Parents' Guide to

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

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Amazing bird rescue tale shows teamwork, high-tech science.

Book Deborah Lee Rose, Jane Veltkamp Science 2017
Beauty and the Beak: How Science, Technology, and a 3D-Printed Beak Rescued a Bald Eagle Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

BEAUTY AND THE BEAK: HOW SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND A 3D-PRINTED BEAK RESCUED A BALD EAGLE follows the journey of a wild bald eagle in Alaska, later named Beauty, that grows from egg to 4-year-old bird, at which point she's suddenly shot, her beak shattered, and she falls from her tree. Due to her injuries, she can't fly to hunt for food and is found by police when she's trying to find scraps at a landfill. She's taken to a local wildlife center, and then Idaho raptor biologist Jane Veltkamp brings her to Birds of Prey Northwest, the wildlife center she founded in Northern Idaho. There Veltkamp teams up with an engineer to create a prosthetic beak and a dentist, who helps attach it to Beauty. The bird survives and still lives at the wildlife center (unable to return to the wild because she still needs help from humans), and her real beak is slowly growing back.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This riveting survival story gives kids a close-up view of science and technology in service of wildlife. Beauty and the Beak tells one amazing story of a bird and the problem-solving raptor biologist who saves her, but offers lots more information in sidebars filled with facts, figures -- and feathers! -- that spotlight practical issues such as "How You Can Help" and "Endangered No Longer," which outlines the successful results of conservation efforts. The book won the 2018 American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Children's Science Book Prize and the the 2017 California Reading Association Eureka! Gold Award for nonfiction children's books.

The abundant color photos of eagles in the wild and Beauty's progress and treatment will draw kids in. The text is crystal clear and easy for kids to grasp, with specialized scientific vocabulary defined. And the main story of Beauty is beautifully told, with drama and suspense. Even the most graphic passage -- about Beauty's injury -- is told poetically:

"Suddenly a crash like lightning and thunder split the air! The eagle's face burned. She couldn't see. Her talons lost their grip and the tree seemed to spin around her. She fell to the ground, stunned. The sun was still high in the sky, but the eagle's world went dark. A bullet had shattered her beak. Her eye was torn and her face was bleeding. It even hurt for her to breathe. The eagle lay on the ground for days, too weak to move."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what they learned about bald eagles in Beauty and the Beak. What did you discover that you hadn't known before?

  • Did you know that body parts made by 3D printers are being used to help injured kids, soldiers, animals, and birds? What do you think about engineers helping scientists, biologists, and doctors in their work? Would you like to work on a team like that? Why is teamwork important?

  • Is there a wildlife center or animal rescue place where you live? Think you might like to volunteer there someday? What appeals to you about that kind of work?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate