The Usborne Flip-Flap Body Book

by Alastair Smith, Judy Tatchell

This information packed bind-up includes How Are Babies Made?, How Do Your Senses Work? and What Happens to Your Food?.

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

48 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 1998

Reviews

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I read this book as part of Sonlight's P3/4 core. The book covers the topics of nutrition and digestion, five senses, and pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn babies. The explanations and descriptions are perfect for 3 and 4 year olds. The only part I took issue with was that some terms, like anus, were used, but then other terms were given unscientific names, like "food tube." I would have preferred for just real terms, especially for body parts, to be used throughout the book. My son loved this book and often requested to read parts of it over again. The flaps on each page kept him engaged in what we were reading and the illustrations are bright and colorful. This is an excellent science book for preschoolers.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for explaining all about how the human body works. From babies to food it's all explained in an easy to understand way. I'd say it's aimed at ages 5-8 but that all depends on your child's personal maturity....some children handle information better than others.

[Batu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vücut, sağlık, organlar vs. gibi konulara girmek için 4-5 yaş uygun diye düşünüyorum. Henüz anlayamayacağı bir çok detay olduğundan atlayarak okuduk bu kitabı. Resimler güzel, ama ilkokula başlayıp kendi okusa daha çok keyif alacağını düşünüyorum.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential home school library resource, this book is a favorite. Fun illustrations and captivating flip out pages introduce preschoolers to three topics of interest to which they will want to return repeatedly as they get older:

* What Happens to Your Food?
* How Do Your Senses Work?
* How are Babies Made?

The first two sections were excellent and stimulated discussion and discovery for children.

Of course, parents will be concerned about section 3 "How are Babies Made"? We found this to be an age appropriate section that answered many questions of little ones. Pregnant mommies, birth of siblings, pregnant aunties/ friends, and new babies were all producing many questions that this book answered tactfully.

While the technical details of sperm and egg are explained, and we know they meet in the mommy, there are no details on how they get into the mommy, just that they come from the daddy. Umbilical cords, belly buttons and what the baby experiences (development of their senses which ties in nicely with previous section) are covered along with baby's growth inside the mommy's womb. The daddy and doctor help the mommy when it is time for the baby to come out, as well as basic information about why babies cry and what they need.

There is one sentence on page 44 that we have skipped, "The baby squeezes out of the opening between the mother's legs." Being an all boy household, there has been a lot of curiosity about Mommy's differences and we felt this particular sentence would encourage inappropriate exploration (as in hunting for the opening!).

Many states require some sort of education about the body with precursors to sex education. This book satisfies requirements in an appropriate way, meeting children with answers where they are at without leading them beyond either their maturity or intellectual capacity. Highly recommended.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've read the What Happens to Your Food? section and parts of the How Do Your Senses Work? section.

I both love and hate this book. It has good illustrations and good information, but seems a bit dumbed-down at times. For example, we read about "hearing" today. From a book we read yesterday we learned that sound goes in the ear canal to the eardrum, hits the hammer, the anvil, the stirrup and then the cochlea, then the information is passed on to the brain. Both 9-yr-olds understood this and the 5-yr-old told his dad at dinner all the parts of the ear and how it worked. In this book, today, we read, "Your eardrum sends the wobbles on down inside your head." No pictures of the other bones involved. No further explanation. Wobbles. Just wobbles. Now, from my experience at dinner with aforementioned 5-yr-old I know kids can understand more. Why treat them like idiots who can only understand "wobbles". Weebles understand wobbles.

But still, the pictures are somewhat helpful, more so in some sections than others. We'll probably continue to use this book because a) we own it and b) the 3-yr-old likes to be in charge of opening the flaps.

We've covered all the information we want to in the book. We're using other books to learn about other body systems. Good for the little guys, but not much use above pre-K.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love Usbourne books. They are simple and accurate. They can help teach the tough stuff in a direct and clear way. This book is no different. As a mother who advocates knowledge about even the tough stuff (like body parts, functions, etc) this is a great way to help the young child learn without all the giggling and embarrassment. Start young and simple and it won't be so difficult when they are older. Teach proper names and functions and this book can help!

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flip Flap Body Book, written by Alastair Smith and Judy Tatchell, illustrated by Maria Wheatley, and designed by Ruth Russell is a informational text designed to teach children about the human body in a fun way. There are three parts to the book, “what happens to your food?,” “how do your senses work?,” and “how are babies made?” The first part details the purpose of eating, the journey of food through your body, basic nutrition, the sense of taste, the process of chewing food, what happens to food in the stomach and intestines. The second part informs readers about what senses are, provides detailed information about each sense and animal senses. The third part talks about the process of fertilization, how a baby grows in the womb, the pregnancy process, the birthing process, and how to care for a new baby. The book uses simple and easy language and vocabulary. Each page in the book is filled with small blurbs of text, vivid pictures, and fun and interactive flaps that students can lift to find more information. Many items are labelled to help readers easily identify things. There are little quizzes at the end of each part to make the book even more interactive. Because of the nature of the book, there are no clearly defined characters.
I think that The Flip Flap Body Book is a wonderful piece of children’s literature. My first impression of the book was that it was awesome and unique, and I learned so much from it. Kids are naturally curious, especially about their own bodies, since they are constantly aware of them. This book provides a good way to teach kids about these natural questions they have. The book promotes scientific curiosity because it is fun and children will want to learn more. I think that since the book is written so simply, clearly, and is so engaging, it could be a good alternative or supplement to a science textbook, especially for english language learners. The nonlinear aspect of the book prepares students for reading complex texts. It adds increased meaning to the book because it is able to provide a variety of explanatory pictures. This format allows the author to present information in a clear way that would be impossible with a linear text. Complex texts are becoming more prevalent in our world today, and children need to be prepared to handle them. The flaps in the book are also very important in promoting discovery. Each flap reveals the answer to a question or a further explanation about something. The flaps themselves are so exciting and interactive for kids, they will be engaged and ready to find out what is beneath it. Children are so much more likely to retain information this way then reading from a more dull book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informational
K-2nd grade
This book does a good job of presenting the functions of the body in a way appropriate for children. I do think the pictures could be better. They are too cartoony in my opinion and should be a little more realistic. I think this book could easily be incorporated into a science lesson. The lift-the-flap feature also makes this a more interesting way to read about the human body. I think this book has good educational value for kids and teachers.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colorful fun book about your body. Answers the dreaded question "Mommy, how are babies made?" scientifically without too much blushing. All mine have loved this so far.

[Raraanir · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is definitely awesome.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not remotely like this book. I was excited about the prospect, but the terminology used is ridiculous and I am not a fan. Maybe I'm picky, but I think using the word spit over saliva is vulgar. Then I think calling it a food tube is just wrong and would bring it down further than need be. Why not say esophagus when you are going to say intestines and anus? I'm having to edit and annotate so much while reading it.

I knew coming into this one that there would be a bit of controversy in the end to decide on the maturity level of my young preschooler for the last section of where babies come from. In forums and reviews I know many moms have gone both ways. In our situation she already has a baby sister and that takes care of half the conversation right there.

Overall from digestion to the main topics of science and the human body for young kids this is an interesting breakdown with bright and vivid illustrations. I do not love it, but it serves it's purpose very well.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book illustrates some basic body functions. What happens when you eat? What are the five senses? Where do babies come from? It makes them very easy for preschoolers to understand with simple text and illustrations. I thought the flip flaps would be toast in our household, but so far they've held up pretty well.

[Mandy Beyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle introduction to three aspects of the body for young children, this book gives an overview in simple terms to digestion, senses, and reproduction. The brightly colored pictures and flaps to lift on every other page add to the attention getting aspect of this book.

[Emerson and Theodore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A junior health-science text. Covers nutrition, the GI tract, the senses, reproduction, etc in a simple straightforward way. Emerson was very intrigued. I would like to buy this book.
Max collection.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is an awesome book for explaining some key things to kids: How are babies made, what happens to your food, and how do senses work. My kids loved this book. The pictures are great and informative.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book for littles. Great early intro to science. Three main chapters: food's journey, senses, and growing a baby. Engaging illustrations and fun lift the flaps. My kids love this book and pull it off the shelf all the time.

[donewithdora · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my preschooler's absolute favorite books. It does a really good job of explaining, with words & illustrations, the body's functions.

[Angela Randall]

Recommended in this article.

[ellie ricci · Rating 5 out of 5]

cool

[Alowe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great for young children who ask their parents where baby's come from, what are germs, and kids who don't want to eat their veggies.