The Super Science Book of Our Bodies

Grade 3-5-This slim overview is too brief to be informative. Double-page treaments are devoted to cells, digestion, the brain, etc., and to generalities such as "Healthy Eating," "Staying Healthy," and "Exercise." In each case, a few paragraphs introduce the topic and outline basic data. In addition, several good-quality, captioned photos and mediocre illustrations appear on each spread; some of them add to readers' understanding, while others simply take up space. For example, "The Skeleton" includes a drawing of a pirate with the caption, "Skeletons are often used in horror movies and books to frighten people. The pirate flag is a skull and crossbones, and the destination of Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver in Treasure Island is Skeleton Island." Writing throughout is choppy, providing a recitation of facts rather than an involving narrative. Some sections include ideas for projects or experiments, none of which are very interesting. Boxed sidebars highlight trivia, such as "WOW! If you pulled out your intestines into a long line, they would stretch farther than the world long-jump record." With so many superior books on the human body available, this one is easy to skip.
Denise L. Moll, Lone Pine Elementary School, West Bloomfield, MI
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.