A broad and entertaining (if less than encyclopedic) new definition for gross anatomy.
A doctor-guided tour of our “weird” human body and some of its maladies, aimed at readers who’ll giggle over the suggestion that gluteus maximus was a Roman emperor.
Leaving the titular riff on the classic reference work Gray’s Anatomy unacknowledged, Kay moves from skin-side to inside and back—beginning with the cloud of germs, dead cells, and “farticles” that surround us all, covering anatomical features from internal organs to hair and nails, and closing with a frank, if sometimes giddy, description of the reproductive system (“the male one is mostly on the outside, dangling there like a chandelier”), brisk and sensible remarks about death, and a final sweep past the immune system, allergies, and select good, bad, and “pukey” microbes. Though his coverage is so catch-as-catch-can that he identifies each layer in a tooth and all eight wrist bones but neglects to mention the pituitary or thyroid glands, he does include basic personal hygiene and nutritional guidelines, reassuring comments about acne (“face art”) and other signs of puberty, and strong opinions about smoking, hand-washing, and anti-vaxxers. He also tucks in descriptions of common conditions and diseases, from anxiety and depression to diabetes. Along with labeled cutaway views, Paker’s cartoons pick up on the droll tone with expressive faces on many body parts and germs and sight gags like a stack of tiny elephants posed next to rotated views of the spinal column.
A broad and entertaining (if less than encyclopedic) new definition for gross anatomy. (glossary, index, further information) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: July 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-48340-4
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022
In this glossy photo essay, the author briefly recounts the study and exploration of the moon, beginning with Stonehenge and concluding with the 1998–99 unmanned probe, Lunar Prospector. Most of the dramatic photographs come from NASA and will introduce a new generation of space enthusiasts to the past missions of Project Mercury, Gemini, and most especially the moon missions, Apollo 1–17. There are plenty of photographs of various astronauts in space capsules, space suits, and walking on the moon. Sometimes photographs are superimposed one on another, making it difficult to read. For example, one photograph shows the command module Columbia as photographed from the lunar module and an insert shows the 15-layer space suit and gear Neil Armstrong would wear for moonwalking. That’s a lot to process on one page. Still, the awesome images of footprints on the moon, raising the American flag, and earthrise from the moon, cannot help but raise shivers. The author concludes with a timeline of exploration, Web sites, recommended books, and picture credits. For NASA memorabilia collectors, end papers show the Apollo space badges for missions 11–17. Useful for replacing aging space titles. (Nonfiction. 8-11)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2001
ISBN: 1-57091-408-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2001
With breezy text and lively graphics featuring a mixed group of young people, this book answers its title question by discussing climate change, pollution, exploitation of natural resources, waste, hunger and the impact of human actions on wildlife. Topics are addressed in chapters titled with questions—“What’s the problem?” “But what about cars?” and “Why are trees important?”—and statements—“Boy, have we messed up!” The answers weave in historical background, clear explanations of the problems and some solutions. This is a more substantive treatment of the issues than its bouncy design might suggest. Sprinkled throughout are one-line eco-tips, summarized toward the end in “5 best ways to make a difference.” From time to time, boxes labeled “FACT!” offer interesting statistics and comparisons, although few sources are mentioned. A lengthy list of organizations and websites, a glossary (of words bolded in the text) and a useful index complete the package. First published in England, this emphasizes the need for international cooperation and offers a refreshing approach to a topic that is not going away. (Nonfiction. 10-14)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7641-4427-1
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Barron's
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
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