What Makes Me Me - Hardcover

Robert Winston is a practising consultant at Hammersmith Hospital, London and world leader in the field of human fertility research. A popular author and broadcaster of TV programmes such as Human Mind and the award-winning Human Instincts, he is also Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College, London and has been at the forefront of social and ethical issues in science. Sir Winston was Chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology. He lives in London.

Gr. 4-6. A British scientist makes human biology fun in this combination activity and fact book. Crystal-clear graphics, including slick collages, colorful diagrams, and photos--from thumbprint size to full page--bring the science close up. Winston fast-forwards through the respiratory, skeletal, and muscular systems and presents a few tidbits about genes and the senses before settling in to discuss the brain, personality, and emotions. To involve readers, he peppers his text with questions and activities designed to help kids better understand physical differences and the many ways people process information, including some entertaining tests to measure intelligence. Certainly readers need to be old enough to understand the fallibility of such exercises (Winston says as much), but the entertainment value here helps balance somewhat haphazard informational content and organization, and the "tests" will encourage readers to investigate further and help them remember that science need not be dull. Glossary. Stephanie Zvirin
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