Cells: An Owner's Handbook

by Carolyn Fisher

Join Ellie, a skin cell who lives on the derrière of a Boston Terrier, as she tells readers all about the amazing cells that make up every living thing on Earth.

Did you know that every human is the proud owner of 37 trillion cells? (Give or take a few trillion.) They’re the itty-bitty building blocks that stack together to make you, you! Join a smart and silly skin cell named Ellie as she explains what a cell looks like, what a cell does, how cells divide and multiply, and much, much more in this fascinating and funny nonfiction picture book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Picture Books, Childrens, Biology, Stem, Nature

48 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2019

About the author

Carolyn Fisher from 1992 to 1996 was at the University of Delaware teaching and researching into food science.

Reviews

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wildly illustrated book about cells. With a touch of humor.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cells: An Owner's Handbook is a vibrantly illustrated, humorously written, and simultaneously rollicking and informative introduction to cells. I couldn't quite pin down what age group this book would be best for-- the text and illustrations are highly stylized, making it a challenging read for newer or struggling readers, but some of the scientific concepts would simply fly over the heads of younger listeners. Kirkus recommends the book for 6-8 year olds, and it would certainly be fun for classroom use accompanied by demonstrations and experiments. Truly a pleasure to look at, and a great book to hand to kids interested in science-- or those who aren't interested yet, but could become so with as tempting and lovely a book as this!

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun way to get kids interested in cells! The format, the humor, the fonts, the graphics, all work to make this a wonderful introduction to the science of cells! Kudos to Carolyn Fisher and Beach Lane Books!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this wacky informational book about cells. If more info books had been written like this when I was a kid, maybe I would know more useful sciencey things.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for homeschool science. My kids thought the placement of “Ellie” the skin cell was absolutely hilarious. It was a good overview of what cells are and what they do, with fun, colorful artwork.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cell: An Owner’s Handbook by Carolyn Fisher. PICTURE BOOK/NONFICTION. Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster), 2019. $18. 9781534451858

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book is narrated by a cell that is on a dog’s backside. It walks the reader through all the basics of what a cell is what cells do. The information is conveyed in small text bubbles, captions to illustrations, and traditional text passages.

The colors are very bright and the information is easy to consume. I loved the simplicity and passion conveyed for such an important and sometimes dry subject matter. The fact that the cell was on a dog’s behind was a little too silly for me, but will be humorous to young readers.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author and also illustrator thinks she’s very funny. She isn’t. She apparently introduced us to Elsie the cell just so she could put in knee slapping (not) jokes about living on a dog’s behind referred to as a derrière. Most of the rest of the book were about human cells and the back and forth between human and dog were not explained well. Her one decent joke was a pun about a cell splitting and also ending the book. She does not explain mitosis but has a joke about the word. She does not explain what a cell wall is as opposed to membrane or explain that is how scientists differ between plants and animals. No, the more I write, the worse I consider this book. Now one star. Not recommended.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visually both chaotic and engaging, the information within is wide-ranging. For me, decades away from these cellular lessons I once learned, it brought back some very faded memories. The diagram of the plant cell rocketed me back in time to when we were required to draw and label the parts of a plant cell, which then just made me think of middle school in general. And growing bean plants in science class. I don't even remember at this point if those memories were real.

So, powerful stuff!

Bonus points for Ellie, the cell narrator, who lives on the derrière of an unnamed Boston Terrier. And for the jokes at the back.

[Musiclib · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyn Fisher's book on cells is vividly illustrated and full of facts for young readers. The book stars Ellie, a cell who lives on the hind end of a Boston Terrier dog. Ellie explains cell division, the parts of a cell, and cell function (among other things). Larger and more complicated vocabulary words are defined on the same page spread instead of being in a separate glossary. This helps to not disturb the flow of the text. There are also lots of pronunciation guides on the pages as well.

Great book for lower elementary science classes.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty dope book with a clear introduction to cells (via Ellie, a skin cell that lives on the bum of a Boston Terrier.) Clear descriptions of different types of cells, parts of cells, cell uses, and cell reproduction wrapped in a package of wild and free illustrations, crazy fonts, and tons of cell-related puns. Once after Ellie splits she says, "Like it? It's a cellfie, I mean a SELFIE from the last time I split!" although the whole books is chockablock full of similar jokes. Eager to read this to some nerdy kid some day

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this very easy to understand and follow. I like that it doesn't simplify the dictionary definition of a cell, but rather explains it further after presenting the definition. The illustrations are also easy enough to understand and I think it over all makes a great informative book on cells for kids.

[AbsentLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book. I love the humor! Ellie, the cell, informs readers while making us laugh. Great language for kids to understand some (very) technical and scientific concepts. Very fun to read aloud.

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, colorful picture book about cells narrated by a skin cell from a dog's butt. The humor and presentation will appeal to kids interested in biology and science and those who want to supplement a dry, formal text. This book would likely make the concepts easier to learn for some.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool way of learning about cells. Easy to read with beautiful illustrations and a bit of humor.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This colourful book takes a look at cells in a humorous , colourful, simple, informal way. A great book to add to the science curriculum of cytology. Older readers can learn the fun way!

[Miss Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the concept, but I found the design and text changes a little to jarring to read, especially if the child is a struggling reader.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations were so cute!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clever introduction to the world of cells. Written in an engaging format and with colorful illustrations, it's a great way to open the world of biology to young readers.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very neat information. It talks about cells, but does so in an age-appropriate way. The illustrations and mild humor are very engaging.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lively, wildly illustrated introduction.

[Sandy Wilmering · Rating 4 out of 5]

An humorous and informative way to explain how cells work to children. Illustrations are very colourful and exciting as well.

[Anneke Alnatour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great way to get the conversation on cells going. my 6-year-old was engaged and really loved it.

[Melissa the Librarian]

I usually don't like illustrated science books, but this one does a pretty good job of explaining the concept of cells and showing "accurate" pictures.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books that make science approachable to kids. There's a lot to look at in this book, tons of new vocabulary explained. Beautifully illustrated.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, excellent explanations of cells with digitally rendered illustrations.

[Danna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! The text and hilarious illustrations make learning fun. I like how the author found a fun way to introduce and explain a complicated subject for kids to grasp.

[Sandra Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science, math, art, excitement and puns all in one?
Yes please!
A fun book for introducing kids to cells. :)

[Mrs. Ruigrok · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book that takes the reader on a colorful journey of a cell on the derriere of a dog! Fun visuals with basic general information about cells, where they are, what they do etc.

[Christina Dendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bold, bright illustrations make this an appealing nonfiction picture book. Together with the nonfiction text, they provide an engaging, fun, informative introduction for young readers to the science behind (and the connectedness among) all living things!