. This true story will inspire students to learn more about helping the environment and endangered species.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has a sort-of happy ending. Unfortunately, Beauty was not able to be returned to the wild, but happily her life was saved and she lives (at the time of this book's publication) in a rehabilitation facility. The story tells how her beak was damaged and the efforts made to create a prosthetic beak for her. Back matter includes more information about bald eagles, including anatomy, nesting habits, flight information, and status as no longer endangered. There is also a list of web resources and suggestions for how readers can help. The book is illustrated with many photos, including one with Beauty's damaged beak. An excellent book for young nature lovers.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now often does a book review make me want to start a paragraph with WOW! Well, not often enough. But as I read this story that word kept popping up over and over.

While the book starts with a common enough story of a baby eagle being born and growing up, I was immediately captured by the page layouts and pictures that accompanied the text. The pictures and color combination on each page made it hard not to immediately set this story higher than most. But I had no idea that this was just a sneak preview of what was to come.

The young bird that we’ve watch grow is found at a landfill trying to peck for food. But there is a problem. A bullet has shattered her beak and her eye is torn and her face bleeding. Here’s where the protective Mama in me says whoa up! This just isn’t going to fly. How are little ones who are reading this going to take that? The text alone is heartbreaking but there are pictures.

A policeman wraps our wounded bird in a blanket and takes her to a wildlife center. She is cared for and named Beauty. But she can’t eat or drink without human help. Eventually, the wildlife center has no room to keep her. Ok, I’m thinking. The kids might be in tears, but let’s see where this takes us.

And from there this turns into a story that both kids and adults will marvel at over and over. The pictures and page layouts continue to work together hand in hand with the text. Mama’s you know your children, but this turns into a beautiful story that will help kids learn and develop.

Raptor biologist JanieVeltkamp knows she has to find a way to give this beautiful eagle a new beak. But is that even possible? This book will document that journey.

Along with Beauty’s journey are wonderful short, informational sections at the back of the book

Where Is Beauty Today?
The Bald Eagle as U.S. Symbol
A Note From Raptor Biologist Janie Veltkamp
All About Bald Eagles, and more.
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review completely voluntarily.

What Concerned Me:
Absolutely nothing at all!

What I Liked Most:
Honestly, each time I turned the page I found myself more and more excited. I thought it would be a nice book about eagles. But what I discovered was a book that teaches so much. And it teaches in a fun way that actually makes learning exciting. And finally, the very sad experience of having to see pictures of an animal that has been wounded is an extremely valuable lesson in itself. No doubt one of the most important in this book.

for more reviews: https://pickagoodbook.com

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally read photo-based nonfiction for some reason but I've got to say I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

I feel I have to tackle the book into two parts. The first part being the actual subject of the book: Beauty. It was a fascinating look at how Bald Eagles live in the wild. And, when part of her beak was got shot off, it was incredible how humans tried to fix it through modern day technology. For some reason, I was expecting a happier ending which may have affected the rating of this actual part of the book.

The second part of the book is the intensive back matter material. It's very impressive. I may have actually preferred the book more if it was just this. Some back matter content included an update on Beauty and her beak, some words on prosthetic devices and what advances in technology could mean for them, the importance of Bald Eagles, and the dangers they face despite them no longer endangered. Plus, there's the whole section from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology where readers can scan QR codes to access more information as well as information to access the free book companion app.

Another thing I appreciate about this book- or maybe books like this in general- is that readers can get a sense of the roles they play in nature- how humans are both the causes of lots of animal's problems as well as the potential solutions to them!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day in the Alaskan wilderness a female eagle is shot by a hunter. The bullet shatters her beak. She lies on the ground for several days too weak to move. Finally, she recovers enough to walk a short distance but she cannot hunt or fly. A policeman finds her at a landfill trying to peck for food among the garbage. He wraps her in a blanket and take her to a wildlife center. There they clean her wounds, give her medicine and name her Beauty. Jane Veltkamp, raptor biologist, wildlife scientist and co-author of this book is called in to aid Beauty. Her idea is to give Beauty a new beak. Teaming up with engineer Nate Calvin they design a prosthetic beak and make it using 3 printing.

Part one of this book is Beauty’s story based on this true event. It is filled with wonderful close-up and realistic photos of bald eagles hunting, fishing and raising their young. There are also photos of Beauty after her accident, and getting her new beak fitted. These photos provide an absolutely fascinating pictorial narrative of her story. In this part of the book, the writing is simple and geared towards younger readers. The font is also larger and there is more spacing per page. This true story is riveting and a real page turner.

Then comes part two. The simple story of Beauty turns into a great nonfiction picture book devoted to eagles. Readers enthralled with Beauty’s story will want to learn more about eagles, and the amount of eagle information covered here is beyond fantastic. Bald eagles mate for life, adults have 7,000-8,000 feathers, females are larger than males, an eagles nest averages 6-8 feet wide, eagles return to the same nest year after year, adults fly so high that they are often seen by pilots of commercial planes, an eagle’s eyesight is 8 times better than ours – these are just some of the tid bits of information that are jam packed in this part of the book. Again, there are wonderful photos, but now there is more text than illustration. The word count and lexile level go up and the book gets a more challenging science focus. Information given here could easily be used for science reports.

End papers include pages on resources, how kids can help eagles, and QRS codes that can be scanned for more information.

Beauty and the Beak has a sleek high-quality look. Each page is a different color – there are no white spaces. Kids will be drawn in by the cover art, and the fantastic photos. They will love Beauty’s poignant story and dive into the bountiful eagle information. Best for grades 3 and up.

[Oak Lawn Public Library - Youth Services · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Beauty and the Beak: How Science, Technology, and a 3D-Printed Beak Rescued a Bald Eagle
Author: Deborah Lee Rose
Lexile: 630L
Pages: 48
Comments/Recommendations:
Beauty and the Beak is a non-fiction narrative about a bald eagle named Beauty. The story begins at the beginning of Beauty’s life as an eaglet. The story moves through her life until she meets with a bullet that shatters her beak and damages her face. She is eventually found after almost starving due her inability to eat. She was rescued by a police officer who found her looking for food. She was taken to a wildlife center where she was cleaned, bandaged, and fed. A raptor biologist name Janie visited Beauty at the wildlife center and took her back to Idaho where they built a large outdoor aviary. While traveling around and telling Beauty’s story, Janie met an engineer named Nate and the two of them would work together to make a prosthetic beak for Beauty with the help of a 3D printer. The book includes beautiful pictures of immature bald eagles in the wild as well as mature ones. At the end of the narrative there are several pages of additional information about Beauty as well as bald eagles.

Reviewed by Amberleigh B.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book does a little of everything from sharing the story particularly of Beauty but in the introduction, the story is really about eagles from hatching to flight. Then when Beauty had her beak and part of her eye ripped away from a bullet, she was rescued and then taken care of where scientists and engineers decided to 3D print a new beak so that Beauty could do things like drink water and try to tear food, though she still (from the last pages) needs aid with daily functions, particularly in preening. Because they use the oil from near their butts too help as they shed and keep their luster and usefulness.

It's a curious journey in part also because as the beak was created and put on her face, they realized that the beak was growing a little and the beak was no longer as useful and needed adjustments if it was on her face at all-- so it didn't really explain whether it's used at all anymore but explains that science is ever evolving in terms of what we know about some animal biology and in this case, eagle beaks (or beaks of birds in general). A valiant effort and an homage to science and engineering.

[Yan Zhou]

This book is an uplifting and inclusive non-fiction picture book. It describes Beauty, a bald eagle's emerge from the egg and her growing up. Later she was shot illegally and rescued and cured by Jane Veltkamp, one of the co-author. To help Beauty to have the beak, the 3D-printed prosthetic beak was planted in Beauty and later the prosthetic beak no longer fits Beauty, because her real beak has been slowly regenerating. Now she lives at Birts of Prey Northwest, the raptor facility.

I chose this book as WOW book is because this book includes various themes and topics. As a literacy teacher, you can do read aloud or close reading about Bald Eagle, American symbols and empathy.... As a science teacher, you can dig the appearance, life cycle, habitats, and conservation. As a STEM teacher, you can integrate the 3D printer into all these topics. As an IB teacher, you will focus on how to protect our extinct animal or raptor with the help of technology, which can be real problem-solving and inquiring.

Another reason I chose as WOW book is that the appendix information and resources are provided in detail and with the QR which is handy to have extensive knowledge.

[An · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I immensely enjoyed learning about Beauty’s journey. Her life before the accident was highlighted and I felt this was an important part of the story that compared and contrasted what challenges she faced after. This is a fantastic way to illustrate concepts of compassion and resilience to our children and a great way to inspire all of us to overcome challenges now matter what they are.

This book also provides an education on how birds use beaks and the impact of them losing them. 😱

Additionally, this is an excellent way to introduce how technology is used to support science and medicine. I hope this will inspire everyone, especially our young people, to think about other applications for its use and to learn more about this exciting field of study.

Finally, I was surprised to learn that Beauty’s beak began to regenerate. I would love an update on what scientist learn about this process such as rate of growth and if it will fully grow back, etc. and of course, a general update on Beauty.

Excellent book that illustrates the exciting times we live in!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of an injured Bald Eagle, a policeman, and an engineer work together to give this Eagle back the ability to eat on her own makes for a fabulous opportunity for readers and teachers! The text is easy to read and the photographs are amazing throughout!

I will be using this book to talk with my team about how some non-fiction books allow us to help our students think beyond a story and into a possible future career. This book allows us to understand community helpers when the policeman found the bird injured and new to find someone licensed to help and then again when the wildlife rescuer found an engineer who helped her help the bird be independent. I am certain there will be discussions about how this accident happened and what our role could be in making sure injured wildlife is cared for, if possible. Children and some adults may not know that caring for wildlife is dangerous and illegal without the right licenses from the state level. I believe this book belongs in every collection servicing young readers!

[MK Whitmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not much of a naturalist but this book was one the could hold my interest. It’s not that I don’t like wildlife, but I’m not a fanatic about those kind of things. But this book has a wonderful story that transcends all the perceived books and bands of wildlife management.

Jane Veltkamp came in contact with a damaged bald eagle (named Beauty) that was missing the top half of her beak. Knowing there must be a way to help this animal, she began to search for a way to improve the birds life. Eventually, a solution was found when a beak was created by a 3-D printer and applied to the eagle. It’s not perfect, but now Beauty can eat and survive without much human help.

There are a number of pictures in this fine book and the story is very entertaining and inspiring. Readers will easily develop a liking for Beauty and those who help her survive.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you would ever want to know about Bald Eagles is comprehensively covered in this handsome book about a bald eagle given a second chance at life. Shot as a young eagle, she loses the use of her beak making it impossible to eat. Rescued by a policeman, she is taken to a wildlife center for help. Miraculously a raptor biologist working with an engineer succeeds in building her a new beak and attaching it. Amazingly her original beak is beginning to slowly regenerate, however no one knows how far it will grow. The back pages "All About Bald Eagles" cover the bird and its future in detail. The beautiful format full of closeups, and the hopeful message it carries, through technology and passion both animals and people have a chance to find the support to improve their lives, is heartening.

[Jess Roever · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book that gives context for the injury to a bald eagle eventually named Beauty. The author did an excellent job of answering any naturally occurring questions that come up so that it is easy to read to a child. I read it to my 3 year old, and he was able to follow along until towards the end when they went into more specifics about bald eagle statistics, after Beauty’s story was complete. As an adult, I loved all the extra information at the back and I could easily see that an older child would also like all the additional information. After giving the sad statistics for all the dangers to bald eagles, I appreciated that there was a section for how we readers could help, and it didn’t leave me feeling helpless.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a young eagle is injured in the wild, a team of engineers, conservationists, and medical experts make her a new beak.

The story of the injured bird is fascinating. Fully illustrated with photographs (some from the National Parks Service) Beauty's story is similar to any wild eagle, until her injury - then - although the pictures of her beak are sad, it's not disturbing. Then, and this is the best part - after the book gets you all involved with the story of this eagle, the simple text story gets more difficult as it turns into a non-fiction book about eagles. Such a great resource for a class on conservation, or even a tech class.

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a GREAT book on eagles and a real story of one who got injured. The effort given to help this one eagle was amazing. The eagle’s beak was shot off and it was having much trouble getting food, etc. The 3D printer technology was the perfect solution to this eagle’s problem. I learned so much from this book. This book features many beautiful, color photos throughout, as well as additional information at the end. This is a great real-life story and will inspire you to join their Birds of Prey group and maybe even donate to their cause. Kids will really enjoy this one. Highly recommended Grades 3-5.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous pictures and a heartwarming story. However, I don't know how much of it is true -- was that the story of this eagle's life (and if so, how did they know?) or just a possible eagle life that ended up with Beauty and her broken beak?

And the narrative implied that she got a replacement beak, but the end material showed that it only worked for drinking and eating prepared food -- it was much weaker than the real thing. So not as great as suggested (although obviously better than nothing!).

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring story which tells us both the good and bad parts of human interference among our most treasured symbols, The Bald Eagle.

When Beauty's beak was shattered by a bullet, a talented and caring group of scientists, doctors, and engineers found a way to bring Beauty back to her original state. Using a 3-D printer, they crafted a beak to attach to Beauty's shattered one which helped her feed, preen, and grow until a new beak would be regenerated. Fascinating!

Includes Resources, Photo Credits, and Acknowledgements.

[Karen Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eagle is shot one day, and a bullet hits her in the head. She was found and received care from a policeman and then a wildlife center and a raptor biologist there. The biologist shares the bird's story and seeks the assistance of an engineer to help create a new beak for the eagle. A near-perfect STEM offering for kids, but one that should be of interest to all of us K-adult. Great-for-sharing photo illustrations with many full-page bleed-to-gutter placement. Extensive appendices exploring and explaining much, much more.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved the story of Winter the dolphin who has a prosthetic fin and so I had to get a copy of Beauty for her! She loved the story of Beauty and how she was helped by her prosthetic. She also said she wishes guns weren't allowed anymore so they won't shoot anything. Wow what a powerful takeaway for her at only 6yrs old! The photos in the book are just wonderful too. Definitely a heartwarming story for the family.

*I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*