The Busy Body Book: A Kid's Guide to Fitness (Booklist Editor's Choice. Books for Youth (Awards))
*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 3. There aren't many books that make human physiology accessible to preschoolers. Rockwell's message is the joy of physical activity, but she also does a great job of connecting exercise with detailed information about the body and how it works. The design is clear and inviting: first are bright, colorful spreads of kids busy on scooters and rollerblades, running, stretching, catching and throwing in the park; then come full-page diagrams of skeletons, clearly labeled and packed with exciting scientific facts. One page shows kids using their muscles on a bar; opposite is a diagram of the body's muscles, from biceps and ligaments to the Achilles tendon. One page describes "your incredible brain," which sends messages at lightning speed along wire-thin fibers called nerves; opposite is an anatomical diagram of the brain. The lungs, the heart and blood vessels, and the stomach and intestines get the same treatment. In an afterword to adults, Rockwell talks about the problem of overweight children and makes an enthusiastic pitch for healthy physical fun. Doing the activities on these pages is certainly a place to start.Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved