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Dive into the vibrant world of biology with the Amoeba Sisters’ Cartoon Guide to Biology, a delightful fusion between the fun of a comic book and the fundamentals of a textbook. Authored by the dynamic sister duo behind the beloved Amoeba Sisters YouTube channel, this guide features 24 major concepts commonly taught in life sciences courses. Designed to alleviate the intimidation often associated with complex science concepts, this guide employs amusing mnemonics, real-world examples, and humorous anecdotes to make biology more approachable and relatable. If you’re ready to learn biology like you never have before, it’s time to put on your peripheral protein party hats and dive in!
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📢 August 2026 Update on Our Book: Our original publisher is in the process of dissolving, and this has caused a lack of availability of print copies of our book from major retailers. We have signed with a new publisher to make a 2nd edition of our book that will be released on January 5, 2027! If you would like information about the upcoming second edition or information about special orders, quantity sales, course adoptions, and corporate sales of this second edition, please email our new publisher at [email protected] If you are trying to find a copy of our 1st edition of our book in the meantime, one of our partners, PocketLab, is able to include the original book (while their supply lasts) as part of their "Complete Bundle" which includes an annual subscription of Amoeba Sisters Virtual Checks on PocketLab Notebook. Learn more about their "Complete Bundle" on PocketLab Notebook here or contact PocketLab Notebook with questions here. 
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Preorder Today:🚨If not using our link buttons, please double check the ISBN number! Scam listings (with fake books) can pop-up online. Please ensure your purchase has this ISBN number: 9798893032031.Preorder the eBook: |
A Look Inside Our Book
Book Q&A
What age is this book created for?
This book is for ALL wanting to learn biology and age need not be a defining factor for our biology content. But we can describe the level because, like our videos, we do tend to have a level that we direct our content towards. Similar to our videos, our book is directed for high school introductory biology students, which tends to be students aged 14-16. We receive a lot of feedback that our videos are useful for introductory biology at the college level as well (our channel's college audience has grown significantly), so we also think this book provides a great refresher or foundation piece beyond high school.
How would you describe this book in one sentence?
We'd describe it as a fusion of the fun of a comic book and the fundamentals of a textbook that focuses on 24 major concepts commonly taught in biology.
Just a note: if you aren't familiar with our biology videos on YouTube, it is styled very similar in illustrations and wording, often utilizing our video scripting. (Oops, now we have more than 1 sentence.)
Just a note: if you aren't familiar with our biology videos on YouTube, it is styled very similar in illustrations and wording, often utilizing our video scripting. (Oops, now we have more than 1 sentence.)
What topics are in the book? Does it align to any specific standards?
Here are the topics of our book, organized into 24 chapters. The 24 chapters represent the 24 major concepts that Pinky taught in biology, and we think it provides an excellent foundation for biology.
Does your book align to any specific area's standards?
Amoeba Sisters is a global YouTube channel and biology standards can vary globally, though major concepts taught in introductory biology (listed above in the book chapters) tend to overlap. Our channel's videos and our book can support many biology standards as it can provide foundational content, but we do not strive to align to a specific set. Many standards will challenge students to apply a concept (for example: to model a biological process, to apply a concept to a real event situation, etc), and students also need opportunities such as lab activities and discussions. To see a list of the standards our videos can help support - and how this can be organized by book chapter - please visit HERE.
- Biological Levels
- Biomolecules
- Enzymes
- Cell Basics and Organelles
- Cell Membranes
- Cell Transport
- Cellular Respiration
- Photosynthesis
- DNA
- DNA Replication
- The Cell Cycle
- Cell Division (focuses on mitosis and meiosis)
- Genetics (focuses on Mendelian and non-Mendelian)
- RNA and Protein Synthesis
- Mutations
- Biotechnology
- Evolution: Mechanisms and Evidence
- Viruses
- Domain Bacteria and Domain Archaea
- Domain Eukarya: Fungi, "Protists," Plants, and Animals
- Plants: Diversity, Structure, and Reproduction
- Ecology (focuses on multiple ecology topics such as ecological relationships, food webs/pyramids, ecological succession, and biogeochemical cycles)
- Body Systems Overview
- Homeostasis
Does your book align to any specific area's standards?
Amoeba Sisters is a global YouTube channel and biology standards can vary globally, though major concepts taught in introductory biology (listed above in the book chapters) tend to overlap. Our channel's videos and our book can support many biology standards as it can provide foundational content, but we do not strive to align to a specific set. Many standards will challenge students to apply a concept (for example: to model a biological process, to apply a concept to a real event situation, etc), and students also need opportunities such as lab activities and discussions. To see a list of the standards our videos can help support - and how this can be organized by book chapter - please visit HERE.
How might a student use this book?
These will be major concepts that you cover in most introductory biology courses. Here is a sequence of steps we suggest when using this book to help you study.
1. Select a chapter that you are wanting to focus on.
2. Set aside a block of distraction-free time and silence the phone. Set a timer for a block of time (we recommend no longer than 45 minutes) to delve into a single chapter.
3. As you read, take note of biology vocabulary words that you don't know; the glossary can be your friend with this. You may want to write the vocabulary words down on a piece of paper to quiz yourself on (or check out our vocabulary cards which are coming soon!) as biology has a lot of vocabulary.
4. The comics are designed to help make the content memorable. With every comic you see, ask yourself, "What is this comic trying to show? What is the science behind it?" That helps you connect the illustrations with the content, and we find that can help it stick in your mind.
5. When you come to the end of the chapter, you'll first notice "Something to Think About." Reflect for a moment on this part. This section connects the content to why it matters (because it's so much more than "just for a test") or how it is connected with other concepts.
6. Next, you'll notice a "Stumbling Blocks" section where you can read common misconceptions that students encounter about the topic. Did you have any of these misconceptions? If you didn't have the misconception, does reading this common misconception make you think about the content a little differently?
7. Finally, take a look at the "Before You Turn the Page" section. Answer those out loud for yourself. Are there any that you don't know? That is a good indicator to go back and re-read the section that you may need to see again.
1. Select a chapter that you are wanting to focus on.
2. Set aside a block of distraction-free time and silence the phone. Set a timer for a block of time (we recommend no longer than 45 minutes) to delve into a single chapter.
3. As you read, take note of biology vocabulary words that you don't know; the glossary can be your friend with this. You may want to write the vocabulary words down on a piece of paper to quiz yourself on (or check out our vocabulary cards which are coming soon!) as biology has a lot of vocabulary.
4. The comics are designed to help make the content memorable. With every comic you see, ask yourself, "What is this comic trying to show? What is the science behind it?" That helps you connect the illustrations with the content, and we find that can help it stick in your mind.
5. When you come to the end of the chapter, you'll first notice "Something to Think About." Reflect for a moment on this part. This section connects the content to why it matters (because it's so much more than "just for a test") or how it is connected with other concepts.
6. Next, you'll notice a "Stumbling Blocks" section where you can read common misconceptions that students encounter about the topic. Did you have any of these misconceptions? If you didn't have the misconception, does reading this common misconception make you think about the content a little differently?
7. Finally, take a look at the "Before You Turn the Page" section. Answer those out loud for yourself. Are there any that you don't know? That is a good indicator to go back and re-read the section that you may need to see again.
How might a classroom or homeschool teacher use this book?
Class set, anyone? Each chapter is definitely shorter than a textbook as it focuses on the essentials, and this book provides a foundation of information in a fun, engaging way (with cartoons) that also encourages literacy. The "Before You Turn the Page" section (at the end of every chapter) lists the main objectives students should be able to answer. Consider having students get creative with the "Before You Turn the Page" section! For example, a student could create a product (they can illustrate a picture, write something that rhymes, record a podcast episode, etc) to answer the "Before You Turn the Page" section! If you are a classroom teacher with many students, you can put your students into groups to create products to answer the different objectives on the page and then have them share with the class. If your area focuses on specific biology standards (which vary globally), provide students with the standard and ask them to relate the concepts they just learned from the chapter to the standard. This can make for a great discussion! Remember that our videos really complement our book, and we have more practice available if you're interested - find all that organized HERE.
We do want to emphasize our book provides a foundation for biology but focuses on the essentials. Discussions and labs centered on these topics can be a great way to dive in deeper. Textbooks can also be useful for diving into more details or exploring topics that may be more advanced (for example, the types of cell signaling is an advanced topic not covered in this book). Want a textbook recommendation for diving into more details? Our favorite textbook for exploring beyond is the free, peer-reviewed OpenStax biology textbook (no affiliation): https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/1-introduction
We do want to emphasize our book provides a foundation for biology but focuses on the essentials. Discussions and labs centered on these topics can be a great way to dive in deeper. Textbooks can also be useful for diving into more details or exploring topics that may be more advanced (for example, the types of cell signaling is an advanced topic not covered in this book). Want a textbook recommendation for diving into more details? Our favorite textbook for exploring beyond is the free, peer-reviewed OpenStax biology textbook (no affiliation): https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/1-introduction
What makes this book unique?
Let us list the ways:
- Over 500 cartoons! Seriously. Petunia's pseudopodia are sore.
- A section at the end of each chapter that focuses on "Stumbling Blocks" - addressing misconceptions that students may have (and, a few that Pinky had!)
- A section at the end of each chapter called "Before You Turn the Page" so students know what they should master before progressing to the next chapter
- A glossary of over 250 words that have brief, general definitions.
- The humor you find in our videos.
- Pinky and Petunia sisterhood comics at the beginning of each chapter to introduce the start of each topic.
- The chapters work great with our Amoeba Sisters videos that we create on YouTube; see the alignment of videos to book chapter here!
The book mentions something in the glossary about optional card sets that are available separately?
Yes! While they have been completed on our end, our original publisher was unable to publish them. Our original publisher is dissolving. We are working with our new publisher to try to make this happen. If you'd like to inquire about them, please contact our new publisher at: [email protected]
Is the book available in my local public library?
We're thrilled to hear from readers who have found the first edition of our book in their local libraries! While the first edition of our book is now out of print, our 2nd edition will be released in January 2027. Most libraries offer the option to submit a request for consideration to add a book to their collection. Here is the information below that you can share with your library:
Title: The Amoeba Sisters' Cartoon Guide to Biology
Authors: Sarina Peterson, Brianna Rapini
ISBN: 9798893032031
Title: The Amoeba Sisters' Cartoon Guide to Biology
Authors: Sarina Peterson, Brianna Rapini
ISBN: 9798893032031
It's summer 2026, and all of a sudden, I can't find your book anywhere?!
Our original publisher is in the process of dissolving, and this has caused a lack of availability of print copies of our book from major retailers. We have signed with a new publisher for a new 2nd edition that will be released January 5th, 2027. Preorder information for our new 2nd edition can be found on the links from our publisher's page HERE.
If you would like information about the upcoming second edition or information about special orders, quantity sales, course adoptions, or corporate sales of this second edition, please email our new publisher at [email protected]
We also want to mention that one of our partners, PocketLab, is able to include the original book (while their supply lasts) as part of their "Complete Bundle" which includes an annual subscription of Amoeba Sisters Virtual Checks on PocketLab Notebook. Learn more about their "Complete Bundle" on PocketLab Notebook here or contact PocketLab Notebook with questions here.
If you would like information about the upcoming second edition or information about special orders, quantity sales, course adoptions, or corporate sales of this second edition, please email our new publisher at [email protected]
We also want to mention that one of our partners, PocketLab, is able to include the original book (while their supply lasts) as part of their "Complete Bundle" which includes an annual subscription of Amoeba Sisters Virtual Checks on PocketLab Notebook. Learn more about their "Complete Bundle" on PocketLab Notebook here or contact PocketLab Notebook with questions here.
Corrections or Updates
You have probably noticed that textbooks often release a new edition when they have errors to correct or content updates, but unless they keep a publicly accessible list of what was corrected or updated, you wouldn’t notice the corrections or updates unless you had the time and ability to read both the old edition and new edition to carefully compare the two. For our book, we created a living document to report potential corrections and changes (since science often has updates). If you find an error in this book or a necessary update, please use the form on this page to submit it.
