Sunday, December 16, 2018

Read 'n' Play: Smithsonian Exploration Station: Human Body

I don't usually look at or review books with "things" or kits, but around the beginning of the year I update our various kits and so this is a good time to take a look at what's new and will spark ideas. This Smithsonian kit features the human body and right away I thought "that would make a great storytime kit!"

This kit has a sturdy cardboard case and includes a 56-page paperback, poster with reusable stickers, skeleton model, and fact cards. The book is a basic overview of the human body. Most of the people pictured are white, but there is some diversity included. The book matches with the fact cards, which are index-card sized (does anybody even use index cards anymore?) and made from cardstock with a slick coating. The book and cards cover things like the basic digestive, nervous, and circulatory system, the skeletal structure, and include sections on the importance of healthy eating and exercise.

The skeleton is plastic and pops together with little knobs. It has a stand to attach it to. The poster is double-sided and the stickers include bones (for one side of the poster) and organs (for the other). There's also a sheet of square stickers with simple outlines of body parts (nose, ribs, head, etc.)

The book does not address reproductive organs in any way (and doesn't even mention the word poop, just a vague reference to "waste" which is disappointing). However, it's a nice, basic introduction to the human body with some fun hands-on activities. This would make a good holiday present for a curious child but I'll be using it as the basis for a storytime kit. In addition to this, I'll probably look into additional resources like nonfiction books, more human body models/skeletons, and some fun picture books like Tedd Arnold's Parts or Skeleton Hiccups.

ISBN: 9781626867215; Published by Silver Dolphin (note that this is marked "cancelled" on my vendor, Baker and Taylor, but is available through Amazon); Review copy provided by publisher

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