annieb123's Review of Up Close and Incredible: Human Body (Up Close and Incredible)

by Isabel Thomas

Grab your 3× magnifying glass and go on a gross-up journey through the ins and outs of anatomy with Up Close and Incredible: Human Body.

In this scientific search-and-find adventure, you’ll join a team of tiny scientists, nurses and doctors as they explore a diverse range of bodies inside and out, from the tips of your toes to the snot in your nose. You’ll learn along the way how every part of your body does its job to keep you happy and healthy.

But it's not all a biology lesson: look closely through the magnifying glass, and you'll find scared scientists fleeing from a tastebud-tingling chilli pepper, an ear-canal waterslide, and even a cinema inside an eyeball! Your trusty magnifying glass will reveal new gags again and again among the scrapes, mishaps and wacky experiments of the miniature scientists, where every tiny detail tells a story, and every story reveals more incredible facts about the human body.

The larger-than-life scenes you'll explore include the brain, heart, lungs, digestive system, kidneys and bladder, reproductive system, skeleton, nerves and muscles, as well as the sensory organs and skin. With 14 scenes and 10 things to spot on each one, plus extra detail hidden on every page, Up Close and Incredible: Human Body has literally hundreds of facts and jokes to discover. A map of the human body at the back puts everything into context, while a gallery of scientists celebrates the famous faces who discovered many of the facts in the book.

This thrilling scientific journey of a book will have you gasping and laughing as you discover new shocking and hilarious facts about the body you’re in. The zany drawings are packed full of comedic details to spot, keeping your read fresh each time. So, what are you waiting for? Your magnified adventure into human anatomy awaits!

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Up Close and Incredible: Human Body is a well illustrated simple scientifically correct look at the human body and its systems written by Isabel Thomas. Released 4th June 2024 by Quarto on their Wide Eyed Editions imprint, it's 48 pages and is available in hardcover format (packaged with a magnifying glass).

This is an intricately illustrated collection of illustrations which concisely explain the major functional systems in the human body. Most of them have a cutaway element (see cover) which shows what's going on under the surface. There are also small magnified areas throughout with people exploring the close up features of skin, intestines, alimentary canal, major organs, etc. The illustrations by Damien Weighill are *full* of tiny details which invite readers to spend some time exploring and thinking about how everything fits together.

It's a fun and entertaining way to learn about the human body. All the information included is presented in an age appropriate manner and with accessible, easy to understand language. The target audience is circa 5-10 years, but it's suitable for all-ages. It would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, and gift giving.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

8 June, 2024: Started reading

8 June, 2024: Finished reading

8 June, 2024: Reviewed