The Human Body by Seymour Simon

Bibliography:
Simon, Seymour. 2008. The Human Body. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN: 0060555416

Plot Summary:
The human body is comprised of several different systems that work together to let us feel, taste, see, hear and live. In this informational work, a survey of the human body and its attributes are presented to young readers. The reader begins the journey through the body by being introduced to the building blocks of the body: cells. Systems that allow the body to function are briefly mentioned all together, and then each is individually covered in more depth through the rest of the book. From hair, skin, nails and bones to muscles, organs and blood, all major components of the body are presented. Even the difficult concepts of DNA, pain sensation and growth are addressed, in order to give a complete picture of how the body operates from top to bottom.

Critical Analysis:
Made in conjunction with the Smithsonian, it would appear that the accuracy of this science oriented informational book is top priority. While the Smithsonian can be considered an authority, I do take issue with the fact that the resources used to write the work are not included in a bibliography. There are several websites included in the index for further research, but it would have been helpful, especially for the young reader, to find out where this information came from in the first place. Some of the information is “common knowledge” and may not need to be cited, but other, more obscure information should.

The jacket flap of this work indicates that it is geared toward 5-9 year olds, however I find that the wordiness and difficult vocabulary of the text many be too much for the younger range of this age group. Much can be said of not diminishing the text by “watering” down the information, but more simplistic terms could have been used and difficult words could have been further defined. However, some more complicated concepts are broken down into situations and similes more easily understood by the elementary set. The organization of the book lends itself well to focusing on one part or system of the body. There are fantastic close up pictures and diagrams of the topics that are covered in the book, making the words come to life.

Awards and Reviews:
"Simpler than Richard Walker's ever-so-detailed Encyclopedia of the Human Body (DK, 2002) and a nice introduction to Simon's earlier, more specific works, this book is handsome and informative." - Patricia Manning, School Library Journal

"A nice addition is the appended guide to the illustrations, though captions near the pictures and labeling on diagrams would have been even more useful to children. Still, a visually striking guide to the human body." Carolyn Phelan, Booklist

Connections:
*Read some other titles by Simon in the Smithsonian series, like Eyes and Ears, The Brain or The Brain.
*Find other books about the body and break them apart by topic. Cover, in a read-aloud time, different aspects of the body, like the skeletal system or muscles from the various books. Compare and contrast the information that given in each work.
*Build a body! Let each child trace his or herself to make a life-sized cutout on butcher paper. Cover the different body systems over the course of a few weeks and as you discuss each system, the students will add that system to their own cutout. Start with bones and work your way up to the assorted organs.

BOOK JACKET FOUND ON: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060555412/The_Human_Body/index.aspx