THE AMAZING HUMAN BODY DETECTIVES

Colorful schematic illustrations and miniature detectives introduce major body parts.

Spread by spread, this lively title covers major organs, teeth and bones, the brain, muscles, nose and ears, eyes, hair, skin, the "waste factory," the "repair zone," and how we grow. Each busy spread includes a short definition and a variety of labeled images and interesting factoids. The artist used a wide range of skin tones. A small plastic, Fresnel lens is taped to the cover. This is useful for seeing small details and reading fine print; its inevitable loss will be frustrating, but even the smallest font is legible in good light for sharp, young eyes. An opening labyrinth and suggestions for personal investigations—take your pulse, use a mirror to look inside your mouth, check for color blindness, classify your poo using the Bristol stool chart—along with a final spread of further activities invite readers’ involvement. First published in Great Britain in 2015, this uses British spelling (“colour,” “tonnes”) and terminology throughout (“wee,” “poo,” “bogies,” and “trump”). Use of that last word for breaking wind may be completely unfamiliar to American readers, but the accompanying cartoon will make it clear.

An inviting introduction for curious children from pre-K through early elementary school, but unfamiliar terms may require a little extra interpretation.