Fred & Marjorie by Deborah Kerbel, illustrated by Angela Poon

In 1921, Frederick Banting was a young doctor with an idea: could the mysterious secretions of the pancreas be used to treat diabetes? We now call this substance insulin, and its life-saving discovery was an impactful milestone in medical science.

Banting and his assistant, Charles Best, worked together in a small lab to test the theory with street dogs. Banting formed a special bond with one of his test dogs and gave her a name: Marjorie. After Marjorie responded well to insulin treatments, the treatments went on to be used for humans with diabetesand the results were deemed practically miraculous.

A real-life scientific milestone told in an innovative graphic novel format, the book also thoughtfully discusses the use of animals for medical research, including back matter on the subject and further information about diabetes. (From OwlKids).

Deborah Kerbelis a children's bookauthor from Ontario. Her other books includethe picture booksBefore You Were BornandSun Dog,both illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo, the middle-grade booksFeatheredandBye-Bye Evil Eyeand the YA booksMackenzie, Lost and FoundandGirl on the Other Side.

Angela Poonis a Mississauga-based freelance illustrator and comic artist. She graduated fromSheridan College's Bachelor of Illustration program, and has also illustratedFred & Marjorie: A Doctor, a Dog, and the Discovery of Insulin.