  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 06/01/2017 Gr 3–5—Rose and Veltkamp tell the inspiring story of an Alaskan bald eagle, later named Beauty, who was shot in the face by a poacher and lost most of her upper beak. She was unable to eat, drink, or preen and would have died had she not been rescued. Because her beak didn't regenerate, Beauty eventually made her way to a raptor center in Idaho, where she received continuous care. Coauthor Veltkamp, a raptor biologist and rehabilitator, worked with engineers, a dentist, and other animal experts to fabricate an artificial beak, using a 3-D printer. After arduous testing, an appropriate beak was created and attached. Beauty could now drink and eat on her own. Outstanding full-page photographs accompany this uplifting account. Many resources for further study and additional information on the life cycle of eagles, their habitats, and their near extinction and recovery are appended. VERDICT Highly valuable for elementary schoolers as a lesson in empathy; an inspiring addition to STEM collections.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 08/01/2017 From one of the more fascinating applications of 3-D printing comes the story of Beauty, a bald eagle whose beak was seriously damaged by a hunter’s bullet. The book opens with an imagined account of Beauty’s life before her accident, which uses narrative text and color photos to introduce readers to the early stages of a bald eagle’s life, from hatching to reaching adulthood. The authors carefully point out the many important uses for the beak, particularly to eat, drink, and preen. When Beauty arrived at the wildlife center, she was missing half of her top beak and unable to feed herself or keep her feathers clean, but raptor biologist Veltkamp and an engineer hatched a plan to use a 3-D printer to make the bird a prosthetic beak. The project was a success, and Beauty was finally able feed herself again, though she’ll never be able to return to the wild. The book concludes with extensive information on bald eagles, from their biology to past endangered status. A heartwarming account of STEM in action. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
 |