Drop of Blood

You've seen your own blood, when you have a cut or a scrape. You can see the veins in your wrist, and you've seen the scab that forms as a cut heals. But do you know what blood does for you? Without blood, you couldn't play, or grow, or learn. That's because just about every part of your body needs blood, from your muscles to your bones to your brain. How does your body use blood? Read and find out!

Ages 10 – 14

A simple introduction to the composition and functions of blood.

You've seen your own blood, when you have a cut or a scrape. You can see the veins in your wrist, and you've seen the scab that forms as a cut heals. But do you know what blood does for you? Without blood, you couldn't play, or grow, or learn. That's because just about every part of your body needs blood, from your muscles to your bones to your brain. How does your body use blood? Read and find out!

Ages 10 – 14

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Showers's classic introduction to this vital fluid is cleverly updated by Miller's amusing illustrations featuring a Dracula-like vampire and his Igorish friend in place of the boy and dog who starred in the 1989 edition (o.p.). This change in characters is sure to be a hit with today's youngsters. The charismatic monsters demonstrate the role of blood in breathing, healing, and fueling the body. The predominance of purples and grays in both art and backgrounds creates an effective mood that is spooky and exciting without being scary. High-quality, close-up photographs of blood cells, platelets, and fibrin under the microscope are well placed within the illustrations, and science concepts are presented with just the right amount of detail for the intended audience. This is an excellent choice for units on the circulatory system or to take the fear out of cuts, scrapes, and blood tests.-Jenna Miller, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Paul Showers wrote twenty books for the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, including favorites such as What Happens to a Hamburger? and Where Does the Garbage Go? Mr. Showers worked on the Detroit Free Press, the New York Herald Tribune, and for thirty years, the Sunday New York Times.