Nature Study: Human Body

Written by Jacqui Maynard and Kate Rowan, illustrated by Katharine McEwen. The book uses a conversational format between a young boy named Sam and his mother to explore the process of digestion in an engaging and accessible way. The narrative follows Sam's lunch of pizza and salad, explaining how saliva begins breaking down food in the mouth, how the food travels through the esophagus to the stomach, and how the small intestine, which is described as being as long as a giraffe, processes nutrients. The book also addresses common bodily functions like burping and pooping, making complex biological concepts relatable for young readers.

Written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen. Ms. Frizzle's class embarks on a field trip to a science museum to learn about the human body, but when Arnold lingers behind eating lunch, the Magic School Bus is accidentally shrunk and swallowed, taking the entire class inside his body. As they travel through Arnold’s digestive system, bloodstream, heart, lungs, brain, and nervous system—riding on red blood cells and evading a white blood cell—the students experience first-hand how the body processes food, circulates blood, and sends nerve signals. The journey ends dramatically with the bus exiting through Arnold’s nose in a giant sneeze, returning everyone to normal size.