Uncover the Human Body
Why does my heart make that thump-thump sound? How big is a lung? Why do I get boogers? All valid questions that deserve answers, but if high school biology doesn’t come flooding back to you, it can be a real challenge.
Recruit some help. "Uncover the Human Body" (Silver Dolphin Books, 2002) written by Luann Colombo and illustrated by Craig Zuckerman and Jennifer Fairman is a fun way to learn about the body, recommended for ages 8 and up. A hybrid book and model, each page uncovers a different system in the human body with a three-dimensional model featured in a cut-out in the center. Want to learn about the skeletal system? Check out the miniature skull, rib cage and pelvis on the second page. Each system is broken down to explain its purpose, what it looks like, what organs are involved and what happens when they aren’t treated right. When the book is closed, kids get to see the way all the systems look together.
The "Try This" section on each page is a fun way to test out those quirky mechanisms of the human body. On the Urinary System page, Colombo suggests that kids eat asparagus (always a good idea) to see if their pee smells funny. "When digested, chemicals in asparagus become similar to the chemicals that make skunks stink. Not everyone can smell them. Can you?" Okay, so it’s a little gross, but if it gets your kids to eat their vegetables while introducing them to one of the body’s key functions, why not?
The simple text helps break down these complex functions in order to help kids understand how their bodies are working for them, especially when taken care of. When discussing the digestive system, Colombo has this to say about junk food: "Food that doesn’t have good nutrients is a waste of your body’s time." Colombo does give some mixed messages here, however. To describe the digestive process she uses pizza as an example. How about something with a little less artery-clogging cheese?
Another criticism is that it claims to cover all the major systems of the body, but it doesn’t broach the reproductive system–which tends to be the most mysterious of all for kids.
One thing the author doesn’t shy away from is using both the medical terms and kid slang for body parts in the same sentence–an effective way to make the material approachable. Who wouldn’t want to read a heading called "The Scoop on Poop", even if it does use the word feces and rectum? While kids may giggle, accompanying everyday playground language with the more technical terms goes a long way towards introducing them to the world of medicine and their bodies.
And that’s one of the most fun and important parts of growing up!
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