The Fantastic Body

January 1, 2018

Gr 4-6-In this physically hefty volume, Bennett captivates readers with an engaging look at the inside and outside workings of the human body. Rich with medical terminology, the writing style smoothly blends definitions of unfamiliar vocabulary with factual details. Technical passages are enhanced by clear diagrams. Large doses of humor lighten the tone, and gross-out descriptions, such as "snot rocket," should keep students reading. Bennett has a knack for breaking down complex medical information into understandable material. Nine sections delve into topics such as body systems, senses, puberty, and human development. Also covered are ways to stay well and some common illnesses, with suggestions on how to get better. Heaps of supplemental material, which appears in sidebars, further expands the content. A thorough index aides in quick retrieval of information-but since there is no separate glossary, readers will need to flip back to previous pages to reacquaint themselves with terms. Colorful photos (a mix of original and stock) and illustrations are plentiful. At times, the cartoonish art style, especially those on chapter-heading pages, seem geared more towards a younger audience when compared to the level of the text. VERDICT A fresh perspective on health and wellness and a useful resource or browsing selection for nonfiction collections.-Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2017
Anatomy and physiology books for older grade schoolers are not especially rare, but it's worth taking a close look at this new one.This effort, on first glance, ever so closely resembles a textbook, which may serve to drive off potential readers and might especially daunt those interested in just browsing. Although it appears quite long, it is composed of heavyweight pages and has numerous spreads that are nearly devoid of text. It is remarkably comprehensive, not even glossing over reproduction and the reproductive system as many nonfiction works for the elementary-age group tend to do. Each chapter includes numerous clear, attractive photographs of people of all races, clear descriptions of the forms and functions of organs and systems, and sidebars entitled "What the Heck" that briefly describe surprising aspects of the various topics. Other sidebars called "Try This" offer very simple science experiments. "Ewww It's True" boxes offer just enough somewhat-disgusting trivia to amuse the intended audience. Finally, there are also "Fact or Fib" sidebars that present short, amusing true-or-false statements with explanations. Challenging words are followed by pronunciation guides usefully embedded in the text. Well-organized and systematic in its approach, this is an especially desirable work.A thorough, accurate, and attractive effort that's useful for quick reference as well as for a deeper examination of the topic. (Nonfiction. 10-14)

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