160,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Powered by Plants

Meet the trees, flowers and vegetation that inspire our everyday technology
4.43 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 28 ratings, 10 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Powered by Plants explores the remarkable diversity of plant life, highlighting how their unique features have inspired human innovations in science, design, engineering, and technology. From towering cottonwood trees harnessing wind power potential to carnivorous plants and fast-growing aquatic species aiding ship propulsion, the book reveals surprising applications of both exotic and familiar plants like bamboo, coconut, and maize. Colourful illustrations and engaging fact boxes enliven the science, demonstrating the vast knowledge gained from studying the natural world.
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

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?

This book is well suited to children and young readers with an interest in science, nature, and technology, as well as educators seeking engaging educational material. It particularly appeals to those curious about biology, innovation, and environmental studies.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Powered by Plants explores the world of plants and how their properties are increasingly helping to shape the cutting edge of human technology and design.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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 studied and copied, inspiring innovation in science, design, engineering, and technology. This book guides readers through a startling collection of fascinating vegetation, from towering cottonwood trees with wind power potential to slippery, meat-eating assassins of the plant world and the fast-growing aquatic plant which helps propel ships farther using less energy.

Learn surprising applications and spin-offs of both exotic species including the world's largest flower that generates its own heat and more familiar plants such as bamboo, coconut, and maize, all depicted in colourful, engaging fashion.

Colourful and lively illustrations and pop-out fact boxes bring the science in this book to life, and Powered by Plants shows us how much we can learn from studying the myriad magnificence of the natural world. Other fascinating books in this series are Built by Animals and Invented by Animals.

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...
    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...
    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...
    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....
    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?

Powered by Plants is praised as an informative and inspiring introduction to plant diversity and their technological uses, suitable for a young audience. Reviews highlight its light-hearted yet fact-filled approach, abundant illustrations, and appeal to aspiring scientists and engineers. It is recommended for both school and home libraries, and is noted as part of a compelling series including Built by Animals and Invented by Animals.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780711270060

Publisher: Quarto Publishing PLC

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 02 August 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Wide Eyed Editions

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Gosia Herba

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 235.0mm

Height: 276.0mm

Weight: 650g

Pages: 80

About the Author

Clive Gifford has travelled to more than 70 countries, climbed rocket launch towers, ridden on robots and flown gliders. Hes had more than 200 books published and received nominations for or won Royal Society, School Library Association, Smithsonian and TES awards. He won the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Book with Facts 2019 for his title The Colours of History (QED). Clive lives in Manchester, UK. Gosia Herba is an illustrator and art historian originally from Poland. Shes worked as an illustrator of childrens books, graphic novels, magazines, music labels, and advertisements for over 12 years. www.gosiaherba.pl

Also by Clive Gifford

View all
  • Lonely Planet Kids How Spaceships Work
    Blast off into the cosmos with the latest title in the popular 'How Things Work' series, which includes How Cities Work, How Airports Work, How Trains Work, and How Ships Work—books that reveal the inner workings of familiar places and vehicles. Featuring fantastic illustrations by James Gulliver Hancock, Lonely Planet Kids How Spaceships Work explores the ultimate vehicles: spaceships. Discover...
    Hardback
    $2699
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Lonely Planet Kids Inside – The World's Wonders
    Take a tour around the world to uncover some of the planet's most incredible landmarks and monuments - inside and out. From the Great Pyramid of Giza to the Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal to Sydney Opera House, you'll discover the secrets of these iconic structures, learn about their history and find out why they have become 'wonders' of...
    Hardback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Amazing Puzzles and Quizzes for Every 10 Year Old
    Filled with over 150 brain-busting puzzles and quizzes – fully illustrated throughout! Are you a whizz at animal trivia? Do travel facts float your boat? Do you know all there is to know about dinosaurs? Put your knowledge to the test in this fun-packed book of puzzles and quizzes! Look out for spot the difference, mazes, odd one out, and...
    Paperback
    $1299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Amazing Puzzles and Quizzes for Every 9 Year Old
    Filled with over 150 brain-busting puzzles and quizzes – fully illustrated throughout! Are you a whizz at animal trivia? Do travel facts float your boat? Do you know all there is to know about dinosaurs? Put your knowledge to the test in this fun-packed book of puzzles and quizzes! Look out for spot the difference, mazes, odd one out, and...
    Paperback
    $1299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Ben Stokes
    Meet the king of English cricket, Ben Stokes, in this thrilling unofficial biography! From his childhood in New Zealand and his early cricketing career at Cockermouth, to winning his first County Championship with Durham and selection for England, Ben Stokes’s cricket career has been filled with extraordinary successes alongside great challenges. Follow this impressive all-rounder as he bats, bowls and...
    Paperback
    $1699
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Heather Knight
    Meet the champion of the England women’s team, Heather Knight, in this thrilling unofficial biography! Heather Knight is a talented all-rounder and first-class batter, with a stellar career across all formats of the game. She has led the England women’s squad all around the world as captain, netting some spectacular victories along the way. Cheer at her most exciting matches,...
    Paperback
    $1699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Incredible Football
    Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the sport, prepare to be amazed by this fun-filled book of stories, facts and stats from the world of football. Meet the dog that saved Manchester United! Discover the match that was played in space . . . . . . and the game that was abandoned when the ref sent off...
    Paperback
    $1699
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Incredible Cricket
    Whether you’re already a fan or are new to the sport, prepare to be BOWLED OVER by this fun-filled book of stories, facts and stats from the world of cricket. 60 extraordinary stories span the globe and include unforgettable events and players from the men’s, women’s and para games, past and present. Meet Brian Lara, who made a mind-blowing 501...
    Paperback
    $1699
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Incredible Golf
    Whether you’re a diehard fan or new to the sport, prepare to be amazed by this fun-filled book of stories, facts and stats from the world of golf. With over 80 million fans worldwide, golf is a fast-growing sport among grown-ups AND kids! Did you know that... You can only compete in the annual Kris Kringle Open in the USA...
    Paperback
    $1699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Incredible Rugby
    Whether you’re a diehard fan or new to the sport, prepare to be amazed by this fun-filled book of stories, facts, and stats from the world of rugby. The book’s content spans the globe and includes unforgettable events and players from the men’s, women’s, and para games, past and present. Discover inspiring pioneers, iconic players, historic moments, and some of...
    Paperback
    $1899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Mitchell Starc
    Meet star bowler and Australian cricketing legend, Mitchell Starc, in this thrilling unofficial biography! Mitchell Starc’s love of cricket started when he was just a boy growing up in New South Wales – and it only grew, until he had become one of the most accomplished and respected fast-bowlers in the game. He has thrilled crowds and sent balls rocketing...
    Paperback
    $1699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Lonely Planet Kids How Trains Work
    All aboard! From the fastest to the longest, the oldest to the newest, through tunnels, across bridges and up mountainsides, take a fascinating ride through the world of trains in this brilliant new book from illustrator James Gulliver Hancock. In this follow-up to How Cities Work and How Airports Work, young readers travel through history and around the world to...
    Hardback
    $2699
    In Stock
    Ships today

More from Education & Reference

View all
  • Revenge of the Tipping Point
    Twenty-five years after the publication of his groundbreaking first book, Malcolm Gladwell returns with a brand new volume that reframes the lessons of The Tipping Point in a startling and revealing light. What does the heartbreaking fate of the cheetah tell us about the way we raise our children? Why do elite universities care so much about sports? What is...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Body Keeps the Score
    The Body Keeps the Score by Dr Bessel van der Kolk is a compelling and compassionate exploration of the deep-seated impact of trauma on the human body and mind. This groundbreaking work delves into the complex causes of trauma and paints a vivid picture of the revolutionary treatments that are enabling countless individuals to reclaim their lives filled with purpose...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • One Last Question, Prime Minister
    From Muldoon to Luxon, untold stories from the House of Parliament Barry Soper has spent close to five decades questioning New Zealand's prime ministers.From the imposing, larger-than-life characters of Rob Muldoon and David Lange, to the golden age of Helen Clark and John Key, and the post-Covid era of Jacinda Ardern and the 'Chrises', Soper's insight and nose for a...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (6)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Song of the Birds
    A stunning and panoramic history of native birds in Aotearoa, from the bestselling author of The Meaning of Trees For millions of years, the song of the birds echoed throughout Aotearoa, with no one around to hear it. While the arrival of humans would transform their story forever - birds may have changed us even more. In this beautiful and...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Lucky You're Tough
    New Release
    Lucky You're Tough
    Lucky You're Tough chronicles the early life of helicopter pilot and NZSAS soldier Mark Law, from growing up in the rural wilds of Whangamōmona through to surviving a series of life-threatening events that would shape his life and career. After a career as a badged soldier in the NZSAS that led to an intriguing stint with the British SAS and...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Hormone Health is Mental Health
    New Release
    Hormone Health is Mental Health
    Hormone Health is Mental Health is a lifechanging guide to understanding perimenopause and midlife women's mental health - and how understanding your hormones is the first step to feeling like yourself again. This book is for women in their thirties, forties, and fifties who feel like they're falling apart. Women who feel like their brains and bodies are betraying them,...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    American Hagwon
    ‘Profoundly generous and humane’ DOUGLAS STUART‘Engrossing … brilliantly imagined’ COLM TÓIBÍN‘Breathtaking … I adored it’ ELIF SHAFAK‘Extraordinary’ TARA WESTOVERMin Jin Lee, the acclaimed author of Pachinko, returns with a breathtaking contemporary epic that follows one family as they reckon with personal dreams and familial duty. John and Helen Koh and their three children – Bo, DH and Mido – are...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Age Code
    What if the food you eat could rewind your biological clock? 'Clear and compelling' — Chris van Tulleken 'Really interesting and insightful' — Joe Wicks 'Fascinating' — Tim Spector From the rising incidence of cancer in the under-50s to increased infertility rates, there are signs everywhere that growing numbers of us are ageing too quickly. Why? Many believe there’s one...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Kitchen Confidential
    The classic bestseller from the star of Parts Unknown and No Reservations: 25th Anniversary edition, with a new introduction by Irvine Welsh. BEFORE THERE WAS THE BEAR, THERE WAS BOURDAIN. ‘Elizabeth David written by Quentin Tarantino’ — A.A. Gill ‘Fantastic: as lip-smackingly seductive as a bowl of fat chips and pungent aioli’ — Daily Telegraph After twenty-five years of sex,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    The Cauldron
    How did an elderly cleric overthrow the Shah of Iran and change the world?Why did Bin Laden attack the USA - and why did the USA destroy Saddam?How did Britain and France carve up the Middle East - and why did the Kurds never get their own state? THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE MAKING OF TODAY'S MIDDLE EAST: A SPELLBINDING...
    Hardback
    $4999
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The 48 Laws Of Power
    The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is a modern classic that delves into the complexities of power dynamics and strategies for gaining and maintaining power. Greene meticulously examines the principles that have driven those who wield power, from ancient rulers and military leaders to modern-day figures. The book unfolds through historical anecdotes, examining the tactics, victories, and mistakes...
    Paperback
    $3400
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Fungi of Aotearoa
    The complete introduction to finding, identifying and using mushrooms and other fungi in New Zealand. Enter and explore the fascinating world of fungi. In this practical and up-to-date guide, forager and fungus enthusiast Liv Sisson shares her top tips and takes the reader on a journey to discover the unique and diverse fungi Aotearoa has to offer. Discover how to...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    (2)
    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

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

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.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.