August 1, 2008
Adult/High School-Thirteen chapters cover the body's various systems (circulatory, digestive, endocrine, nervous, etc.) and are preceded by a chapter on basic biology and followed by one on human growth and development. Each section consists of a series of questions and answers organized in a logical fashion, one flowing into the next and progressing from basic to more detailed. The answers are both simple and clear, and scientific and medical terms are succinctly defined when they first appear. The illustrations, drawn from a variety of sources, supplement the text. The format makes this an appealing title for curious browsers and a good quick-answer source for teens' questions about how their bodies work. Students interested in careers in health or medicine will pore over this book with the avidity their younger siblings devote to books about dinosaurs."Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2008
Ever wish for a quick description of human anatomy; for example, a short response to a question about the brain or the circulatory system? Many thick volumes on these topics fill university library shelves, but sometimes all a reader needs is a simple description that requires little more than a moment to read and digest. Authored by two librarians, thiscompilation providesover 1,200 brief explanations to many common questions about anatomy, physiology, and pathology. It covers the body systems in 15 chapters with hundreds of questions per chapter and responses usually no more than a paragraph in length. Questions range in nature from serious health concerns(What are the symptoms of stroke?) to trivia questions (What is the purpose of goose bumps?). Even complex questions (What is consciousness?) are boiled down to the essentials. The information is similar to what the reader will find in an encyclopedia but without the depth and without any references. Although no one expects an exhaustive bibliography in this kind of resource, a list of several key sources could be helpful. Who would use this book? The generalreader will find many interesting and perhaps entertaining anatomical details.The high-school student may discover information useful for anassignment.And The Handy Anatomy Answer Book is priced right fora small library.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)