Informational Book Review: Guts: Our Digestive System by Seymour Simon

Simon, Seymour. 2005. GUTS: OUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-054651-4.

Summary: This informational photo essay/picture book by Seymour Simon presents a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand overview of the human digestive system. Starting with food intake and proceeding through the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and finally the anus, this book is both entertaining and informative. The reader is invited to chew on a piece of bread to demonstrate the conversion of starch into sugar and “Point to your stomach. Surprise! It’s not behind your belly button…” These interactive features bring the reader into the story as do the colorful and detailed photographs and illustrations, some by Simon. The importance of good nutrition is also included as is the caveat “If you ever think that there is something wrong…you should talk to a parent, teacher, school nurse, or doctor”. Although written for the elementary student, this book can also be helpful to older readers and adapted for younger readers as well.

Analysis: The book is organized logically from the start of digestion to the end, taking the reader on a step-by-step journey. In dealing with the specific organs, Simon gives the reader a basic definition and overview and then provides concrete examples, dimensions, and analogies to facilitate understanding. The book’s design is inviting and draws the reader in. The combination of black pages with white print and white pages with black print provides a nice contrast to the photographs, many of which are X-Rays or color enhanced to accentuate the distinct features/purpose of the specific organ. Simon’s clear writing style is effective in that he does not talk down to the reader but utilizes an almost conversational tone that is appropriate for the elementary school-aged child. The book also encourages the reader to use the information in their lives by emphasizing good nutrition.

Although an excellent overview with user-friendly text and accompanying photographs and illustrations (most with captions, and/or labels) the book lacks access points. There is no table of contents, glossary, index, or page numbers. The inclusion of these features would help the reader, especially one engaged in research for a school project. Accuracy of the information is validated by the author’s special thanks to a doctoral student (Osteopathic Medicine), although a bibliography would be helpful to direct the reader to other sources and input from more than one expert in the field would ensure the reader’s confidence in the book’s accuracy (although Simon’s reputation in and of itself virtually guarantees the accuracy of this book).

Reviews:

School Library Journal: “Simon’s specialty of drawing in readers through large, detailed, breathtaking photos and then entertaining them with facts is again in evidence…Writers of health-related reports, as well as casual browsers, will surely put this title to use.”

Booklist: “…Accessible without being cute or condescending…Readers older than the target audience may want to look at this, too.”

Childrens Literature: “…Many questions posed by children are answered in a straightforward manner. Highly recommended.”

Kirkus Reviews: “Guts has a lot going for it…free of distracting sidebars and other trendy bells and whistles…”

Connections:

Read other books written by Simon including Bones, Muscles, The Heart, and The Brain.

Have students create a skit, rap, or song about the book. The teacher/librarian could model using one of Simon’s other books (example: “We all really need our heart, It is with us from the start” using Twinkle Twinkle).

Invite a health professional or school nurse in to discuss digestion and proper nutrition. Give each student a copy of the USDA Food Pyramid to take home. Have them design a nutritious meal (or a sample day’s menu) using these guidelines. This information could be compiled into a handout of a model week’s diet or made into a poster for display in the library.

Using craft products (playdoh or clay, pipe cleaners, felt, yarn) have students create 3-D models of the parts of the digestive system. The pipe cleaners would work especially well for the small intestine. Create a display using the students’ finished products. For younger children, have them label and color a worksheet showing the human digestive system.

Explore how other species eat and digest food. A good example is a sponge, a cow (four “stomachs”) or snakes. Older students can be assigned a species; they can then complete research (print and online) and present their findings to the group.

Watch an educational video clip about the digestive system. A good one can be viewed online from KidsHealth: (http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=59299&cat_id=20607)

Since this clip prompts the students for answers, it should be shown at the end of the activities for Guts.