The Fantastic Body by Howard Bennett
Short Summary
The Fantastic Body by Howard Bennett is a colourful and comprehensive guide to the human body, packed with over 200 pages of visuals and explanations. Unlike many body books that skip over the reproductive system, this one includes it—tucked at the back, but it’s there! Written by a paediatrician, this book is perfect for older kids who are curious about how their bodies work, including puberty and hormones.
Age Group
Suitable for children aged 8 to 12 years.
Topics Discussed
Human Bodies
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Buy a Copy
Buy a copy of The Fantastic Body by Howard Bennett from Amazon.
What this book is about
- The Fantastic Body is a visual encyclopaedia of how the human body works, designed to answer kids’ burning questions in a fun, accessible way.
- It covers every system in the body – nervous, digestive, respiratory, muscular, skeletal – and yes, it includes the reproductive system too (finally!). It’s at the back, but it’s there with accurate and respectful illustrations.
- There’s a section dedicated to hormones, glands, and puberty, explaining how the body changes during the tween and teen years.
- The author, Howard Bennett, is a paediatrician, so the tone is both informative and friendly, with a sprinkle of humour that helps make the science less dry.
- The illustrations are a real highlight: vibrant, clear, and detailed. They help kids visualise tricky concepts like how the heart pumps blood, what happens during digestion, and how bodies grow and change over time.
- While not a “sex ed” book, this one can help lay a solid foundation for sex education by explaining how the body works – including parts often left out of other body books.
- It can also spark great conversations. If your child notices the reproductive system is pushed to the end, that’s a perfect chance to talk about why some topics are treated as taboo – and why that needs to change.
- Parents will appreciate this book for its breadth of topics, accurate information, and the fact that it doesn’t shy away from the important stuff.
I hope you find this book review helpful!
Happy talking!
❤️ Cath