Cells to Organ Systems

Gr 4–8—Combining well-written text with a graphic-novel format, this innovative series supplies adolescents with authoritative information about the human body. Each page presents two to five cartoon frames with captions. Parts such as brains, cells, and neurons are represented by cartoonish characters who spew authoritative facts captured in speech bubbles. These titles directly tackle myths and misconceptions and make use of analogies to facilitate the discussion of complex concepts. For example, the author compares possible artery damage caused by high blood pressure compared to how bicycle tires will explode when overfilled with air and compares red bone marrow to "a factory that produces cells vital for supporting life." Although somewhat unconventional because of its format, this series will be a welcome addition to most collections.