Description: What is the most complex machine on earth? The human body! With Inside the Human Body, we'll peel back the layers to take a look inside this amazing machine and learn the basic anatomy of the human body and its bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and organs. STEM activities, text-to-self and text-to-world connections, links to online resources, and fascinating trivia make learning applicable and fundamental.
Brief description: Tom Casteel is an illustrator and cartoonist that graduated from the Center for Cartoon Studies in 2011. He has illustrated more than two dozen books for Nomad Press. Tom lives in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife, son, two smelly dogs and one old cat.
Review Quotes: Always in the Middle
This new Nomad Press title comes from their INQUIRE AND INVESTIGATE HUMAN BEINGS set. Intended for ages 12-15, upper middle graders readers with an interest in how their bodies work will find everything they need here and more.
Written with honest detail, the information is divided into 9 chapters. Included are Cells, Muscles and Bones, along with the Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nervous, Endocrine, Digestive and Reproductive systems.
Each chapter begins with a cartoon panel of teens preparing to explore the topic. Next comes several pages of detailed text and illustrations to support learning. Helpful QR codes are included. I used my cell phone's camera function to focus on the square code and up popped a link to a video or another article. They all worked flawlessly and serve as added visual resources.
The chapters end with an Inquire and Investigate feature where you carry out hands-on projects. A fun way to experiment and hypothesize. Included in the back pages of the book is a thorough 6-page glossary and resources page. A useful and welcome section. I also liked having Teacher Resources available on the Nomad Press site.
Inside the Human Body is a fantastic resource for school or at home. It just may open up the doors to our next generation of scientists and doctors.