Reading with the Girl: Bones: Skeletons and How They Work

You can’t judge a book by the cover, but in this case I did. The bright red background, skull partially off the cover and the mix of fonts caught my attention. I bought this book for my daughter for Christmas, and while she has enjoyed it I have probably read it more.

Author/Illustrator: Steve Jenkins

Publisher: Scholastic Reference Press (August 1, 2010)

Prices: Hardback, $17.99

Reading level: Age 7-10 years

Interest level: Medium Grades

Physical Characteristics: Hardcover, 48 pages with three gatefolds, 9.5 x 11.2 inches

ISBN: 0545046513

Genre: Children's Non-Fiction Picture Book

Subjects:

Skeleton – juvenile literature

Bones – juvenile literature

Skeleton
Human Body

Annotation: A reference book detailing human and animal skeletons with illustrations, facts and comparisons.

Summary:

Steve Jenkins’ non-fiction book on human and animal skeletal systems details what bones are and what they do. He compares and contrasts human and animal bones with detailed illustrations and minimal but informative text.

Evaluation:

This book is fascinating. The detailed illustrations of bones set against brightly colored backgrounds are engrossing. I have read the book cover to cover several times and also pick it up and skim through it occasionally, because it is fun to look at. My favorite part of the book is the comparisons between species, like a human foot next to a tyrannosaurus rex foot and s series of hands next to each other.

The book is geared towards grades 2 to 5, but it appeals to both younger child and adults. The bold illustrations are simple and engaging enough for preschoolers. While the text is informative enough, that I learned a few new things about the human skeleton.

Similar Titles or Authors:

Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World

Steve Jenkins

Bones: Our Skeletal Systems

Seymor Simon

The Bones Book and Skeleton

Stephen Cuumba