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Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks
What happens to a goose with no beak? Is it possible for a heavy animal like an elephant or a pig to walk on only three legs? Can a turtle with one flipper survive in the ocean?
Readers are introduced to the stories of five different animals from around the globe that are thriving thanks to prosthetic body parts. There's Lola, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Mosha, an Asian elephant, Cassidy, a German shepherd, Vitória, a greylag goose, and Pirate, a Berkshire-Tamworth pig.
Each of these animals was at risk of dying due to their circumstances, but humans intervened, and using a variety of techniques and technologies, they were able to create prosthetics that enabled these animals to survive. Discover the amazing true stories of animals that have survived thanks to their prosthetic body parts.
Readers are introduced to the stories of five different animals from around the globe that are thriving thanks to prosthetic body parts. There's Lola, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Mosha, an Asian elephant, Cassidy, a German shepherd, Vitória, a greylag goose, and Pirate, a Berkshire-Tamworth pig.
Each of these animals was at risk of dying due to their circumstances, but humans intervened, and using a variety of techniques and technologies, they were able to create prosthetics that enabled these animals to survive. Discover the amazing true stories of animals that have survived thanks to their prosthetic body parts.
48 pages, ebook
Published October 6, 2020
1 person is currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Jolene Gutiérrez
11 books290 followersJolene Gutiérrez grew up on a farm in northeastern Colorado, surrounded by animals, plants, and history. Now, she lives with her family and a variety of animals in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. She is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian and has been working with neurodivergent learners at Denver Academy since 1995. She’s a wife of 25+ years and mama to two young adults, three dogs, two cats, and an ever-rotating variety of other rescue animals. Jolene is an active member of SCBWI and The Authors Guild, part of the KidLitCollective and Picture Book Gold groups, and a co-creator of #KidlitZombieWeek. Jolene is represented by agent Kaitlyn Sanchez of Bradford Literary. She’s a contributor to If I Could Choose a Best Day: Poems of Possibility (2025) and the author of Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp (2026), Mamiachi and Me (2025), The Ofrenda That We Built (2024), Too Much! (2023), the Stars of Latin Pop series (2021), Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks (2020), and Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader (2020).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 24, 2021
This book explores environmentalism with a touch of science and tech, and I am so happy I found the time to read it. I re-read it twice and am sharing with middle school readers I know and who are interested in animals, science and a truly positive direction in our world today. A unique, succinct, fascinating look inside the wonders of progress, and healing. If that interests you, get Bionic Beasts!
October 7, 2020
In the pages of this unique book, readers will meet remarkable animals and the doctors and students who used modern technology to enable them to live normal lives. Here are the five main characters: Lola, a Kemp ridley sea turtle with a missing flipper; Mosha, an Asian elephant who stepped on a land mine; Cassidy, a three-legged German Shepherd; Vitória, a greylag goose who had lost most of her beak; and Pirate, a Berkshire-Tamworth pig who was born with a fused tarsal joint in his hock. All of the animals needed extraordinary veterinary intervention which they received.
Each section of the book includes facts about the animals, the patient's history, environmental dangers the animal faced, how their injury affected their body, and how prosthetists, orthotists, veterinarians, and engineering students developed materials, prostheses, and even a fake beak! Every section concludes with an activity that enhances the reader's comprehension.
Lola, an endangered turtle who lives in the Gulf of Mexico weighed less than an ounce when she was found on Mustang Island, Texas. She was fitted with a tracking device that was the size of a grain of rice. Her right flipper had to be amputated leaving her unable to swim in a straight line. Students at Worcester Polytech Institute wanted to create a replacement flipper--and that's exactly what they did! Although Lola will always live in an aquarium, as a result of several determined college students, she can now gracefully swim and dive.
Mosha, as pictured on the front of the book, was fitted with a prosthesis--but she outgrew them thirteen times! As she grows, she needs to be fitted with a new prosthesis every six months. She lives in the Friends of the Asian Elephant hospital where she socializes with other elephants and her human caregiver.
No one knew how the rescue dog, Cassidy, lost his leg. All that his prospective owner knew was that he wanted to save him from being euthanized. Although he gained weight and grew back his hair after moving in with his family, Cassidy struggled to walk. At first, Cassidy was fitted with a removable prosthetic leg but he kept kicking them off. Finally, he was fitted with a metal prosthesis that was implanted into his leg bone. Osseointegration was not without risks. But the surgery, performed at North Carolina's State University College of Veterinary Medicine, was successful. The process of creating an endoprosthesis was complicated, but here was the final result:
Vitória, a greylag goose was found off the coast of Brazil in 2015. It was missing part of its beak and was brought to the Friends of the Sea where she was cared for by a biologist and environmental technologist. Although she learned to trust him, she couldn't feed properly and he sought the help of a veterinary team called Animal Avengers. They had to engineer a top and bottom beak so that Vitória could eat and preen. Using sophisticated software, the team created her new beak and attached it during a two-hour surgery. That first beak was too heavy and using photogrammetry, the team created a prosthesis that was one third the original size.
Pirate, a Berkshire-Tamworth pig, was born with a right-hand leg that was permanently bent at a 90 angle. A veterinarian suggested that the piglet would need a hybrid orthosis-prosthesis to support his leg. As of a year ago, Pirate was 500 pounds and wearing his fourth device, designed by a man who had made orthosis for dogs and humans--but never for a pig!
Bionic Beasts will make a great curriculum resource for the 5-8th grade classroom or homeschool family. Please click here for a link to the teaching guide. The author provides information on technology, science, veterinary medicine, and environmental issues in a very accessible manner. The activities at the end of each chapter reinforce students' learning.
Each section of the book includes facts about the animals, the patient's history, environmental dangers the animal faced, how their injury affected their body, and how prosthetists, orthotists, veterinarians, and engineering students developed materials, prostheses, and even a fake beak! Every section concludes with an activity that enhances the reader's comprehension.
Lola, an endangered turtle who lives in the Gulf of Mexico weighed less than an ounce when she was found on Mustang Island, Texas. She was fitted with a tracking device that was the size of a grain of rice. Her right flipper had to be amputated leaving her unable to swim in a straight line. Students at Worcester Polytech Institute wanted to create a replacement flipper--and that's exactly what they did! Although Lola will always live in an aquarium, as a result of several determined college students, she can now gracefully swim and dive.
Mosha, as pictured on the front of the book, was fitted with a prosthesis--but she outgrew them thirteen times! As she grows, she needs to be fitted with a new prosthesis every six months. She lives in the Friends of the Asian Elephant hospital where she socializes with other elephants and her human caregiver.
No one knew how the rescue dog, Cassidy, lost his leg. All that his prospective owner knew was that he wanted to save him from being euthanized. Although he gained weight and grew back his hair after moving in with his family, Cassidy struggled to walk. At first, Cassidy was fitted with a removable prosthetic leg but he kept kicking them off. Finally, he was fitted with a metal prosthesis that was implanted into his leg bone. Osseointegration was not without risks. But the surgery, performed at North Carolina's State University College of Veterinary Medicine, was successful. The process of creating an endoprosthesis was complicated, but here was the final result:
Vitória, a greylag goose was found off the coast of Brazil in 2015. It was missing part of its beak and was brought to the Friends of the Sea where she was cared for by a biologist and environmental technologist. Although she learned to trust him, she couldn't feed properly and he sought the help of a veterinary team called Animal Avengers. They had to engineer a top and bottom beak so that Vitória could eat and preen. Using sophisticated software, the team created her new beak and attached it during a two-hour surgery. That first beak was too heavy and using photogrammetry, the team created a prosthesis that was one third the original size.
Pirate, a Berkshire-Tamworth pig, was born with a right-hand leg that was permanently bent at a 90 angle. A veterinarian suggested that the piglet would need a hybrid orthosis-prosthesis to support his leg. As of a year ago, Pirate was 500 pounds and wearing his fourth device, designed by a man who had made orthosis for dogs and humans--but never for a pig!
Bionic Beasts will make a great curriculum resource for the 5-8th grade classroom or homeschool family. Please click here for a link to the teaching guide. The author provides information on technology, science, veterinary medicine, and environmental issues in a very accessible manner. The activities at the end of each chapter reinforce students' learning.
July 16, 2020
If your children enjoyed the movie Dolphin Tale, they will enjoy this book. Budding scientists or young animal advocates will also appreciate the information about advances in animal prosthetic development.
This book follows the story of several animals who’d been injured or born with abnormalities that hindered their quality of life. Scientists, veterinarians, prosthetists p, 3-D designers, and in some cases, students, worked together to improve their quality of life. Their teamwork is inspiring, as is their dedication to continually improve and fit these animals with new prostheses as they grow. You will meet Mosha the elephant, Lola the sea turtle, Pirate the pig, Vitoria a greylag goose and others.
Vitoria, the goose, was injured and most of her beak was missing. She had become thin because she had difficulties eating without a proper beak. Learn how a veterinarian hospital in Brazil created a new beak for her.
Color photographs and simple experiments are included to give students an idea of the difficulties that need to be overcome to help design and create the animals’ prosthetics.
I would say this book is geared toward older elementary to junior high because they will encounter some higher level scientific vocabulary such as osseointegration and endoprothesis. .
I received an ARC copy of this book for Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book follows the story of several animals who’d been injured or born with abnormalities that hindered their quality of life. Scientists, veterinarians, prosthetists p, 3-D designers, and in some cases, students, worked together to improve their quality of life. Their teamwork is inspiring, as is their dedication to continually improve and fit these animals with new prostheses as they grow. You will meet Mosha the elephant, Lola the sea turtle, Pirate the pig, Vitoria a greylag goose and others.
Vitoria, the goose, was injured and most of her beak was missing. She had become thin because she had difficulties eating without a proper beak. Learn how a veterinarian hospital in Brazil created a new beak for her.
Color photographs and simple experiments are included to give students an idea of the difficulties that need to be overcome to help design and create the animals’ prosthetics.
I would say this book is geared toward older elementary to junior high because they will encounter some higher level scientific vocabulary such as osseointegration and endoprothesis. .
I received an ARC copy of this book for Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 2, 2020
Bionic Beasts is a fascinating blend of science and heartwarming animal rescue. It tells the true stories of five animals with missing limbs (and one beak) and the heroic efforts of the people who worked to provide them with artificial replacement body parts. I was so moved by the improvement in each animal’s quality of life and the lengths people went to in order to help them. In addition, the technical aspect of building and fitting prostheses is clearly explained at an age-appropriate level. And there is an experiment or activity at the end of each chapter to help the reader experience the prosthetic design challenges firsthand. Perfect for animal lovers, kids interested in STEM, and anybody who loves a happy ending.
October 5, 2020
Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks by Jolene Gutiérrez is currently scheduled for release on October 6 2020. What happens when a young elephant steps on a buried land mine, or when a sea turtle’s flipper is injured by a predator? Thanks to recent advances in technology, we have new ways to design and build prosthetic body parts that can help these animals thrive. Readers will meet an Asian elephant named Mosha, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle named Lola, a German Shepherd named Cassidy, a greylag goose named Vitória, and Pirate, a Berkshire-Tamworth pig. Each of these animals was struggling, but through a variety of techniques and technologies, humans created devices that enabled the animals to live and move more comfortably. Discover the stories of how veterinarians, doctors, and even students from around the world used 3D printing and other techniques to build bionic body parts for these amazing animals.
Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks is an inspiring look at what people can do to help animals live a better life. I had seen some of these stories before, mostly as part of documentaries or animal shows on television, but this book gave me a much better appreciation for the care, determination, and craftsmanship that was required to make these things happen. The thought, ingenuity, and trial and error that went into improving the lives of these animals was inspiring and can lead the scientific and medical communities to even better solutions and advances in the future. I thought the writing was well done and accessible to readers, and the layouts of the pages balanced text and images nicely. I really liked that there were experiments for readers to try, and a quality resources in the endpages for engaged readers.
Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks is a great read for animal loves and inspiring scientists of all kinds.
Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks is an inspiring look at what people can do to help animals live a better life. I had seen some of these stories before, mostly as part of documentaries or animal shows on television, but this book gave me a much better appreciation for the care, determination, and craftsmanship that was required to make these things happen. The thought, ingenuity, and trial and error that went into improving the lives of these animals was inspiring and can lead the scientific and medical communities to even better solutions and advances in the future. I thought the writing was well done and accessible to readers, and the layouts of the pages balanced text and images nicely. I really liked that there were experiments for readers to try, and a quality resources in the endpages for engaged readers.
Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks is a great read for animal loves and inspiring scientists of all kinds.
December 1, 2020
BIONIC BEASTS highlights five animals who need therapeutic and rehabilitation intervention. A host of scientists, veterinarians, and kids who care come to the rescue! With technology like 3D printing and teamwork, Mosha the elephant, Lola the sea turtle, Pirate the pig, Vitoria a greylag goose get the different prosthetic bionic body parts they need so they can lead a better quality of life. Read this fascinating book to find out what each animal needs, the technology used, and the challenges faced, and the dedication it took to get these animals the help they needed. This book has a healthy dose of heart and science that will resonate with readers of all ages.
December 5, 2022
This wonderful book restores faith in the kindness of humans and ingenuity. Gutierrez shares the heartwarming, true stories of several animals that have been saved thanks to science and technology. I love how the book inspires readers to explore science and be a part of positive change. This book would be a great addition to family and classroom libraries.
July 25, 2021
I read this book for the Charlie May Simon award. It was a very interesting and detailed look at how we can help injured animals lead a normal life. All of the prosthetic creations were so amazing!
September 28, 2020
A wonderful nonfiction book!
Author, Gutiérrez, shares the lives of an injured sea turtle, elephant, dog, goose, and others and goes on to document in detail how they were saved by creating different forms of prosthesis - fins, feet, legs, and beaks. Details of experiments for children to explore movement and more are included throughout the book.
An absolute must have for all upper primary classrooms and libraries!
A true animal lovers' book.
Author, Gutiérrez, shares the lives of an injured sea turtle, elephant, dog, goose, and others and goes on to document in detail how they were saved by creating different forms of prosthesis - fins, feet, legs, and beaks. Details of experiments for children to explore movement and more are included throughout the book.
An absolute must have for all upper primary classrooms and libraries!
A true animal lovers' book.
September 25, 2020
This book fascinated me. I was almost in tears when I finished reading it.
The story introduces Mosha, Lola, Cassidy, Victoria and Pirate— animals whose lives were saved by artificial body parts.
Each animal that was fitted with prosthetic is brought to life with the most compelling photographs. The reader learns how new technologies such as 3D printing help in building legs, flippers and beaks, allowing the animals to continue living and functioning.
An extra bonus are the activities, inviting young readers to actually try out a recipe for silicone used for Lola’s flipper and much more. The book is filled with amazing facts and also celebrates all the dedicated people who help these animals.
Beautiful , enriching, a must read for young readers!
November 11, 2020
Calling all animal lovers! This book is fascinating!!!
Follow five real-life animals (Lola, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Mosha, an Asian elephant, Cassidy, a German shepherd, Vitória, a greylag goose, and Pirate, a Berkshire-Tamworth pig) who were struggling and are now thriving thanks to prosthetic body parts.
Packed with information this fabulous new picture book introduces readers to each animal, details the environmental challenges they faced, the animal's injuries, the scientists who rescued them, the lengths they had to go to rescue them, and even includes extension activities in connection to each animal!
Aimed at the older end of the picture book crowd this is a can't miss book which is sure to inspire and warm the hearts of readers everywhere.
Follow five real-life animals (Lola, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Mosha, an Asian elephant, Cassidy, a German shepherd, Vitória, a greylag goose, and Pirate, a Berkshire-Tamworth pig) who were struggling and are now thriving thanks to prosthetic body parts.
Packed with information this fabulous new picture book introduces readers to each animal, details the environmental challenges they faced, the animal's injuries, the scientists who rescued them, the lengths they had to go to rescue them, and even includes extension activities in connection to each animal!
Aimed at the older end of the picture book crowd this is a can't miss book which is sure to inspire and warm the hearts of readers everywhere.
September 28, 2020
A neat blend of cute animals and medical science, I think this will be a perfect one for getting my animal obsessed 7 year old interested in learning about things she hasn’t yet, if it means some day she can help animals. Plenty of color pictures, this would be one she’d likely read to herself.
December 21, 2020
BIONIC BEASTS: Saving Animals Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks is a must-read for any animal lover. In this touching STEM-related story, Gutiérrez takes the reader into the lives of five animals who have experienced dismemberment, and the heroes who came to their rescue. The reader will find themselves cheering as each chapter describes how artificial body parts were designed, created, and fitted for the five. The well-written, age appropriate text pairs so well with the phenomenal photographs, readers will find it impossible to not keep turning the pages. In addition, Gutiérrez has included hands-on extension activities at the end of each chapter which allow readers to further explore the challenges of creating prostheses for animals. A feel-good, science-sharing story that will warm the hearts of anyone who loves animals.
November 18, 2020
This inspiring, solidly-researched book shares amazing true personal stories about animals around the world who have been helped with innovative prosthetic limbs. There are creative activities for kids to try at home with easy-to-find materials (and I appreciated the attention to sustainable options for those materials). I especially loved that there were so many examples of students--8th graders, college students, and more--who worked directly on the design of prostheses to help animals. And the clear takeaway that it takes creativity, compassion, and above all persistence to finally succeed. And even after success, there is room to keep learning, testing, and coming up with even better designs that improve the animals' quality of life even more.
November 22, 2020
If you want to feel uplifted, get this book. The ingenuity of humans mixed with the strength of these beautiful animals makes you feel good about the world. The stories behind these amazing achievements in animal prosthetics are fascinating.
November 10, 2020
This book is so cool. The topic is captivating and the writing and photos are very engaging. I learned so much myself and my five-year-old son couldn’t get enough of it. It took us a few days to read it all and he kept asking for it whenever we had time together. A must-read for animal lovers.
November 7, 2020
Fascinating book! I was especially interested to learn of the Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital in Thailand, where Mosha the elephant was helped. I think kids of all ages who love animals and STEM will enjoy this book.
November 4, 2020
I read this fascinating book in one sitting. Who knew that lovers of animals and science were out in the world saving the lives of maimed sea turtles, elephants, and birds, and helping so many injured animals thrive? The wonders of technology, 3-D printing, and special plastics combined with the expertise of scientists, orthopedic surgeons, engineers, and artists on display in this page-turner will inspire readers, young and old.
October 21, 2020
Fascinating! Older elementary students and early middle grade students who love animals and science will absolutely love this book.
November 4, 2020
This book is stuffed full of animal love! And animal lovers will fall in love with each of the five animals saved by amazing people. The stories take you in-depth to the rescues and surgeries. And survival! This book is for animal lovers. For hungry brains wanting to learn. For environmentalists. For the curious.
This beautiful book is for everyone!
This beautiful book is for everyone!
October 19, 2020
This book has it all: animals to love, amazing rescue and rehabilitation stories, and some fun hands on projects related to each animal. Perfect for expanding interest in science and a must have book for classroom and home libraries. Beautifully written and illustrated.
November 2, 2020
This is an absolutely intriguing book that combines non-fiction elements of animal prosthetics with interactive STEM experiments. A must-have for children and their school teachers to explore the possibilities of science and engineering, and to learn how these fields come together to make a difference in the world that we live in!
November 28, 2020
Amazing! This book is so well done, with powerful, heartfelt information about wonderful people helping phenomenal animals, written in an accessible way while also having fun, informational activities for kids as well as stunning images. 5 stars for sure!
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February 25, 2021I so enjoyed this wonderful book. As an animal lover, it was touching to see how so many people came together to help these five animals live a life they would never experience without the help of science. My young girls loved hearing about Lola's new flipper and Mosha's new leg. Even better, I got to introduce them to terms like prosthesis and bionic while they learned how students came together to connect data and mold these amazing legs, beaks and flippers together through a "labor of love."
One last thing is the author of this book is so truly amazing. I won a copy of the story and Jolene sent book marks, a personalized stamp for the girls to go inside the book and a written card. She also offered to answer any questions the girls have on zoom. Great story, great author.
One last thing is the author of this book is so truly amazing. I won a copy of the story and Jolene sent book marks, a personalized stamp for the girls to go inside the book and a written card. She also offered to answer any questions the girls have on zoom. Great story, great author.
February 17, 2021
5 stars because it's a great non-fic title for readers who are interested in science, animals, & technology. This would be an excellent book for demonstrating how STEAM can make an impact on the lives on animals and how humans have the capacity and compassion to care for the other beings that inhabit this planet.
Also BIONIC BEASTS gets 5 stars because it made me tear up on desk :')
Also BIONIC BEASTS gets 5 stars because it made me tear up on desk :')
March 17, 2021
Interesting info about an assortment of 5 international rescued animals needing prosthetic help to survive. Compelling photos of the animals and their helpers, nice arrangement of text, sidebars, and photos. Great back matter, including a bib for each animal. Fans of Dolphin’s Tale should enjoy this one.
March 4, 2021
Fantastic, persistent work to help animals, accomplished by caring people worldwide. The book is better for including thought-provoking activities for readers to consider in designing prostheses and more.
December 1, 2021
Wow! This book is packed full of so many cool and informative spreads. My kids and I loved reading about the different prosthetics and animals. The photographs are just as captivating as the text. This book is excellent for science and animals lovers alike. I highly recommend it!
October 15, 2021
Filled with fascinating facts tied to memorable stories of how science and engineering can help injured animals flourish. Activities and experiments take STEM lessons beyond the pages.
February 1, 2021
The book highlights a few different animals and gives STEAM activities between the stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews