The Circulatory Story

by Mary Corcoran, Jef Czekaj (Illustrator)

Overview

Humorous text paired with comic illustrations, brings anatomy and science of the body to life for young readers in this exploration of the circulatory system.

From the author and illustrator of THE QUEST TO DIGEST comes another playful way to learn about the body and its inner workings. Readers follow a red blood cell on its journey through the heart, lungs, veins, arteries, capillaries, and more, as they see how the body combats disease, performs gas exchanges, and fights plaque. This whimsical glimpse into the human body is fun and informative, perfect for the classroom or the home, and is sure to please the most curious of readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580892094
Publisher:	Charlesbridge
Publication date:	02/01/2010
Pages:	44
Sales rank:	88,736
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	850L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Mary Corcoran writes a science column for kids, which appears in The Redding Pilot. She is the author of THE QUEST TO DIGEST and THE CIRCULATORY STORY. Mary lives in Redding, Connecticut.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 2–4—Corcoran attempts to provide a simple, yet humorous explanation of the circulatory system. Her treatment is cursory and requires that readers imagine themselves as a little green imp traveling onboard a red blood cell floating along in a girl's plasma. The narrative often comes across as confusing and unclear. Sections such as "The Arching Aorta" use words in the illustrations that are not explained in the text or in the extensive glossary ("externa," "media," "intima"). The author uses asides, such as "Did you get a charge out of that?" and "Pee-yew! Your red blood cell just passed gas," that detract from understanding the many complicated words that are presented superficially in the text. On the other hand, the digitally colored line illustrations are interestingly detailed and offer a light touch. The font is large and attractively arranged on colorful backgrounds. This book would best be used as a supplement to such titles as Paul Showers's Hear Your Heart (HarperCollins, 2001).—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

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