Ready for two examples of books that use the graphic novel-style to its best advantage? A Tour of Your Circulatory System (First Graphics) by Karen Ballen and illustrated by Chris B. Jones, and A Tour of Your Digestive System (First Graphics) by Molly Kolpin and also illustrated by Chris B. Jones, use Peter Pea and Ruby the red blood cell to go where no human can go on their own.
Children are definitely curious about how their body works. These books have a gently humorous approach to explaining how food moves through the digestive system and blood moves through the circulatory system. The reader learns new vocabulary words like “platelet” and “bile.” It isn’t difficult to figure out, however, because the illustrations help make abstract concepts concrete. If they need even more help, there’s a glossary in the back.
Readers unfamiliar with the graphic novel format or finding it confusing? The books in this series have instructions on how to read them right on the back of the book. Now that is a good idea!
Educators will definitely want to have A Tour of Your Circulatory System and A Tour of Your Digestive System on “hand” for those units on the human body. Both these books could work for reluctant readers at higher grades, because of the interesting visual format. And besides, who doesn’t enjoy cartoons?
A Tour of Your Circulatory System
Reading Level: 1-2
Publisher: Capstone Press (2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1429693223
ISBN-13: 978-1429693226
A Tour of Your Digestive System
Reading Level: 1-2
Publisher: Capstone Press (2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 142969324X
ISBN-13: 978-1429693240
Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.