Science and Your Health

Children's Literature - Heather Robertson Mason

While students won't have a high-level science class until secondary school, the importance of science is something they should learn early. The series "Health and Your Body" helps achieve this goal with a book about how scientific advances help us stay healthy. The topics covered range from vaccinations to X-rays to robots doing surgery, the last one being a surefire conversation starter. While overall the text is easy to read, large and on a white background, the authors don't dumb it down and keep much of the content area vocabulary. This provides a challenge for readers, but with enough support for struggling students. Instead of cute illustrations, there are large, full color photographs of what's being talked about in the text on the opposing page. These pictures are from doctor's offices, operating rooms and X-ray labs; pictures that will spark curiosity about the reading. It starts with a table of contents and ends with a glossary, index and link to other resources. Overall the book is timely and interesting; adults might even learn something. It is an excellent introduction to both science and nonfiction in general; a great addition to a library or classroom. Reviewer: Heather Robertson Mason