Foldout anatomy An interactive look inside humans and animals

How do our bodies work? This intriguing Czech import describes seven of the systems that make our bodies work: the skeletal, muscular, digestive and excretory, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, and reproductive systems. There are two spreads devoted to each system. The first describes the system in humans. Gatefolds on either side show eight other animals from around the world. Opening these full-length panels reveals variations of the system in each of these animals. Color-coded tags helpfully indicate the animal's basic group, such as bird, reptile, or mollusk. The second spread offers further details about the system, such as various types of muscles, how the shape of an animal's teeth depends on the kind of food they eat, how the heart works, cutaneous respiration (skin breathing), and more. Most information is conveyed in short paragraphs, often with a topic title, and each page includes an additional factoid in a "Did You Know?" box. The illustrations are stylized, colorful, and gently humorous; arrows connecting explanatory text to the relevant body part make the information easy to digest. Pink-hued human silhouettes have no details beyond the system being described. The chosen facts are accurate and appropriate to elementary school readers with inquiring minds. Anatomy titles for this age group are usually focused on the human body or specific body parts. The comparative approach makes this one stand out. An appealing and enlightening, hands-on, full-bodied approach. (Nonfiction. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.