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Book of Bones: 10 Record-Breaking Animals
It's a book of world records... of bones! Guess whose bones are the longest, shortest, heaviest, spikiest, and more. With touchable skeletons! An International Literacy Association Teachers' Choice Title (2018) A Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List Title (2019) Ten record-breaking animal bones are introduced through a series of superlatives set up as a guessing game with clues. Readers examine animals' skeletons and guess to whom they belong; the answers are revealed in vibrant, full-color scenic habitats, with easily understood ― and humorous ― explanations. This entertaining introduction to the connection between animal bones (anatomy) and behavior is playful, relatable, and includes touch-and-feel finishes that bring the bones to life! Ages 5-8
48 pages, Hardcover
Published September 18, 2017
1 person is currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Gabrielle Balkan
27 books26 followersGabrielle Balkan writes for readers of all ages, equally enjoying picture books and readers as chapter books and young adult fiction. Her works include The Dog Rules by Coco LaRue, a Scholastic Book Fairs best-seller that sold 150,000 copies and demanded a follow-up.
One of her first forays into writing nonfiction was “America is hard to See,” a children's audio guide for the the inaugural exhibit at the Whitney Museum of Art's Gansevoort location. The 50 States was Gabrielle's first non-fiction book and was followed by two companion books, two activity sets, one follow-up atlas: 50 Cities.
She's also the author of BOOK OF BONES (an International Literacy Association pick) and it's companion, BOOK OF FLIGHT (coming in Spring 2019).
Before embarking on a career as a full-time writer, Gabrielle was a book buyer for the Scholastic Reading Clubs, a commissioning editor for Scholastic Paperbacks, and the Director of Communications for City and Country School.
Gabrielle was raised across from the State Fair Grounds in Indianapolis, Indiana and lived short stints in Augusta, Georgia and Zurich, Switzerland. After graduating with a degree in English and Elementary Education from Barnard College she decided to see what else the city had to offer, and now lives with her family in Brooklyn.
One of her first forays into writing nonfiction was “America is hard to See,” a children's audio guide for the the inaugural exhibit at the Whitney Museum of Art's Gansevoort location. The 50 States was Gabrielle's first non-fiction book and was followed by two companion books, two activity sets, one follow-up atlas: 50 Cities.
She's also the author of BOOK OF BONES (an International Literacy Association pick) and it's companion, BOOK OF FLIGHT (coming in Spring 2019).
Before embarking on a career as a full-time writer, Gabrielle was a book buyer for the Scholastic Reading Clubs, a commissioning editor for Scholastic Paperbacks, and the Director of Communications for City and Country School.
Gabrielle was raised across from the State Fair Grounds in Indianapolis, Indiana and lived short stints in Augusta, Georgia and Zurich, Switzerland. After graduating with a degree in English and Elementary Education from Barnard College she decided to see what else the city had to offer, and now lives with her family in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 22, 2017
The illustrations are PHENOMENAL. Caught me with the high contrast white on black cover, but once inside, the pages are so tactile (raised animals on the colored illustration pages) and colorful-- showing us both the animals and their unique bone structures.
Biggest bone, smallest bones, most bones, longest neck bone, heaviest bone, lightest bones, thinnest bone, fastest-growing bone, spikiest bone, fewest bones... and "about bones" and "special bones" are the chapter titles that make me want to buy this book myself and/or recommend it to all 3rd-8th graders I meet! Some of the pages were downright "creepy" in a fun, gruesome way, e.g. what animal can shoot blood from its eyes, found in Arizona? Learn new fascinating facts!
Biggest bone, smallest bones, most bones, longest neck bone, heaviest bone, lightest bones, thinnest bone, fastest-growing bone, spikiest bone, fewest bones... and "about bones" and "special bones" are the chapter titles that make me want to buy this book myself and/or recommend it to all 3rd-8th graders I meet! Some of the pages were downright "creepy" in a fun, gruesome way, e.g. what animal can shoot blood from its eyes, found in Arizona? Learn new fascinating facts!
January 19, 2019
A and L say “rate this one five stars!”
Similar to Steve Jenkins’ books, the topic of this book is a particular animal feature rather than a particular animal. “What animal has the biggest bone?” “What animal has the most bones?” etc. Profiles of 10 animals.
The kids have been following us around quizzing us and asking to be quizzed.
The illustrations also have raised ridges so you can feel where the bones are in the animals.
Similar to Steve Jenkins’ books, the topic of this book is a particular animal feature rather than a particular animal. “What animal has the biggest bone?” “What animal has the most bones?” etc. Profiles of 10 animals.
The kids have been following us around quizzing us and asking to be quizzed.
The illustrations also have raised ridges so you can feel where the bones are in the animals.
December 5, 2018
ATA storytime kit == YOU
Subject: Bones -- Juvenile literature.
Vertebrates -- Anatomy -- Juvenile literature.
It's a book of world records... of bones! Guess whose bones are the longest, shortest, heaviest, spikiest, and more. With touchable skeletons!
Ten record-breaking animal bones are introduced through a series of superlatives set up as a guessing game with clues. Readers examine animals' skeletons and guess to whom they belong; the answers are revealed in vibrant, full-color scenic habitats, with easily understood and humorous explanations. This entertaining introduction to the connection between animal bones (anatomy) and behavior is playful and includes touch-and-feel finishes that bring the bones to life!
Contents: About bones -- The biggest bone -- The smallest bones -- The most bones -- The longest neck bone -- The heaviest bone -- The lightest bones -- The thinnest bone -- The fastest-growing bone -- The spikiest bone -- The fewest bones -- Special bones -- A letter from the author.
Subject: Bones -- Juvenile literature.
Vertebrates -- Anatomy -- Juvenile literature.
It's a book of world records... of bones! Guess whose bones are the longest, shortest, heaviest, spikiest, and more. With touchable skeletons!
Ten record-breaking animal bones are introduced through a series of superlatives set up as a guessing game with clues. Readers examine animals' skeletons and guess to whom they belong; the answers are revealed in vibrant, full-color scenic habitats, with easily understood and humorous explanations. This entertaining introduction to the connection between animal bones (anatomy) and behavior is playful and includes touch-and-feel finishes that bring the bones to life!
Contents: About bones -- The biggest bone -- The smallest bones -- The most bones -- The longest neck bone -- The heaviest bone -- The lightest bones -- The thinnest bone -- The fastest-growing bone -- The spikiest bone -- The fewest bones -- Special bones -- A letter from the author.
January 29, 2018
Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange for the review copy of this book. As always, all opinions are my own.
This is a fascinating read! Explore the animal world like you never have before–by studying their skeletons. You’ll learn which animals have the smallest, largest, lightest, and heaviest bones. Each section starts with a description of an animal skeleton and gives you several clues about what animal is pictured. Flip the page to see an illustration of the animal and learn a few more facts. The raised illustrations bring a tactile element to the learning, too!
This is a fascinating read! Explore the animal world like you never have before–by studying their skeletons. You’ll learn which animals have the smallest, largest, lightest, and heaviest bones. Each section starts with a description of an animal skeleton and gives you several clues about what animal is pictured. Flip the page to see an illustration of the animal and learn a few more facts. The raised illustrations bring a tactile element to the learning, too!
July 21, 2018
Book of Bones opens with the attention grabber,
Guess who knows a lot about bones? YOU do!
Author Balkan made learning about bones fun! Many of the illustrations were textured. Book of Bonesis a book readers of all ages will appreciate. Author Balkan demonstrated how much in common we have with other species.
Guess who knows a lot about bones? YOU do!
Author Balkan made learning about bones fun! Many of the illustrations were textured. Book of Bonesis a book readers of all ages will appreciate. Author Balkan demonstrated how much in common we have with other species.
August 25, 2018
Loved that this book is somewhat unique, with the embossed skeletons so well done! My main quibble with this: don't tell us that these are record-breaking in the title, only to explain in the copy that these were NOT always the biggest, lightest, etc., but were chosen for editorial purposes.
It was a fun way to learn, but, as a former science teacher, a let down at the end.
It was a fun way to learn, but, as a former science teacher, a let down at the end.
December 6, 2018
This is one of the most innovative non-fiction picture books that I've even read. The guessing game, embossed skeletons and stark illustrations combine to make this an interactive, informative and incredible read! I highly recommend it for anyone interested in bodies, bones, or just a good science read!
October 8, 2024
I’m an adult who loves reading nonfiction children’s books. I also enjoy pretty much anything to do with nature. There is a vast selection of books about animals, but this is the first book I’ve encountered about bones. This made it an especially nice October read. I enjoyed the playful “Guess what?” trivia style format, illustrations, and fun facts especially the ones regarding antlers. Nice light read. You will need good lighting or a flashlight for the grey font on the black pages. I bet a young reader or reading partner would enjoy pointing the flashlight over the text and images before bedtime.
December 16, 2018
A remarkably well-designed book.
I love how you see the skeleton on the right-side of a two-page spread. Turn the page and you see that skeleton as an animal, with the skeleton still visible as a raised print (so you can feel it, too!).
Each of the 10 animals takes two 2-page spreads.
The first 2-page spread gives hints and the skeleton. The second shows the animal and gives more details about it.
At the end, we learn that some of these "awards" are approximations.
But, lots of things to learn here about bones, skeletons, and the animal world.
I love how you see the skeleton on the right-side of a two-page spread. Turn the page and you see that skeleton as an animal, with the skeleton still visible as a raised print (so you can feel it, too!).
Each of the 10 animals takes two 2-page spreads.
The first 2-page spread gives hints and the skeleton. The second shows the animal and gives more details about it.
At the end, we learn that some of these "awards" are approximations.
But, lots of things to learn here about bones, skeletons, and the animal world.
January 18, 2026
Wayne's been mentioning how everyone has a skeleton, and this was the most age-appropriate book at the library. It's pretty cool: in addition to the facts, the shape of the skeleton is slightly visible and has a bit of a texture superimposed over the picture of the animal. Cool design, indeed! The author neatly draws all the animals together on the last page with (of course) a human skeleton by describing where similar bones appear in the human body.
March 27, 2018
This is one of the coolest science picture books I have ever seen! It shows the animal’s skeleton with clues so that the reader can guess what it is. When you turn the page you not only get to see what it is, but feel how the skeleton would be inside it as it has texture to represent the bones under the skin.
December 31, 2021
My class adored this book when we did it for an English unit. They loved all the different facts and found the format of seeing the skeleton first and guessing the animal incredibly interesting. The illustrations are gorgeous and writing easily accessible despite the technical vocabulary used. A brilliant book for children who are interested in the animal world.
December 4, 2017
Guess who has the smallest bones? A skeleton is show . Clues are given. On the next page you learn about the animal.
December 21, 2017
Certainly not a quick read, but a fascinating one. It is written for children and easy to understand.
April 21, 2018
I loved the guessing game format and the tactility to show how the bones fit beneath the animals' form was genius. Very fun.
June 26, 2018
Facts, illustrations and skeletons of 10 animals.
January 19, 2019
Loved this for all ages! Me, my 6,5, and 2 year olds. Something for everyone.
February 11, 2019
This is a really cool concept, well-executed and will be a fun re-aloud.
July 8, 2019
Did you know one animal shoots blood from his eyes if he is being attacked? Lots of interesting facts about the bone structure and other parts of animals around the world.
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November 16, 2017The illustrations were lovely and incorporated a tactile element, included an informative author's note & glossary.
August 7, 2018
This is a fantastic book. It could be used as a read aloud. With a LOT of turn and talks. It might have to be read over a couple of class periods.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews