84-year-old Heath Village resident overcomes dyslexia to publish first book

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – Heath Village resident Kathy Madden has written and published the children’s STEM book Who Knew? The Wonders of Biomimicry.

Innovation based on observations of nature, plants, and animals is called biomimicry. From butterfly wings inspiring the development of mobile device displays to the shape of a kingfisher bird’s body improving the design of Japan’s bullet train, nature has been inspiring humans to build better and smarter for generations. Kathy’s book offers readers an introduction to this fascinating topic.

Entertaining for all ages, Who Knew? is filled with stunning photographs and amazing facts to encourage engagement and spark curiosity in early readers. Kathy believes that understanding biomimicry is essential for modern innovation and the preservation of nature. Her interest in the topic was sparked by a show on PBS. Following the program, she tried to find more information about biomimicry but at that time could only find three books on the subject, prompting her to write her own.

Prior to moving to Heath Village in 2020, Kathy and her husband John were long-time residents of the Town of Clinton in Hunterdon County. She is an author, artist, community volunteer, and retired graphic artist. Being dyslexic, Kathy is inspired to create books that combine simple text and beautiful photography in hopes of sparking interest in struggling readers and helping to improve comprehension.

Kathy is already hard at work on her next publication, The World’s Oldest Living Tree. Who Knew? The Wonders of Biomimicry is available on Amazon.

Heath Village is a full-service, not-for-profit, retirement community located at 430 Schooley’s Mountain Road in Washington Township, Morris County. For further information, call 908-852-4801 or visit www.heathvillage.com.