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4-6
Stomach pain and the urgent need to run to the restroom are frequent occurrences for twelve-year-old Al, something she finds excruciatingly embarrassing. And that's not the only thing making her anxious: she has realized she's attracted to girls but isn't ready to share that. Her mom's constant worrying about Al's digestive issues is annoying; and Mom's evolving relationship with Al's best friend's mother changes things for everyone involved. After Al learns she has Crohn's disease, some of the stress of her diagnosis is offset by an inflammatory bowel disease support group, one of whose members becomes a romantic interest. Though Al struggles to open up about multiple aspects of her life, the book reassuringly shows that what makes her feel alone is more common than she thinks: she's not the only one who's queer, and she's also not the only "Bathroom Club" member texting from the toilet. Her first-person narration is frank and doesn't lean on euphemisms. Humor is plentiful but not zany; the emphasis on Al's emotions makes it easy to empathize with her. Al and many other characters are Jewish (statistically likely given the IBD subject matter), and the casual, varied Jewish representation is another plus.
Reviewer: Shoshana Flax
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2023
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4-6
Color by Braden Lamb. In this graphic memoir chronicling her fourth-grade year, Telgemeier (Smile; Sisters) sensitively captures the traumas of anxiety. A stomach bug ushers in a fear of vomiting; as her phobia worsens, she starts missing school, limiting foods, and engaging in compulsive behaviors. Telgemeier expertly uses scale and perspective to animate the terror of panic attacks. She also addresses the insecurities of tween female friendships, the stigma of therapy, and the onset of puberty.
Reviewer: Julie Danielson
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2019
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4-6
Stickmen's Guides to Your Awesome Body series.
Illustrated by
Venitia Dean.
These books introduce basic anatomy and the functions and dysfunctions of human body systems through text (in tiny font), illustrations, and schematics. Each volume concludes with a chronology illustrating historical beliefs and scientific discoveries as well as a spread of random facts. Scattered stick figures interacting with the medical illustrations provide the series' gimmick but little else. Ind. Review covers these Stickmen's Guides to Your Awesome Body titles: Stickmen's Guide to Your Beating Heart, Stickmen's Guide to Your Brilliant Brain, Stickmen's Guide to Your Gurgling Guts, and Stickmen's Guide to Your Mighty Muscles and Bones.
(4)
K-3
First Facts: Your Body Systems series.
These introductions to the human body are very basic, with some complexity added in fact boxes and captioned photos or diagrams. One spread in each volume addresses some common disorders (for example, sprains and spasms in Muscular), though Nervous also preaches about damage from drug and alcohol use. Three appended questions link material to the Common Core. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review includes the following First Facts: Your Body Systems titles: Your Digestive System Works!, Your Muscular System Works!, and Your Nervous System Works!.
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4-6
Your Body by Numbers series.
Subheadings, charts, graphs, and captioned full-color photographs are gathered with short paragraphs and information boxes to cover anatomy and function of the brain and digestive system. The emphasis on measurable data overwhelms the otherwise solid explanations and makes the text a bit choppy. The appended "Test Yourself" spread poses ten questions and a research challenge. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Your Body by Numbers titles: Your Digestive System and Your Brain.
48 pp.
| Enslow
| January, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3947-6$23.93
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4-6
Body System Disease Investigations series.
After a quick overview of a body system, these books present sets of symptoms and circumstances (with photos) that agent Annie Biotica must analyze to diagnose and sometimes cure. Investigator/superhero Annie explains the relevant symptoms, diagnostic tests, and medical treatments. Readers are then challenged to solve three additional cases. There are some unfortunate errors and typos in the informative text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Body System Disease Investigations titles: The Case of the Flesh-Eating Bacteria, The Case of the Infected Tick, The Case of the Rusty Nail, The Case of the Sneezy Popcorn, and The Case of the Undercooked Burger.
48 pp.
| Enslow
| January, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-4157-8$23.93 New ed. (2004)
(4)
4-6
Learning About the Human Body Systems series.
In each updated book, five short chapters capably describe the function and structure of the featured human systems and give too-brief information on treatment and prevention of ailments. Each book's final chapter lists "amazing" facts. A few anatomical drawings and photos are scattered throughout but are too small to add much visual interest. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Learning About the Human Body Systems titles: Digestive and Excretory Systems, Musculoskeletal System and the Skin, Nervous System, Respiratory System, and Endocrine and Reproductive Systems.
32 pp.
| Sea to Sea
| March, 2011
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-59771-264-4$28.50
(4)
4-6
Your Body Inside and Out series.
This series provides very basic information about human bodies, anatomy, and grooming (the latter most especially in Teeth). Heavily illustrated with photographs and drawings (some are repeated across volumes), the spreads feature short paragraphs of uneven text, captions, fact boxes, and "Try This!" activities (e.g., flexing muscles, inhaling deeply). Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Your Body Inside and Out titles: Bones and Muscles, Senses, Teeth and Hair, Food and Digestion, Growing, and Heart and Lungs.
32 pp.
| Raintree
| January, 2011
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4109-4014-8$29.00
(3)
4-6
Inside My Body series.
Double-page spreads begin with questions related to the human muscular or digestive system. The answers, in the form of short paragraphs, bulleted lists, labeled diagrams and schematics, charts, and captioned photos, pack a surprising amount of information into relatively uncluttered pages. A final spread reiterates major points. Sidebars debunk common misconceptions, give practical advice, and add quirky facts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Inside My Body titles: How Do My Muscles Get Strong? and Why Do I Burp?
32 pp.
| ABDO
| January, 2011
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-61613-498-3$27.07
(3)
K-3
Buddy Books: Body Systems series.
Double-page spreads describe the workings of the title body systems, usually with simple text on left-hand pages and large, colorful photographs or diagrams on the right. The texts touch on common disorders (e.g., high blood pressure in Circulatory) and healthy practices. "Brain Food" spreads pose three questions and provide answers. Ample white space, engaging images, and "Word of Mouth" sidebars are reader-friendly. Glos., ind. Review covers these Buddy Books: Body Systems titles: Circulatory System, Digestive System, Muscular System, and Nervous System.
32 pp.
| Heinemann
| October, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4329-2053-1$25.36
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K-3
Sistemas del cuerpo series.
This series explains how the human body works, focusing on the following systems: respiratory, digestive, sensory, circulatory, and muscular and skeletal. Photographs, drawings, and simple diagrams illustrate the writing, which can be vague but is otherwise accessible. "¿Sabías que...?" ("Did you know?") facts end the texts. The Spanish used is accurate. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sistemas del cuerpo titles: El sistema circulatorio, El sistema digestivo, El sistema respiratorio, El sistema sensorial, and Los sistemas esquelético y muscular.
32 pp.
| Heinemann
| May, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-432-90867-6$25.36
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K-3
Body Systems series.
Repetitive sentences accompanied by clear photographs provide basic information about the systems of the human body. Each section begins with a guiding question, some that children might really ask ("What do my skull and spine do?") and some they wouldn't ("What are my arms?"). Diagrams of the systems are detailed enough to build understanding. "Did you know?" sections highlight unusual body facts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Body Systems titles: The Circulatory System, The Digestive System, The Respiratory System, The Sensory System, and The Skeletal and Muscular Systems.
32 pp.
| Heinemann
| March, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4329-0905-5$28.21
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4-6
Human Machine series.
Introductory information on human body systems and structure is presented in a textbooklike, question-driven format that is heavy on facts, light on depth, and tied together through analogies with machines. The colorful illustrations and busy layouts include helpful diagrams, stock photos, and additional factual asides. Reproduction, in particular, keeps its discussion too vague to be very informative. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Human Machine titles: Digestion and Excretion, Respiration and Circulation, The Skeleton and Muscles, The Brain and Nervous System, Cells, Tissues, and Organs, and Reproduction and Genetics.
32 pp.
| Cinco
| September, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-1-933693-07-1$14.95
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K-3
Translated by Daniel Zolinsky.
Illustrated by
Marie Lafrance.
A wolf in doctor's clothing is our guide for an apple's journey through the digestive system. The tone is jocular and the hip illustrations reflect the text's humor, but the design of the small pages is chaotic, making it difficult to follow the English and Spanish texts. A better organized and more in-depth scoop is Susan Goodman's The Truth About Poop.
32 pp.
| Putnam
| June, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-24308-0$15.99
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K-3
Illustrated by
Lynne Avril.
In this sequel to Oh No, Gotta Go!, a little girl picnicking with her parents learns that "there's more than one reason to sit on the pot." This is a higher order of bathroom book: Elya uses well-contextualized Spanish words to complete her rhymes, and the secondary-color-rich art, featuring, at one point, text arranged on an intestine, is a gas. Glos.
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4-6
Illustrated by
Jef Czekaj.
A spiky-haired green guy with an orange and white striped tie and sneakers guides readers through the human digestive system, pointing out each organ and its function, be it "cool" or "sometimes gross." The gory facts are all there, but breezy writing ("good job, epiglottis"), use of the second person, and cartoon illustrations keep the tone light. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos.
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4-6
Body Talk series.
These accessible volumes present the human body and how it works. Rather than isolating the different parts of the body, these titles successfully demonstrate how the body systems work together to perform everyday functions. The cluttered design features many photographs, diagrams, and sidebars. "Find out later" questions preview the information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Body Talk titles: Break It Down, Control Freak, Defend Yourself, In Your Genes, Move Your Body, and Pump It Up.
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4-6
Body Talk series.
These leveled-text editions discuss the human body and how it works. Rather than isolating the different parts of the body, the books demonstrate how the body systems work together to perform everyday functions (though some of the descriptions are vague). The design features many photographs, diagrams, and sidebars. "Find out later" questions preview the information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Body Talk titles: Break It Down, Control Freak, Defend Yourself, In Your Genes, Move Your Body, and Pump It Up.
32 pp.
| HarperCollins
| May, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-06-054651-4$15.99
|
LibraryISBN 0-06-054652-2$16.89
(2)
K-3
Simon goes well beyond basic organ description to describe the components and processes involved in each step of digestion. Great photographs and images of organs get readers into the Guts mood and include close-ups of various organs in all their glistening, gristly glory. Good captioning addresses both what is portrayed and how it was imaged.
Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2005
48 pp.
| Enslow
| November, 2004
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-2022-3$23.93
(3)
4-6
Human Body Library series.
A succinct text identifies the organs that make up the digestive and excretory systems and ably explains how they function to nourish the body and eliminate waste. Illustrated with scientific diagrams and a few photos, the volume also discusses disorders that can affect these systems and touches on the importance of diet and exercise. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.