Earthlings Inside and Out is full of alien humor that will entertain young readers as they learn hundreds of amazing facts about the human body! Add to that more than a dozen hands-on activities, and you have a perfect lesson planning resource too. Teachers and students will find Earthlings Inside and Out to be a close encounter of the educational kind!
Meet Danoid and Pete, the Mork & Mindy of kids' books -- and the stars of Earthlings Inside and Out, a new book from author Valerie Wyatt (The Science Book for Girls) and Kids Can Press!
In the opening pages of Earthlings Inside and Out, Danoid, the pilot of a spacecraft from Planet Memo, zeroes in on an unfamiliar scene. As he hovers high above a crowded beach, all kinds of questions race through his mind. Scanning a sunbather, he wonders, Do these life-forms need to cook in the sun? Observing a boy sucking liquid through a straw, he thinks, Refueling? Seeing a family gathered around a picnic, he asks himself, Several species at a feeding ground? Finally, Danoid's attention focuses on a young boy, and he makes a mental note: Possible subject for further study.
The young boy is Pete, who is about to become the subject of a wonderful close encounter of the fun kind!
Soon, Pete and Danoid strike a deal, one that will benefit each of them. Danoid will be able to report back to his commander on this alien species, humans; and Pete expects he might solve a troubling dilemma -- he might come up with a school science fair project!
Valerie Wyatt proves herself a master of alien lingo right from the get-go. As Danoid looks more closely at Pete, he makes a bunch of snap observations, including these:
Danoid uses his pop-out eyes to scan the inner goings-on of Pete's body, starting with his arm. Readers explore Pete's skin, his senses, and his brain. Danoid learns about Pete's heart, muscles, and bones. And the alien form scans Pete's digestive system as it works on a handful of french fries! As Danoid explores each body part or system, he files a report to his commander and enters fun facts in his EARTHDATABANK.
At many points in the exploration, Pete thinks of possible "Science Fair Ideas" related to the human body. In the end, one of the experiments might be the perfect solution to his homework dilemma!
Earthlings Inside and Out: A Space Alien Studies the Human Body is quite a compendium of facts and fun, and a terrific resource for hands-on classroom activities. The new books from Kids Can Press would be a welcome addition to any classroom library or teacher resource center. Quite simply, Earthlings Inside and Out is out of this world!
Earthlings Inside and Out: A Space Alien Studies the Human Body, written by Valerie Wyatt and illustrated by Dusan Petricic, is available in hardcover or paperback in bookstores everywhere. If you are unable to locate a copy, ask your bookseller to order one for you or contact the publisher at Kids Can Press, 85 River Rock Drive, Suite 202, Buffalo, NY 14207.
Article by Gary Hopkins
Education World® Editor-in-Chief
Copyright © 1999 Education World
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