Boy, Were We Wrong About the Human Body!

August 1, 2015
A picture-book history of human anatomy and physiology for a young age group-can anyone breathe life into this challenging concept? Colorful cartoonlike illustrations combine with brief text to provide a history of misunderstandings of human anatomy and physiology that often served to misdirect medical care in the past. The refrain, "Boy, were they wrong!" concludes many spreads. Some of the themes explored: ancient Egyptians' belief that the heart was the site of the personality; the commonly held misconception that many illnesses could be cured by bloodletting; acupuncture, which is later revealed as one of the "ancient ideas that work"; the idea that eyes produced light that captured images; and the belief that four types of humors filled the body and their imbalance was the source of illness. Each of these is described in a sentence or two and accompanied by a humorous, never-gory illustration, juxtaposed against a follow-on double-page spread that explains, very simply, the actual way the body works. The final few pages explore recent ideas and technologies, including information about DNA and a description of some unnamed imaging techniques. The fourth in the series, this clever entry is just as amusing and informative as the rest. A timeline that lists numerous highly significant medical advances, also-whimsically?-includes the 1921 invention of the Band-Aid. Accurate, informative, and surprisingly enjoyable. (Informational picture book. 5-9)

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August 1, 2015

Gr 2-4-The human body is remarkably complex, and many theories-now proven to be false-have been formulated over the years to explain its workings. Tackling everything from mummies to acupuncture to the optic nerve, this book gives a brief history of a few of these theories, why they were wrong, and what we've learned about how the body really works. Kudlinski provides a solid overview of some of the main parts of the body, including the brain, the eye, and bones. Germ theory and some of the modern tools used to assess the human body are covered briefly. An appended time line lays out dates for major medical discoveries and innovations. The cartoon illustrations are enlightening and appealing. VERDICT There aren't many existing books on this topic, making this title a good option for general purchase.-Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2015
Grades 1-3 Focusing on the mysterious inner workings of the human body, the latest volume in the Boy, Were We Wrong About . . . series begins with misconceptions from ancient times and ends with today's understanding of the secret code of chemicals spaced along spiral molecules called DNA. Among the discredited ideas are the Greek notion of the four humors and the long-enduring practice of bloodletting. After introducing an old, now-discarded notion, Kudlinski describes the discoveries, information, and applications that have superseded it. Though the text is sometimes a bit hazy on historical periods, the appended time line is helpful in sorting out dates of discoveries and related advances in medical treatment. Tilley's line-and-watercolor artwork sets a light, sometimes comical tone in dramatizing the scenes, while illustrating certain subjects, such as the structure of the eye depicted in cross section, in a straightforward manner. This entertaining picture book on medical history will complement more traditional volumes on how the body works.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)