Blog Tour: Osteoblasts to the Rescue by Dr. Heather Manley: Review + Interview +Giveaway

Tour Schedule

Osteoblasts to the Rescue


Merrin and Pearl are at it again! This time these two young Human Body Detectives are exploring the skeletal system.
With the ability to jump in and examine the various systems in the body, Merrin and Pearl’s adventures are fun stories and helpful tools to educate children.
In Osteoblasts to the Rescue, Merrin and Pearl navigate their friend, Lily’s, broken arm and learn all about bones.
As the fourth in The Human Body Detectives series, Osteoblasts to the Rescue can also stand alone as a book that’s sure to inform, engage, and inspire readers of all ages.

My Thoughts:
This is a great book for kids and adults alike!  It is a fun journey through the human body but we also learn a lot during the journey as well.  I love how the author isn't afraid to use the big words and explain their meanings for kids.  In a lot of other learning books, the adults sometimes don't want to use too many in depth meanings because they think the kids can't handle it or maybe it won't be as interesting.  But in Osteoblasts to the Rescue, Dr. Manley gives kids a lot more credit and finds a way to ensure an awesome story while showing us just how comfortable we can be with our bodies.  Inside and out.
I would definitely pick any of Dr. Manley's books up for my kids to read and I would love to use these as part of my homeschooling curriculum too.  My sons love the human body and learning everything there is to know  and they immediately loved this book.  They are begging me to go and grab the others in the series.  I also love the fact that it is in a series but you don't have to read the ones before it (although we will ) to understand what is going on.  That is a major plus for me.
Osteoblasts to the Rescue is a great book for a majority of reasons.  It makes a wonderful teaching tool, it is great for adults to read and learn a little too, and it has a really cool story line that go with the facts too! Its a triple threat!
I definitely have to give this book five hearts!

Links to buy:

Amazon

Connect with the Author:

Author Heather Manley, N.D.

I have always been passionate about healthy foods and exercising. Growing up in Toronto, Canada I would exhaust my allowance at the health food store and write school papers on spices and herbs. It was no wonder I found myself studying biology at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. I loved animals as well so I initially focused on wildlife conservation and animal biology, however, with some exposure to naturopathic medicine, this health care philosophy rang true for me. I switched to pre-med and I graduated in 1993. I earned my doctorate at the from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon before moving with my family to Hawaii where I became licensed and continue to practice today.

Everything I learned in medschool came into fruition when my children were born. I realized the importance of teaching them, by example, about healthy food and lifestyle. Telling them what to eat was not enough, so I created and wrote educational adventure stories that explain the physiological systems in the body. Not only did my kids love the engaging and interactive stories but so did their friends.

I love seeing kids have fun learning to understand their bodies and how food helps them run faster and be smarter. My focus is on preventative health. I am passionate about encouraging families to seek the value of a simple lifestyle and offering tools to assist them at being proactive and confident in their daily living. I am constantly inspired seeing people make positive changes in their lives. With my website, I am excited to reach more families in a way that will manifest healthy living.

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter


Interview:

1 .    How did you come up with the idea for The Human Body Detectives?

  Basically, I was flipping pancakes one Sunday morning when it dawned on me that I could write a series of entertaining and educational adventure stories through the different systems in the body; however, it all began in the classroom. When my kids were younger, I spent time in their elementary classrooms, talking about the digestive system and nutrition. It was quite obvious that kids loved learning about how their bodies work and what foods best fueled them. I searched through the library, bookstores and Amazon but was unable to find any books about the human body that were engaging. When I was flipping those pancakes, I was pondering all this and knew that kids would gravitate towards these books and in return, would provide a profound, long-term healthy effect on them. Human Body Detectives, specifically, The Lucky Escape: An Imaginative Adventure Through the Digestive System, was then born.

2.    While writing, is there any special action you have to do before you can really get down to the nitty gritty of writing?

Not really; however, I will spend a few hours in the morning writing down ideas and key medical points for the story I’m working on. From there, I will just begin writing. Perhaps it’s a little backwards but I like to just get writing as you can always edit!

3.    What about your favorite drink while writing?

I like to drink green tea and water with lemon. If I am feeling like a lot is on my (writing) plate, I will go for a latte!

PS Other things I keep close while writing is a small vase of rosemary (brain circulation gets a boost) and a small bowl of nuts.

4. Besides The Human Body Detectives, are there any other books in the near future we can look forward to from you?

Once I start writing, I can’t help but think about other HBD adventures. Next up will have to be journeys through the nervous and muscular systems… not sure which one will be first though… have an opinion?

Although, each book has a turn-key engaging elementary curriculum that goes deeper into the subject matter. Teachers and homeschooling families are loving it.  

And I recently launched the Human Body Detectives Go To School Nutrition 101 for Middle and High School curriculum. It is an extensive nutrition unit for grades 6 through 12. It is full of entertaining labs, practical information and simple everyday guidelines to food and nutrition.

5.Do you have a fave Yoga pose or one that you think is great for kids to do?

I really like Tree Pose; it’s grounding and I find it very peaceful. I think kids like it as well, as there are a few different forms and they can get a little goofy when thinking of trees swaying in the wind!

6. Lastly could you share that recipe for the sautéed Kale with apples?  That sounds wonderful!

I have to admit, I am a lazy cook; I like to keep things simple yet nutritious. So this is one way I cook kale…

I will add some olive oil and salt and pepper to a sauté pan, and once it heats up, I throw in some pine nuts. After the nuts seem toasted, I add a few large handfuls of kale and followed by diced apples. I will toss and stir for a few minutes and then serve.

 That sounds wonderful!  I am definitely going to try that with the Kale and apples!  Thank you so much for being here on the blog!

Everyone, please enter the tour giveaway at the end of the post and make sure to get on the case with The Human Body Detectives!

Dr. Heather Manley, who in 2001 received her medical degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, is a practicing physician whose primary interest is preventative healthcare for families. She is the author of the award winning Human Body Detectives, her children’s educational series of story-telling books, human body/nutrition curriculum eBooks, and iPhone/iPad apps.  She also promotes wellness and naturopathic healthcare on her website drheathernd.com. She lives on the Big Island of Hawaii with her husband and two daughters, and is currently at work on the next Human Body Detectives adventure.

Tour Giveaway:

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