Karl's New Beak is a children's nonfiction book written by Lela Nargi and illustrated by Harriet Popham. It is currently scheduled for release on January 3 2019. Karl is an Abyssinian ground hornbill with a special challenge. His lower bill had broken off and made eating difficult. Karl did a great job of adapting and finding new ways to eat, but he wasn't getting all the food he needed. His zookeepers at the National Zoo and friends at the Smithsonian Institute wanted to help. Could an old bird skeleton and a 3-D printer give Karl a new beak? Karl's new adventure was about to begin!
Karl's New Beak is an engaging and interesting read. I love learning about animals, and discovering not only how they live, but how some people care enough to help and support them. Karl is a captive hornbill that certainly would not have survived in the wild. Zookeepers cared enough about Karl that they did not just want him to survive, they wanted him to be happy. They researched and tried for the right solution to help Karl. The information about Karl in particular, and the species in general, was well explained and accessible. The combination of photography and artwork help show the details of the project to help Karl, and how some technology and science tools can be used.
Karl's New Beak is both interesting and uplifting. While some people might think the time and effort that went into helping Karl have a more satisfying life was a waste, I think helping living creature can be its own reward. It can also be used to expand our skills and knowledge in ways that we can use to help even more animals and people in the future.
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