HUMANATOMY How the Body Works is a fabulous, sturdy, non fiction picture book that introduces children to the major organ systems in our bodies. Each system is introduced through stunning, well labelled illustrations and informative text which also addresses questions that readers may have. It’s an amazing resource for helping children (and adults) understand more about how their bodies work.
HUMANATOMY introduces us to eight body systems. A fold out skeleton inside the front cover introduces each individual system and numbered labels explain particular parts, for example, spinal cord, right ventricle, trapezius. This skeleton is fascinating in itself but then each system is explained in a double spread which shows a detailed illustration as well as explaining how it works using easy to read text and smaller diagrams.
An introduction looks at how our systems work together before moving into the more detailed double spreads. There is also a look at how our immune system works and an explanation about our DNA. A list of useful words can be found at the end of the book, many which were also unfamiliar to me.
There are so many fascinating facts included in this wonderful book. Explanations about why a bruise turns different colours, what makes us burp and fart and where does pain come from were particularly interesting. Some facts were also linked to other creatures – did you know that lobsters communicate by squirting wee into each others’ faces or that rhino horns are made of keratin like our fingernails?
The illustrations are bold, colourful and well labelled and the book acknowledges the fact that, due to space, it can only show two different skin tones and hair types. Pictures of male and female bodies are shown where there are differences in anatomy. Detailed illustrations coupled with short, easy to read texts show specific body parts, for example, the eye, a tooth and the bladder. Even more detailed illustrations show what blood is made of, how skin heals itself after a cut and how broken bones heal.
HUMANATOMY would make a fabulous addition to a school or home library and would be a great resource to use for a topic on bodies in a Key Stage Two classroom. It provides answers to so many questions that children may have about their bodies and how they work and really is the most amazing learning resource – although not just for children, I learnt lots too!
Author: Nicola Edwards / Illustrators: George Ermos & Jem Maybank
Thank you to 360 Degrees for sending us a copy of this fascinating book.
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