Gooney Bird and All Her Charms (Gooney Bird Greene #6)

Gr 2-4--Gooney Bird and her second-grade classmates are studying the human body. The students are in for a surprise when her uncle, Dr. Walter Oglethorpe, an anatomy professor, loans them a skeleton to help them with their research. They use it as an opportunity to teach the whole school about the human body as they label where different parts would be, such as the brain, muscles, digestive system, etc. The skeleton, on display outside the school to show the location of the respiratory system, goes missing, and Gooney Bird becomes head detective, leading her class on an investigation to solve the mystery. The youngsters are enthusiastic, outgoing, and funny. The running joke throughout the story is, "Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade finds this humerus." Readers will discover important facts about anatomy as they follow along with this remarkable class. Line drawings bring to life the unique scenarios the students create for the skeleton. A great choice for beginning chapter-book readers.--Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"[Napoleon's] disappearance adds an unexpected element of mystery to the narrative, which conveys a certain amount of information along with a vibrant attitude toward learning, an appreciation for the children's varied personalities, and a wry sense of humor."
—"Booklist

""As always, the story is full of spot-on dialogue that captures every enthusiastic remark or bashful comment added by these winning second graders. It combines with a compelling story structure that is not only highly readable, but entertainingly informative."
—"Kirkus

""A great choice for beginning chapter-book readers."
—"School Library Journal

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"With apt jokes, recognizable classroom curriculum, and comfortably familiar characters, not to mention sly jabs at censorship, Lowry's Gooney Bird and her skeletal adventures will satisfy readers who appreciate a "humerus" tale."
—"Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books"