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Osteoblasts to the Rescue: An Imaginative Journey Through the Skeletal System
New Edition, new updates! Human Body Detectives Merrin and Pearl are at it again. Their magical ability to jump into people’s bodies and explore their systems (digestive immune, circulatory, skeletal, nervous systems) combines science with their fun adventures to help kids understand how their anatomy and physiology, and how to nourish it well. In Osteoblasts to the Rescue , Merrin and Pearl examine their friend Lily's skeletal system on their journey to reach the broken bone in her arm. Along the way, they slide down rib bones, climb up the clavicle, see the fracture, and so much more. In the end, they not only learn about how broken bones repair themselves, but they get a firsthand lesson on the functions of the skeletal system. Osteoblasts to the Rescue is one of five stories featured in the Human Body Detectives series, along with, The Lucky Escape, Battle with the Bugs, A Heart Pumping Adventure, and Brainiacs. The Human Body Detectives series explores science with a twist—an accessible lesson about the human body presented in a fun, relatable way that kids will love. Each Human Body Detective book can stand alone or be read as part of the series. Ideal for both the home and the classroom, these beautifully illustrated books offer activity pages as well as a glossary of terms and information about the best foods kids can eat to keep their bodies healthy. A curriculum for teachers and homeschooling families is also available for each book on the Human Body Detectives website. Recommended for ages 6 to 10
- GenresChildrens
53 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Heather Manley
10 books16 followersDr. Heather Manley, ND, is a practicing physician who received her medical degree in 2001 from National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She is also the award-winning author of The Human Body Detectives book and curriculum series.
A contributing writer to Dandelion Moms, Organic Eats magazine, Parents Canada, and KIWI magazine, Dr. Heather was inspired to write The Human Body Detectives stories when she went on a search for books about healthy eating tips for parents and kids and couldn't find what she was looking for. She wanted to provide a fun and engaging resource that would teach kids about how their bodies work and what foods best feed them. And the HBDs were born.
The Human Body Detectives series won Moms' Choice Award and is also a Parent Tested, Parent Approved winner. Dr. Heather has been named to the Top 50 Mompreneurs Bloggers List on both Babble , VoiceBoks and blogtrepreneur
Dr. Heather lives and practices on the Big Island of Hawaii, where her focus is on preventative healthcare for families and providing a resource for families to learn more about preventative health care so that they can be confident and proactive in their everyday health. She lives with her husband and her two daughters, with whom she based her stories' characters, Merrin and Pearl.
Dr. Heather is currently at work writing another Human Body Detectives adventure, an imaginative journey through the brain and nervous system.
HBD series : The Lucky Escape * Battle with the Bugs * A Heart Pumping Adventure * Osteoblasts to the Rescue
The HBD turn -key curriculum can be purchased on the HBD website, Teachers Pay Teachers and Homeschool Buyers Co op.
Site: http://www.humanbodydetectives.com/blog/
Twitter: @drheathernd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumanBodyDet...
A contributing writer to Dandelion Moms, Organic Eats magazine, Parents Canada, and KIWI magazine, Dr. Heather was inspired to write The Human Body Detectives stories when she went on a search for books about healthy eating tips for parents and kids and couldn't find what she was looking for. She wanted to provide a fun and engaging resource that would teach kids about how their bodies work and what foods best feed them. And the HBDs were born.
The Human Body Detectives series won Moms' Choice Award and is also a Parent Tested, Parent Approved winner. Dr. Heather has been named to the Top 50 Mompreneurs Bloggers List on both Babble , VoiceBoks and blogtrepreneur
Dr. Heather lives and practices on the Big Island of Hawaii, where her focus is on preventative healthcare for families and providing a resource for families to learn more about preventative health care so that they can be confident and proactive in their everyday health. She lives with her husband and her two daughters, with whom she based her stories' characters, Merrin and Pearl.
Dr. Heather is currently at work writing another Human Body Detectives adventure, an imaginative journey through the brain and nervous system.
HBD series : The Lucky Escape * Battle with the Bugs * A Heart Pumping Adventure * Osteoblasts to the Rescue
The HBD turn -key curriculum can be purchased on the HBD website, Teachers Pay Teachers and Homeschool Buyers Co op.
Site: http://www.humanbodydetectives.com/blog/
Twitter: @drheathernd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumanBodyDet...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 2, 2013
Osteoblasts to the Rescue is the fourth book in the Human Body Detectives non-fiction book series for young readers, written by Dr. Heather Manley. Not having read any of the other books in the series, I was introduced for the first time to sisters Pearl and Merrin, literally, the “Human Body Detectives” themselves. I found the book to be educational, visually interesting, and filled with fun.
In this book, the sisters travel inside their friend’s body to have a closer look at a fracture in one of the bones in her arm. They begin their adventure in their friend’s spinal column, travel across some ribs toward the sternum, scale the clavicle, and slide down the humerus to the ulna bone where the fracture is located. See? I learned a lot about bones through this book! The book is literally filled with facts about bones; some of which I found fairly complex (e.g., spinal processes and different types of vertebrae) and some that were easier to grasp (e.g., the funny bone is not a bone!) Many of the same facts were repeated at the end of the book in a review of what was covered in the story. I found that very helpful.
The images were all very interesting and the kids really enjoyed looking at the pictures in the book featuring the kids climbing the bones of their friend. Some of the text in the book was highlighted (especially important terms such as “bones”, “206″, “spinal processes”) with a different font color or style. It reminded me very much of the Geronimo Stilton books in that way. There was also a fun activity in the book: “find the osteoblasts hiding in the pictures throughout the book”. My kids had fun finding them all.
Osteoblasts to the Rescue Inside PageThere are many add-ons at the back of the book (10 pages worth!) including more information about the skeleton system, information about which foods help build strong bones, a full skeleton with some of the bones labelled, and a list of fun facts. I can see that these would be useful tools for further discussions about the skeletal system – perfect for homeschoolers!
My only question about this book series is about the intended target audience. The book is clearly a picture book, but the word density and complexity is quite high for a picture book. I kept thinking that it is too complex for young children and it presents as too young for older children. That being said, both my kids (my son who is 6 and my daughter who is 10) really enjoyed the book and asked many questions as we were reading.
My Bottom Line:
Human Body Detectives: Osteoblasts to the Rescue was a fun and fact-filled story centred on teaching children about the skeletal system. The illustrations and add-ons at the back of the book make this an excellent choice for a range of ages (5+). I would particularly recommend these books to homeschoolers who are looking for educational stories.
*** Human Body Detectives: Osteoblasts to the Rescue (Case File #4) was provided to us free-of-charge by the author through the Osteoblasts to the Rescue Blog Tour organized by Kathy from I am a Reader Not a Writer in exchange for an honest review.***
In this book, the sisters travel inside their friend’s body to have a closer look at a fracture in one of the bones in her arm. They begin their adventure in their friend’s spinal column, travel across some ribs toward the sternum, scale the clavicle, and slide down the humerus to the ulna bone where the fracture is located. See? I learned a lot about bones through this book! The book is literally filled with facts about bones; some of which I found fairly complex (e.g., spinal processes and different types of vertebrae) and some that were easier to grasp (e.g., the funny bone is not a bone!) Many of the same facts were repeated at the end of the book in a review of what was covered in the story. I found that very helpful.
The images were all very interesting and the kids really enjoyed looking at the pictures in the book featuring the kids climbing the bones of their friend. Some of the text in the book was highlighted (especially important terms such as “bones”, “206″, “spinal processes”) with a different font color or style. It reminded me very much of the Geronimo Stilton books in that way. There was also a fun activity in the book: “find the osteoblasts hiding in the pictures throughout the book”. My kids had fun finding them all.
Osteoblasts to the Rescue Inside PageThere are many add-ons at the back of the book (10 pages worth!) including more information about the skeleton system, information about which foods help build strong bones, a full skeleton with some of the bones labelled, and a list of fun facts. I can see that these would be useful tools for further discussions about the skeletal system – perfect for homeschoolers!
My only question about this book series is about the intended target audience. The book is clearly a picture book, but the word density and complexity is quite high for a picture book. I kept thinking that it is too complex for young children and it presents as too young for older children. That being said, both my kids (my son who is 6 and my daughter who is 10) really enjoyed the book and asked many questions as we were reading.
My Bottom Line:
Human Body Detectives: Osteoblasts to the Rescue was a fun and fact-filled story centred on teaching children about the skeletal system. The illustrations and add-ons at the back of the book make this an excellent choice for a range of ages (5+). I would particularly recommend these books to homeschoolers who are looking for educational stories.
*** Human Body Detectives: Osteoblasts to the Rescue (Case File #4) was provided to us free-of-charge by the author through the Osteoblasts to the Rescue Blog Tour organized by Kathy from I am a Reader Not a Writer in exchange for an honest review.***
June 26, 2013
This is the second book from this entertaining but educational children's book series. If you were ever a fan of the Magic School Bus series (or if your kids were), this should appeal to you and your kids. The story is engaging, but if this is the first book you have read in the series, you may struggle to comprehend what it going on. Human detectives may be a foreign concept. Having read another of the books, I felt like I had an excellent foundation, so I was able to jump right into the story with no problem. The illustrations enhance the story, but I do recommend getting this book in print. I read it on an e-reader, and it was a bit of a challenge to read. My e-reader also does not show color pictures, and the visual is imperative in this tale.
I am most pleased with the back portions of this book. They always have easy-to-read diagrams as well as a glossary and information that will support the story. I believe this book would appeal to second/third graders, but that is not an age set in stone. Something that may cause younger children to not read her book is that she uses the proper scientific terms when discussing that workings of the body.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I am most pleased with the back portions of this book. They always have easy-to-read diagrams as well as a glossary and information that will support the story. I believe this book would appeal to second/third graders, but that is not an age set in stone. Something that may cause younger children to not read her book is that she uses the proper scientific terms when discussing that workings of the body.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
June 30, 2013
This is a great book for kids and adults alike! It is a fun journey through the human body but we also learn a lot during the journey as well. I love how the author isn't afraid to use the big words and explain their meanings for kids. In a lot of other learning books, the adults sometimes don't want to use too many in depth meanings because they think the kids can't handle it or maybe it won't be as interesting. But in Osteoblasts to the Rescue, Dr. Manley gives kids a lot more credit and finds a way to ensure an awesome story while showing us just how comfortable we can be with our bodies. Inside and out.
I would definitely pick any of Dr. Manley's books up for my kids to read and I would love to use these as part of my homeschooling curriculum too. My sons love the human body and learning everything there is to know and they immediately loved this book. They are begging me to go and grab the others in the series. I also love the fact that it is in a series but you don't have to read the ones before it (although we will ) to understand what is going on. That is a major plus for me.
Osteoblasts to the Rescue is a great book for a majority of reasons. It makes a wonderful teaching tool, it is great for adults to read and learn a little too, and it has a really cool story line that go with the facts too! Its a triple threat!
I would definitely pick any of Dr. Manley's books up for my kids to read and I would love to use these as part of my homeschooling curriculum too. My sons love the human body and learning everything there is to know and they immediately loved this book. They are begging me to go and grab the others in the series. I also love the fact that it is in a series but you don't have to read the ones before it (although we will ) to understand what is going on. That is a major plus for me.
Osteoblasts to the Rescue is a great book for a majority of reasons. It makes a wonderful teaching tool, it is great for adults to read and learn a little too, and it has a really cool story line that go with the facts too! Its a triple threat!
July 4, 2013
Pearl has a question about the human body and, along with her sister Merrin, is able to explore what goes on inside of us. This time they're learning about bones.
This is a short read so I read this with my kids because I wanted to hear what they thought about it. It's a fun and interesting story with great illustrations. Some of the words are big and sound similar to other words so it helps that there's a Glossary in the back. I got a lot out of this book, too. The fun fact section was interesting. I like that she included calcium food sources because I've been surprised by how many people think you can only get calcium from dairy. We all enjoyed the joke section and had some good laughs out of it.
Overall, it's a great book to learn about the importance of bones and what we can do to keep our bones healthy and strong! This is the fourth book about exploring the human body and I plan to get the other three as well!
Mel's Shelves
This is a short read so I read this with my kids because I wanted to hear what they thought about it. It's a fun and interesting story with great illustrations. Some of the words are big and sound similar to other words so it helps that there's a Glossary in the back. I got a lot out of this book, too. The fun fact section was interesting. I like that she included calcium food sources because I've been surprised by how many people think you can only get calcium from dairy. We all enjoyed the joke section and had some good laughs out of it.
Overall, it's a great book to learn about the importance of bones and what we can do to keep our bones healthy and strong! This is the fourth book about exploring the human body and I plan to get the other three as well!
Mel's Shelves
June 27, 2013
Merrin and Pearl have an awesome ability. They are Human Body Detectives, able to jump inside others and study their bodies! This time, they are going into their friend Lily's body to investigate her broken arm. While in Lily they will learn a lot about our skeleton, how bones stay healthy, and what they are made of.
I loved this book! It was able to explain some complex-seeming scientific terms into something easy to understand and interesting to read. This book is a fantastic way to introduce young (and not so young) people to important information without seeming threatening. The book also managed to convey information about nutrition and healthcare without seeming too preachy. I will definitely be checking out the other books in this series for my son. It is a fun way to learn, and I think that people everywhere can learn tons from this book.
Book provided for review
I loved this book! It was able to explain some complex-seeming scientific terms into something easy to understand and interesting to read. This book is a fantastic way to introduce young (and not so young) people to important information without seeming threatening. The book also managed to convey information about nutrition and healthcare without seeming too preachy. I will definitely be checking out the other books in this series for my son. It is a fun way to learn, and I think that people everywhere can learn tons from this book.
Book provided for review
July 30, 2014
Osteoblasts to the Rescue: An Imaginative Journey Through the Skeletal System by Heather Manley is an exploratory book for children ages 6 to 10 that takes sisters Merrin and Pearl on a journey to learn more about the skeletal system. Their journey takes them into the system of a friend who had recently broke an arm, and they learn how the body helps to heal fractured bones even down to specific foods that are helpful in the healing process as well. I was surprised at the depth of detail provided while maintaining an easy to comprehend dialogue. This story should be a good teaching and learning tool.
July 2, 2013
What a FUN, AMAZING BOOK!
The story is so good you don't even realize you are learning.
Two sisters have the ability to go inside a person's body to see what is happening...they are The Body Detectives.
When their friend shows up with a broken bone they transfer inside to see what is going on.
Along the way they discover more of the skeletal system.
The story is so good you don't even realize you are learning.
Two sisters have the ability to go inside a person's body to see what is happening...they are The Body Detectives.
When their friend shows up with a broken bone they transfer inside to see what is going on.
Along the way they discover more of the skeletal system.
September 4, 2013
Michael, age 5, and Mia, age 13, did a video review of this book. They loved the idea of a human body detective novel and learned a lot reading the book. Watch the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjgkqB...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjgkqB...
October 22, 2013
Won on first reads.
Took into school and my class found it very interesting and helpful. Easy to read for children who struggle with reading.
Took into school and my class found it very interesting and helpful. Easy to read for children who struggle with reading.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews