Guts: Our Digestive System

by Seymour Simon

Why is it important tochew your food?

Can you guess how long it takes for food to travel through your body?

Could you possibly have twenty feet of small intestines?

Where does that bad-smelling gas come from?

Your digestive system is out of sight and out of mind -- until things don't go right. Then you may wonder how these important organs work!

You'll find the answers in Seymour Simon's smooth, well-organized, and fascinating introduction to the digestive system. He explains how it works twenty-four hours a day, turning pizza, sandwiches, milk, and other food into energy and nutrients and waste. Striking photographs on every spread show how major organs including the stomach and intestines move food through your body, and how, eventually, waste is eliminated.

Guts takes the mystery out of something that happens to everyone, every day, while at the same time sharing a sense of wonder about the human body.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science:] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association).

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York, where he lives with his wife Liz Nealon.

You can follow Seymour on Facebook and on Twitter, as well as on his website, which offers free, downloadable Teacher Guides to his books for educators, parents and homeschoolers, as well as the popular Seymour Science Daily Blo

Reviews

[Librarianista11 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seymour Simon describes the human digestive system using everyday language in this stunning photo essay.

In this photo essay, the artwork consists of an authentic collection of photographs, drawings, and color enhanced x-rays Simon obtained from a variety of research organizations. The essays alternate between white text on black pages, and black text on white pages. The simple layout featuring full page photographs opposite one full page of text per topic holds the reader’s interest. Each essay introduces key terms, followed by their descriptions in everyday language. The easy to read paragraphs prevent the vocabulary of scientific terms from becoming overwhelming. These essays assume the reader is interested enough in the topic to either learn how to pronounce the large words or ask for help. There are no parenthetical pronunciations in the text. Each organ is carefully described including the location and its function within the human body. The beautifully published work, full of colorful photographs, would be an excellent addition to a children’s non-fiction collection.

[Kathleen Lance]

This book explains each part of the gut or the digestive system in the human body. It begins in the mouth and works its way through the esophagus, stomach, colon, intestines, etc. It describes the knowledge of each part scientifically, but to where it's not too "sciencey" for students to not be able to understand.

This book, in my opinion, describes in great detail the processes of the digestive tract so that students can understand, but at a high enough level that it still pushes them to grow and learn. The pictures in the book are life-like, which some people might find gross, but I think it's important to teach students how things actually look.

This book would be a great addition to a classroom for probably 4-6th graders. It would be phenomenal addition to a Science teacher's classroom because they could use the book as an introduction for their lesson of the human body. The book is a little lengthy, but the teacher could easily break up the digestive tract and read and explain a few pages at a time.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome book about the digestive system for children--Simon explains the digestive process from start to finish using correct scientific vocabulary (such as "peristalsis" and "villi"), but writing in such a smooth, simple way that it's easy for kids to understand. The pictures are mostly photographs and x-rays (although I have no idea what that esophagus picture is showing--the inside of the esophagus? The outside of it in the body of a preserved cadaver? No clue). The book uses large type throughout, made easily readable with black text on a white background and vice versa. Each two-page spread includes one page of text and one image. Has some emphasis at the end that we are literally made out of the things that we eat. I would probably give it five stars if I liked the digestive system more, but let's face it--it's gross.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all of Simon's picture books for young kids, the text and images are amazing. Though I no longer love the black pages with white lettering as much as I once did, these books answer kids' questions direction and the images chosen whether drawn or photographed with high powered microscopes are spectacular. I love the way Simon uses a student focus to engage readers. I always learn something when reading his books. Unfortunately, they don't circulate anymore in my schools.

Seymour Simon has been writing picture book nonfiction my whole career and even decades earlier than that. He has been an award-winning writer of nonfiction books for kids since the 1980's. I have always loved the wonder, the details, the photos and diagrams he includes to encourage children to ask questions, to learn facts, and to absorb a love of science. Since I began as a teacher, I used his books to connect students to geology, weather, and understanding human systems (skeletal, muscular, digestive, etc.). Back then there were not many other great writers for kids other than Branley and Gibbons. Now there are so many other great nonfiction writers that have stole the show. Though I love Seymour Simon, I no longer see much circulation of his books.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

With big, colorful photographs and x-rays, this is sure to be a book that gives the reader an in-depth perspective of our digestive system. Some of the photos are a bit grainy and I'm sure that our technology is more refined to give more enhanced images, but it is still a fascinating collection.

The narrative is comprehensive (but not overwhelming), describing the different parts of our 'guts'. Seymour Simon has created another winner for the student science section of the library.

The information provided in this book is easy enough for an elementary school-age student to understand, but complex enough that I learned quite a bit reading it, too.

I have really enjoyed reading Mr. Simon's science books and will certainly look for more at our local library.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our digestive systems are quite complex with each organ having an important job in how our bodies handle the food and drink which we take in. The very descriptive text by accomplished author Simon describes the process of digestion step-by-step, using correct terms. Accompanied by full-color photographs which are quite fascinating, its hard to believe all of those organs and all of that action takes place in our bodies all through-out the day, and night.

[Ille · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Guts: Revised Edition' by Seymour Simon is a very good book. It is a non-fiction book about Science explaining how the Digestive System works. I would recommend this book for any young readers who are interested in Science.

[Robert Ellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an anatomy teacher and I always enjoy reading books about the human body, even ones for younger readers. Bacteria can sometimes get a bad rap, but did you know that some bacteria (lactobacillus, enterococcus, etc.) can help synthesize vitamins? Well done, Mr. Simon!

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Succinct, clear, and thorough enough for middle-grade readers. Photos are good and well-placed.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good resource and supplement to my human body unit.

Q2021 book.

[Paige Martin]

Guts is an informative book about the digestive system. It brings up the importance of your teeth and needing to chew your food properly. It tells us that some foods digest at different rates and the juices that do the work for us. The process goes through all the organs used in digesting all your food and explains what happens in each.
This book is not really my cup of tea but it is very informative. If a student loves learning about the body and how things work it would be good to have this book in your classroom. The pictures are real so some young students might not enjoy it.
I would use this book to introduce the digestive system in my classroom. I could also use it to talk about healthy living and instead of just covering what foods are best to eat we could discuss how it effects the body.

[(NS) Heatherk · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title and cover alone captured my attention immediately. Simon's actual photographs bring the body parts to life as the text kindly and factually explains the part's function. I would use this information book for grades above 4th as I think students under 4th grade might not appreciate or hold much interest in the topic. Students who are learning about the human body and/or adults interested in broadening their knowledge will "eat this book up." I sure did!

[Christina Camp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is kind of a more advanced book for kids, but is full of information. In my classroom, I will let the more advanced readers use this book when we are doing informational reading and writing. This is a great book to get facts from and learn all about the parts in your body and digestive system. The students in my second grade placement love this book, especially the boys and a few of the girls.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text for this is definitely a 4 star rating. Approachable, factual, and interesting, it gives a complete introduction to the digestive system on an elementary student level. 2nd grade and up could read it on their own, but even some first graders will enjoy hearing the text if they can't read it on their own yet. Photographs are solid, but suffer a touch from age (we can get better photography these days).

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This revision of the 2005 edition matter-of-factly explains digestion to elementary readers using clear text and large color photographs. A glossary, index and webliography make up the back matter. Simon is the master of clearly explaining complicated processes and this book fits the bill. Librarians, go ahead and but the new shiny copy (with a webliography!) for your shelves. Recommended for purchase.

[Sherri]

K is making me read books to her about the body. This one has great photos and drawings. I'm learning a lot myself!

[Cwoods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the digestive system!

[Silas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting stuff! I know a lot about the human body now.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stumbled across my desk at the library. As someone with a fun gut disease I had to read it. It did make me smile and giddy to be like, "I know that!" Or "Ohhh! So thats what does it"