Microquests is an innovative biology series from Rebecca L. Johnson, an established science writer for children. Targeted at grades 3-5, it combines engaging text with state-of-the-art micrographs, clear diagrams, and humorous illustrations.

Did you know that every cell in every living thing contains DNA? These tiny threadlike strands control how all plants, animals, even bacteria are made. DNA holds the entire building plan for each cell found in every living thing. It makes sure that cells are put together in just the right way to do their jobs.

Bacteria and viruses are all around you. If they get inside your body, they can make you very sick. Fortunately, your body is built to keep illness-causing invaders out. If some do get in, special cells inside your body come to the rescue.

You probably know that your body is made of different kinds of cells. But did you know that you started out as just one cell? So did all animals! Find out how a whole animal grows from that first cell. Through close-up color photos of cells and cell parts, you will learn what special talents your cells—and the cells of other animals—have.

You probably know that all living things need food to survive, including plants. So where do plants get their food? They make it themselves! This book takes you inside plant cells and shows you up-close photos of all the different cell parts.

Do you realize there are about 100 trillion cells in your body? That’s a lot of cells to manage! It’s a good thing they are organized into systems that all work together. This book takes you on a journey inside your body to see many types of cells—skin cells, blood cells, muscle cells, and more—magnified hundreds or thousands of times larger than their actual size.