THE BODY BOOK, by Nosy Crow and Hannah Alice, Illustrated edition, March 23, 2021, Board Book, $14.99 (ages 7-10)
Children an up-close at their insides in The Body Book, by Nosy Crow and illustrator Hannah Alice.
What’s going on inside our bodies? How do we move, eat, think, and breathe? With labeled acetate diagrams of the muscular, skeletal, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory, and nervous systems, this is a look at human anatomy. From pumping blood to breathing air, The Body Book explores all the amazing things our body can do. —Synopsis provided by Nosy Crow
Bright, detailed illustrations, including see-through diagrams are what makes The Body Book successful. Children want to know how things work, and this book explains just that. From the basics of how skin heals itself to how muscles and the skeletal system work, to the intricacies of waste production and brain power, kids will get a kick out of this book.
However…
Most people wouldn’t consider buying a 16-page board book for children ages 7-10. And in this case, I agree. Though the publisher’s suggested age range for The Body Book is 7-10, it skews younger. A lot younger. Children as young as 3 and 4 will really like the see-through pages and illustrations, and will understand the concepts with a little help from an adult. The text isn’t particularly difficult, and information is presented in bite-sized nuggets. My suggested age is 3-7.
For those looking for a more comprehensive, but still age appropriate anatomy book, I suggest Discovery Plus: Human Body, by Anna Claybourne and Mark Ruffle. It also offers see-through overlays and is spiral bound so it lays flat. The book is 48 pages, and is suitable for readers age 5 and up.
