Built by Animals

Name: Built by Animals
Brand: Unknown
SKU: 9780711265684
Price: 36.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

Meet the creatures who inspire our homes and cities

By Christiane Dorion

Series: Designed by Nature

0.0 (0 reviews)

4.34

( 47 ratings, 27 reviews)

Summary

Built by Animals explores the fascinating world of biomimicry, revealing how over 26 animal species have inspired modern building materials and techniques. Through engaging illustrations by Yeji Yun and expert explanations from WWF educator Christiane Dorion, young readers discover nature’s solutions for sustainable architecture, such as solar energy use, desert plant growth, innovative water pumping, and river cleaning. From the hexagonal strength of bee honeycombs to termite nests with natural air conditioning, this book highlights how animals pioneered the technologies shaping our built environment.
Read More

Format: Hardback

$36⁹⁹

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Built by Animals

$36⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for children interested in STEM subjects, nature enthusiasts, and young readers curious about how animals influence human innovation in architecture and sustainability.

BIOGRAPHY 3 Nov 2026

Books for the Person Who Dreams Big

I've always been a dreamer. I've always been drawn to people who take an idea,...

AUTHOR SIGNING 3 Nov 2026

Liv Sisson visits Book Hero

We were so lucky to have geologist and author Liv Sisson visit us at Book...

AUTHOR SIGNING 2 Nov 2026

Suzanne Paul visits Book Hero

We were so excited to have THE iconic Suzanne Paul visit Book Hero last week...

FICTION 2 Nov 2026

What Keeps Us Coming Back to Historical Fiction?

Have you ever finished a historical novel and immediately looked up the real events behind...

CRIME 2 Nov 2026

Your Guide to Freida McFadden

Freida McFadden is a powerhouse of a thriller writer, with over 30 books to her...

Built by Animals introduces us to the creatures who know how to build, and looks at how their techniques have been copied in human construction.

Description

Following on from the incredible Invented by Animals, Built by Animals introduces us to the creatures who have inspired the materials and techniques that are used by humans in the building world today.

Meet over 26 animals behind the most amazing building tech, humorously brought to life by Yeji Yun and wittily and expertly explained by WWF educator Christiane Dorion. This book dives into the world of biomimicry and answers questions like:

How can we use more solar energy to power our homes?
How can we grow plants in the desert?
How can we pump water to the top of very tall buildings?
How can we clean polluted rivers?

From the bee's honeycomb shape that strengthens structures to termites that build their nests with natural air-con, these creatures did it first! And, at the end of the book, find out who wins big at the Animal Builder Awards! Will it be the prairie dog, the peacock, the beaver or the firefly?

Built by Animals explores this amazing STEM subject in a deceptively simple way, showing children that the future of architecture can be inspired by and be respectful of nature.

Series: Designed by Nature

View all

Invented by Animals

Often human scientists try to solve a problem or invent a new tool and they realise that animals have already invented it for them. In Invented by Animals, you will meet the animal inventors who have shared their super inventing powers to make amazing things for humans. We have invented ways of solving problems, making unbelievable materials, ways of getting...

By Christiane Dorion

Hardback

$32⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
Invented by Animals

Invented by Animals is the winner of the Blue Peter Book Awards 2022 and has become an international best-seller, translated into over 25 languages. In this book, you will meet the animal inventors who have shared their extraordinary inventing powers to make amazing things for humans. We have developed incredible ways of solving problems, creating unbelievable materials, finding methods of...

By Christiane Dorion

Paperback

$22⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
Powered by Plants

Following on from the incredible Invented by Animals and Built by Animals, Powered by Plants introduces us to the wondrous plants whose ingenious features have inspired innovations in human technology. Plants exhibit an incredible range of diversity in their shape, structures, and how they interact with other living things and their environment. Some of this great diversity is being increasingly...

By Clive Gifford

Hardback

$36⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
Built by Animals

Following on from the incredible Invented by Animals, Built by Animals introduces us to the creatures who have inspired the materials and techniques that are used by humans in the building world today. Meet over 26 animals behind the most amazing building tech, humorously brought to life by Yeji Yun and wittily and expertly explained by WWF educator Christiane Dorion....

By Christiane Dorion

Hardback

$36⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

“Discover how animals have inspired architecture and help us make our cities more sustainable. Full of fun details and humorous illustration, this is the sequel to Invented by Animals, which was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award.” — The Bookseller

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780711265684

Publisher: Quarto Publishing PLC

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 05 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Wide Eyed Editions

Contributors:

Illustrated by Yeji Yun

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 235.0mm

Height: 276.0mm

Weight: 650g

Pages: 80

Collections

Children's Books Children’s & Teenage Non-Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Christiane Dorion Series: Designed by Nature

About the Author

Christiane Dorion is an award-winning author and educational consultant. She has written a number of children's books about the natural world and has worked with WWF and other environmental organisations for over 30 years. You can visit her website at www.christianedorion.com.Yeji Yun is an illustrator and artist (currently) based in Seoul, South Korea. Since graduating from Kingston University in London, she has been working with various clients from all over the world. Yeji has won and been shortlisted for numerous awards, including the 3x3 International Illustration Show No.13 in 2016.

Also by Christiane Dorion

View all

Invented by Animals

Often human scientists try to solve a problem or invent a new tool and they realise that animals have already invented it for them. In Invented by Animals, you will meet the animal inventors who have shared their super inventing powers to make amazing things for humans. We have invented ways of solving problems, making unbelievable materials, ways of getting...

By Christiane Dorion

Hardback

$32⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
Invented by Animals

Invented by Animals is the winner of the Blue Peter Book Awards 2022 and has become an international best-seller, translated into over 25 languages. In this book, you will meet the animal inventors who have shared their extraordinary inventing powers to make amazing things for humans. We have developed incredible ways of solving problems, creating unbelievable materials, finding methods of...

By Christiane Dorion

Paperback

$22⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Children's Books

View all

New Release

Gruffalo Granny

The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...

By Julia Donaldson

Hardback

$24⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$30⁰⁰~~

(3)

In Stock
Ships today
Sprinkle in Time: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #15)

In the newest saga, our anti-hero, Grandpa, alters the fabric of time and space. Is his evil the necessary soil for Dog Man and friends to grow and bloom? Can we all step up to be the change? It's the saga of the century—Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time!

By Dav Pilkey

Hardback

$23⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Fight or Flight: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (21)

When the going gets tough, what’s a wimpy kid to do? In Fight or Flight, Greg Heffley faces his biggest challenge yet as he becomes a target for the school bully. Luckily for Greg, his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, takes karate, so at least Greg’s got someone in his corner. But an unexpected twist makes Greg realize he’s facing an uphill...

By Jeff Kinney

Paperback

$16⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Detective Beans Colouring Club

Help Detective Beans solve the case of the missing colours! Join the Colouring Club now! Join the Detective Beans Colouring Club! Inside you'll find 40 removable colouring pages featuring scenes from all over Cat Town. Filled with all the characters you know and love from the Detective Beans graphic novels like Biscuits, Beans' mum, Mr Brickle, Bear, Detective Baby Bird...

By Li Chen

Paperback

$17⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Sixth Faction

Beatrice Prior stands on the brink of a decision every person in her world must make: five factions, five futures, five lives. She has a plan: she's going to make the bravest choice, and leave Abnegation behind to join Dauntless, even though it means leaving her family behind. But when tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, everything changes—her world, her...

By Veronica Roth

Paperback

$29⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$34⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Naturals: Dangerous Impulses Book 5

The Naturals are BACK! No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers the highly anticipated new installment in her beloved Naturals Series. Cassie Hobbes joined the FBI's Naturals program at seventeen because she had an incredible ability to read people. Since then, Cassie, fellow profiler Dean, emotion‐reader Michael, lie‐detector Lia, and statistical genius Sloane have caught serial...

By Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Paperback

$21⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$24⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

All of Us

A new heart-wrenching, well-researched historical novel for middle-grade readers. 'The weirdest thing,' continues Tove, 'is that I don't feel any different to the rest of you.' 'That's because you're not!' snaps Birgitte. 'You're Danish.' 'So why do the Nazis hate me and not you?' When twelve-year-old Viggo and his friends Finn, Tove, Birgitte and Konrad start writing rude letters to...

By Katrina Nannestad

Hardback

$25⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$29⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Star Path

A young whale searches for the whale rider's heir and a teenager takes an epic voyage to Antarctica with a fleet of waka hourua to claim his lost inheritance, in this breathtaking return to the world of global hit The Whale Rider, over thirty years on. From the internationally acclaimed author of The Whale Rider comes a novel about the...

By Witi Ihimaera Smiler

Paperback

$29⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$35⁰⁰~~

(1)

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Wahine

From a majestic mermaid to a clay woman, the creator of glaciers to the mother of gardening, discover powerful wahine and how their stories shaped the world around us. Wahine introduces readers to twelve purakau of brave, bold, and inspiring women of Aotearoa. A beautifully illustrated collection that will delight the whole whanau, from award-winning illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White....

By Isobel Joy Te Aho-White

Hardback

$31⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$39⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas

From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! But this time... it's not about Lottie! From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! And it's CHRISTMAS! In The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks we spent the holiday season with...

By Katie Kirby

Paperback

$17⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Matihe! Achoo!

What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...

By Qiane Matata-Sipu

Paperback

$18⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Sweet As Looky Book

Can you find all the chocolate fish? Is it possible for kiwi to fly? Can you spot the difference? See Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of award-winning artist Donovan Bixley in The Sweet As Looky Book. Use your finest skills to seek out pirates in the Bay of Islands and birds in Rakiura Stewart Island. Get in a car...

By Donovan Bixley

Hardback

$22⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 160,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.