A fascinating, sometimes funny read that goes well beyond the scatological.
Readers who have wondered how their bodies turn food into fuel and feces need look no further. All the juicy details are in this book.
Each section of the gastrointestinal system is covered in a different chapter, with a breezy explanatory narrative, diagrams, callout boxes with fun or unusual facts, and, at the end, a summary of the most important takeaways. This allows Gardy to explain in detail what takes place in each section of the GI system and even to throw in unexpected bits of history. For instance, the first (known) endoscopy was performed in the 19th century by a German physician with a tube that had many mirrors and a light; the key to its success was that the subject was a professional sword swallower who’d conquered his gag reflex. Kids will be fascinated by the description of how sword swallowing works (capped with the stern instruction not to try it themselves). Gardy also introduces readers to all sorts of scientific advancements, such as fecal transplants and modern efforts to use waste as a source of renewable energy. Even those readers well acquainted with the subject matter will find something new. Illustrations by Wuthrich add interest, supplementing the information with clear diagrams and often funny images that serve to increase readers’ understanding of the text. The illustration of the Bristol stool chart, which includes a wombat admiring its cube-shaped poo, is a standout.
A fascinating, sometimes funny read that goes well beyond the scatological. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-14)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77164-501-0
Page Count: 152
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A handy guide to the squishy, sometimes sticky stages of puberty.
An inclusive and humorous approach to puberty, plus strategies for coming out of it your best self.
Body changes, body hair, acne, and sweat are just a few things adolescents will experience differently during puberty. Consistently using the terms assigned male and assigned female to describe physical development experienced in puberty determined by assigned birth sex, Loveless makes clear these factors don’t determine gender identity. Combining appropriate, scientific vocabulary and a conversational tone—reproduction is defined as a way to “create more human life through penis in vagina intercourse”—she doesn’t dumb down information. At the same time, she refers to some activities such as intercourse and childbirth as “adult acts” or “adult tasks,” keeping the book a safe space for younger readers. She represents understanding physiology as the foundation to successfully managing this time, but so is understanding the social and emotional factors such as gender expression and the effects of screen use. When discussing mental health, Loveless provides tools and resources in multiple places. With a focus on communication and building trust with caregivers, strategies for both youth and adults are integrated throughout, as are ways for supporting LGBTQ+ youth. There is some racial diversity in the few illustrations in the book. For some aspects of puberty like menstruation, this will serve more as an introduction than a comprehensive resource.
A handy guide to the squishy, sometimes sticky stages of puberty. (resources, source notes) (Nonfiction. 9-14)Pub Date: March 23, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-63565-353-3
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Rodale Kids
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
A straightforward explanation of growth and changes in puberty aimed at girls approaching their teens.
A pediatrician who also serves as an online expert for several parenting sites offers sensible descriptions of and answers to common questions about body basics, physical, emotional and mental changes, and relationships with family and friends in this latest self-help title from the American Girl group. The target audience for this follow-up to The Care & Keeping of You (1998) is clearly the upper end of the company’s publishing focus (ages 8-12), but the information provided about puberty is generally similar to that in the previous title, which covered girls’ good health more broadly. There are clear instructions for breast self-examination and for inserting a tampon. (Shaving one’s legs and determining bra size return from the earlier book.) The text does not include sexual feelings among its set of physical and emotional changes. In the diagram of the vagina, the clitoris is shown but not labeled. Parents will be particularly pleased by the author’s repeated reminder that parental rules rule. Preteen readers will appreciate the positive, personal tone. Sure to be welcomed, and especially useful for families and collections where the more explicit It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley (1999) would be unacceptable. (Nonfiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: March 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-60958-042-1
Page Count: 103
Publisher: American Girl
Review Posted Online: Jan. 15, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
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