Diagnosis Detectives

Ben Elcomb had a successful career working in television production on a variety of shows including ITV's This Morning, Britain's Got Talent, Ministry of Mayhem and the BBC's reboot of The Basil Brush Show. After this, Ben branched out into writing scripts for CBeebies' Something Special. Also, Ben has written Operation Ouch - The HuManual, a companion book to the multi-BAFTA winning CBBC show Operation Ouch. As a father of two children, Ben continues to pursue his passion for writing entertaining and informative works for young audiences. Terri Po grew up in Hong Kong and studied illustration at the University of Edinburgh, and now lives and works from a wooden cabin in the countryside. She likes drawing anything blobby, including but not limited to: brains, intestines and liverworts.

Invaders and protectors face off in the human digestive system.Pale-skinned, red-haired young Sophia's down for the count with a stomachache. Elcomb and Po offer readers an up-close look at the causes of-and solution to-her ailment. First, the members of the Diagnosis Detectives Agency are introduced: anthropomorphized T-cells, B-cells, monocytes, and neutrophils, the white cells that make up the body's immune system. Next, we meet the bacterial and viral opposition, led by evil Queen Tox, a menacing blue creature clad in a red crown and dress. All are nicknamed and profiled, but depicted realistically when it comes to unpacking their effects on the body. Most chapters detail the various causes of digestive distress, among them norovirus, food intolerance, and food poisoning, as well as symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. The book concludes by identifying the culprit in this case and describing Sophia's recovery. Relying on the conventions of detective procedure makes for a satisfying plot frame as suspects are listed (with accompanying "mug shots") and the outbreak solved. Po's artwork combines imagination with accuracy; the central players are portrayed both as they appear under a microscope and in their blobby, cartoonish forms. Insets allow readers to pinpoint the location of the actions, while larger images depict close-ups of the adversaries going at it. Age-appropriate art and science projects are interspersed, along with an "I spy" page.A STEAM winner, sure to inspire future physicians-and reassure young hypochondriacs.