Allergies

Children's Literature

Allergies affect one in five people in North America and are a big cause of poor health in children. Understanding the immune system is key to understanding allergies, and while it is simply described, more detail would be helpful. Otherwise, this useful book nicely presents types of allergies—hay fever, drug, food and so forth and discusses the methods of diagnosis and treatment. "Controlling Allergies" emphasizes medications and shots, and there is an important chapter about handling an allergy attack, including anaphylaxis. The book layout is attractive, with color photos and chapter overviews. Vignettes of real-life teen experiences and "Did you know" inserts add interest, highlight facts and dispel myths. The end-of-chapter questions are thought-provoking. Contains a glossary of key words, an index and references that include books, professional organizations and Internet sites. The book is part of the "Perspectives on Disease and Illness" series. A physician allergist consulted on this well-written, introductory resource book. 2001, Lifematters/Capstone Press, $22.60. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Elaine Wick