Dem Bones (Picture Puffin S.) - Softcover

Bob, Barner

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140562214 ISBN 13: 9780140562217

Publisher: Puffin, 1997

Synopsis

An exuberant Picture Book presentation of the traditional African-American spiritual, DEM BONES, DEM BONES, DEM DRY BONES. The song is ingeniously paired with fascinating facts about the skeleton and how it works.

About this title

Review

Using a classic African American spiritual as a springboard, Barner dives gleefully into this clever anatomy lesson. Enthusiastic members of a skeleton band cavort across the pages, strumming guitars, blowing hoRNs and otherwise helping to establish a spirited tone while imparting bits of relevant information. Each line from the song is given its own spread; text blocks set into the illustrations give related facts. For the lyric "Leg bone connected to da knee bone," for example, readers learn that the knee joint "works like a hinge," enabling one to "kick, jump, squat, and dance." The particular bone in question is always high-lighted in red on the skeleton, leaving no room for doubt. Splashed across a series of bright backdrops (Halloween colors predominate), Barner's (Bennys Pennies) cut and torn-paper collages are geared for tickling the funny bones of the early elementary set. Just about the only thing lacking here is the musical notation for a sing-along. No bones about it, this will be a real boost for those looking to inject a little humor and fun into basic facts about the human body. --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, Starred Review, September 16, 1996

You remember the old spiritual, the one that goes something like, "The toe bone's connected to the foot bone, Foot bone's connected to the ankebone...." Barner has connected the song to his exuberant pictures of music-playing skeletons and fun information about human anatomy. The result is a book that entertains and educates this age group and gets them tapping their toe bones, too. Bravo. --FAMILY LIFE, November 1996

This cast of frolicking skeletons is sure to tickle any kid's funny bone. Plus, readers will learn some anatomical facts, like how many bones we're born with (450). --CHILD, October 1996

About the Author

Bob Barner grew up in the American midwest and graduated from Columbus College of Art in Columbia, Ohio. He has worked as an art therapist and been an art director at several advertising agencies and design studios. He teaches undergraduates and visits many schools and libraries to talk about his work. Bob Barner lives in Boston, USA. This is his first title for Puffin.

About this edition

• Publisher: Puffin
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0140562214
• ISBN 13: 9780140562217
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32