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Human Body Theater

Maris Wicks

4.38 · Rating details · 1,559 ratings · 259 reviews

Welcome to the Human Body Theater, where your master of ceremonies is going to lead you through a theatrical revue of each and every biological system of the human body! Starting out as a skeleton, the MC puts on a new layer of her costume (her body) with each "act." By turns goofy and intensely informative, the Human Body Theater is always accessible and always entertaini ...more

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Paperback, 240 pages

Published October 6th 2015 by First Second

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Average rating 4.38 ·

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· 1,559 ratings · 259 reviews

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Oct 18, 2015 Betsy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: graphic-novels, non-fiction

I gotta come clean with you. Skeletons? I’ve got a thing for them. Not a “thing” as in I find them attractive, but rather a “thing” as in I find them fascinating. I always have. Back in the 80s there was a science-related Canadian television show called “Owl TV” (a Canuck alternative to “3-2-1 Contact”) and one of the regular features was a skeleton by the name of Bonaparte who taught kids about various scientific matters. But aside from the odd viewing of “Jason and the Argonauts”, walking, tal I gotta come clean with you. Skeletons? I’ve got a thing for them. Not a “thing” as in I find them attractive, but rather a “thing” as in I find them fascinating. I always have. Back in the 80s there was a science-related Canadian television show called “Owl TV” (a Canuck alternative to “3-2-1 Contact”) and one of the regular features was a skeleton by the name of Bonaparte who taught kids about various scientific matters. But aside from the odd viewing of “Jason and the Argonauts”, walking, talking (or, at the very least, stalking) skeletons don’t crop up all that often when you become grown. So maybe my attachment to Human Body Theater with its knobby narrator has its roots deep in my own personal history. Or maybe it has something more to do with the witty writing, untold gobs of nonfiction information, eye-catching art, and general sense of intelligence and care. Whatever the case, it turns out the human body puts on one heckuva good show!

When a human skeleton comes out and offers to right there, before your very eyes, become a fully formed human being with guts, skin, etc. who are you to refuse? Tonight the human body itself is putting on a show and everyone from the stagehands (the cells) to the players (whether they’re body parts or viruses) is fully engaged and involved. With our narrator’s help we dive deep beneath the skin and learn top to bottom about every possible system our bods have to offer. When all is said and done the readers aren’t just intrigued. They’re picking the book up to read it again and again. Backmatter includes a Glossary of terms and a Bibliography for further reading.

I’ve been a big time Maris Wicks fan for years. It started long ago when I was tooling around a MOCCA (Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art) event and ran across just the cutest little paperback picture book. It couldn’t have been much bigger than a coaster and all it was was a story about a family taking a daytrip to the woods. Called Yes, Let’s it was written by Galen Goodwin and illustrated by a Maris Wicks. I didn’t know either of these people. I just knew the book was good, and when it was published officially a couple years later by Tanglewood Publishing I felt quite justified. But for all that I’d been a fan, I didn’t recognize Ms. Wicks’ work or name, at first, when she illustrated Jim Ottaviani’s Primates. When the connection was made I felt like I’d won a small lottery. Now she’s gone solo with Human Body Theater and the only question left in anybody’s mind is . . . why didn’t she do it sooner? She’s a natural!

Now for whatever reason my four-year-old is currently entranced by this book. She’s naturally inclined to love graphic novels anyway (thank you, Cece Bell) and something in Human Body Theater struck a real chord with her. It’s not hard to figure out why. Visually it’s consistently arresting. Potentially dry material, like the method by which oxygen travels from the lungs to the blood, is presented in the most eclectic way possible (in this case, like a dance). Wicks keeps her panels vibrant and consistently interesting. One minute we might be peering into the inner workings of the capillaries and the next we’re zooming with the blood through the body delivering nutrients and oxygen. The colorful, clear lined style certainly bears a passing similarity to the work of author/artists like Raina Telgemeier, while the ability imbue everything, right down to the smallest atom, with personality is more along the lines of Dan Green’s “Basher Books” series.

For my part, I was impressed with the degree to which Wicks is capable of breaking complex ideas down into simple presentations. The chapters divide neatly into The Skeletal System, The Muscular System, The Respiratory System, The Cardiovascular System, The Digestive System, The Excretory System, The Endocrine System, The Reproductive System, The Immune System, The Nervous System, and the senses (not to mention an early section on cells, elements, and molecules). As impressive as her art is, it's Wicks’ writing that I feel like we should really credit here. Consider the amount of judicious editing she had to do, to figure out what to keep and what to cut. How do you, as an author, transition neatly from talking about reproduction to the immune system? How do you even tackle a subject as vast as the senses? And most importantly, how gross do you get? Because the funny bones of 10-year-olds demand a certain level of gross out humor, while the stomachs of the gatekeepers buying the book demand that it not go too far. I am happy to report that Ms. Wicks walks that tightrope with infinite skill.

One of the parts of the book I was particularly curious about was the sex and reproduction section. I’ve seen what Robie H. Harris has gone through with her It’s Perfectly Normal series on changing adolescent bodies, and I wondered to what extent Wicks would tread similar ground. The answer? She doesn’t really. Sex is addressed but images of breasts and penises are kept simple to the point of near abstraction. As such, don’t be relying on this for your kid’s sex-ed. There are clear reasons for this limitation, of course. Books that show these body parts, particularly graphic novels, are restricted by some parents or school districts. Wicks even plays with this fact, displaying a sheet covering what looks like a possible penis, only to reveal a very tall sperm instead. And Wicks doesn’t skimp on the info. The chapter on The Reproductive Cycle, for example, contains the delightful phrase, “ATTENTION: Would some blood please report to the penis for a routine erection.” So I’ve no doubt that there will be a parent somewhere who is offended in some way. However, it’s done so succinctly that I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it causes almost no offense during its publication lifespan (but don’t quote me on that one).

If there is a problem with the book it may come right at the very beginning. Our skeleton hero introduces herself and from there you would expect her to jump right in to Human Body Theater with the bones. Instead, the storyline comes to a near screeching halt from the get go with a laborious explanation of cells, elements, and molecules. It’s not that these things aren’t important or interesting. Indeed, you can more than understand why they come at the beginning the way that they do. But as the book currently stands, this section feels like it was added in at the last minute. If it was going to preface the actual “show” then couldn’t it have been truly separate from the main event and act as a kind of pre-show entertainment?

What parent wouldn’t admit a bit of a thrill when their kid points to their own femur and declares proudly that it’s the longest bone in the human body? Or off-the-cuff speculates on the effects of the appendix on other body functions? We talk a lot about children’s books that (forgive the phrase) “make learning fun”, but how many actually do? When I wrack my brain for fun human body books, I come up surprisingly short. Here then is a title that can push against a certain kind of reader’s reluctance to engage with science on any level. It’s for the science lovers and graphic novel lovers alike (and lord knows the two don’t always overlap). More fun than it has any right to be. No bones about it. ...more

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Oct 20, 2015 First Second Books marked it as first-second-publications

Maris Wicks draws the most adorable human body parts probably ever! (I mean, did you guys see the dancing bone on this cover? It's a bone! And it's dancing! So adorable, I can't even.)

Maris is all about kids learning things in an interesting and fun way, and that's what this anatomy book is, too -- it's all you want to know about the human body, plus everything with a tiny cute face, and puns!

How can you resist? ...more

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Oct 11, 2017 Emily rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-read-aloud-to-the-kids

I read this graphic novel aloud with my 8 year old and we both loved it. I love that it is packed full of information told in an interesting format, and my daughter loved the cute illustrations. We both learned a lot and my daughter has decided this is her new favorite book. You know it's good when she asks to start back at the beginning as soon as we finish the book! ...more

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Sep 20, 2019 Morgan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction, science, mental-health, comic-books, childrens, fitness, own, health, theatre, gender

This took me longer than expected. It wasn't a hard read, just you start to think about your own body and how it works. Love the cartoon humor. Oddly helps me learn things better. Wicks doesn't have everything, but enough. Also, she talks about pee, poop, puberty, vomit, and other stuff our body do the might come off as gross, but everyone does it, plus the poop is smiling, so cute HAHA.

I'll probably looking at this book from time to time for a quick reference. Trying really hard to learn about ...more

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Aug 08, 2016 Kristin rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, graphic-novels, published-2015

I really liked this book and think it was beautifully done. The illustrations are fun and it does a great job of explaining how the body works in a very straight forward way. I think that the section of the reproductive system was very well done. I would have given this a higher rating, but there were a few factual inaccuracies in the book. 1) The misuse of the word "theory" to describe the different ideas as to why humans yawn. In science, a theory is well-substantiated explanation of some aspe ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Carolyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: homeschool-book, graphic-novel, nonfiction

This graphic novel was funny and educational with adorable full-color illustrations! I'm in an anatomy unit right now with my 5th grader, and this book was recommended to go along with that unit. I picked it up from the library yesterday afternoon, and he finished it in one night. I thought if he enjoyed it that much, I'd better read it myself and see what he liked so much about it! While reading it, he parked his butt next to me for a lot of it, and chattered happily about everything. His favor ...more

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Dec 28, 2019 Tracy rated it it was amazing

Delightful!

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Nov 07, 2015 Mary Lee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015, science, graphic-novel

There is so. much. information. in this book! I think it's the kind of book that could last a lifetime, and a reader would get different facts and even read it differently at various ages and phases. I can't even imagine all the research behind this book, and yet it is very kid friendly. What they don't understand, they can skip for later. ...more

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Jan 01, 2016 Dov Zeller added it

Shelves: middle-grade-ya, graphics-comics, sciency-naturish, non-fiction, not-finished

I was excited to get this one from the library, but I was not drawn into it at all. I didn't even get a third of the way through. This is one of those books that is simply using a gimmick to try to make learning about science "more fun" and usually these things are not that interesting in the end. ...more

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Jan 15, 2020 Laura (Book Scrounger) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, 19-20-school-year, 2nd-grade, science-kids, comics-and-graphic

My kids (4 and 7) loved it when I read this to them, even though there was a lot of information. It's been one of their favorite books of the school year so far. I may not always enjoy graphic novels, but now I'll never question whether they can be used to present important information in an engaging, fun, reader-friendly format. It's like the perfect cross between a child's science textbook and a comic book. I learned a few things myself, and getting to really see the relationship between body ...more

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Oct 22, 2019 Amy Layton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-nonfiction, nonfiction, graphic-novels

This was probably the most entertaining book on the topic of human biology that I've ever read. So much of what I read here I previously knew through panicking and scouring WebMD (thanks, ear infections!), and I only wish that I had a book like this so much sooner. It's fun, cute, and a graphic novel, so really, what's not to love? I mean, do you SEE those dancing body parts on the cover??

But for real, this book does an absolutely fantastic at breaking down the human body into basics (and the ...more

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Oct 11, 2017 Sofia C rated it it was amazing

The "Human Body Theater" by Maris Wicks is a very fun, but educational book. It talks about different parts of your body and how they work. But the way they show you is very interesting, and they make lots of jokes. I would recommend this book because you are learning a lot of things, but reading it in a fun way! That's why "Human Body Theater" is a very good book. ...more

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Feb 22, 2020 Ada rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-books, to-re-read

This book was a great read. It had plenty of pictures and diagrams to illustrate the human body and everything was very clear and easy to understand. I also learnt a lot on the way. The vocabulary was very well explained and it was an interesting read. It was not boring at all and it is the best biology/human body book that I’ve ever had the opportunity to read!

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Jan 30, 2020 Kaia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-alouds-with-evan

My ten-year-old son and I LOVED this book. It is informative and funny, and the illustrations are fabulous. Who knew that body parts, molecules, and even partially digested food could be cute? I don't think I have ever before read a nonfiction science book where I was sad that it ended. ...more

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Jun 26, 2020 Tia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-middle-grade

This is a wonderfully illustrated graphic novel about the human body. I read this out loud with my 3 daughters and they all loved it. It is packed full of information that is presented in a fun and entertaining way. Definitely recommend for all ages.

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May 17, 2018 Leann added it

Shelves: nonfiction, science, graphic-novel, middle-grade

5/2018 - Skimmed this. Really surprised at the level of accurate detail! Could definitely be used as a supplement to an upper elementary/middle school science class, or for any kids who are super into biology.

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Nov 18, 2018 Aya Kim rated it it was ok

So wierd

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May 26, 2019 Mandy rated it it was amazing

This was a cute, informative read! I really enjoyed it.

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Mar 27, 2021 Raluca added it · review of another edition

A nonfiction comic book about your body.

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Jan 10, 2022 Douglas rated it it was amazing

Read this with my son, we loved it! Fun and very educational and a good way to cross the bridge of talking about reproductive systems in context of the whole body with young boys.

Also, I appreciated that it wasn’t male or white as default body for gender and skin color.

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Oct 28, 2021 Sarah rated it really liked it

My 7 year old loved this book so much he asked me to read it alongside him, so I did. I see why he likes it so much! It's informative, fun, and has really cute illustrations of even kind of theoretically icky things. He found it inspiring and told me all kinds of cool things he learned, and he even asked me for things like mushrooms and kale because the book told him what those things are good for nutritionally (have I ever told him that stuff? Of course, but it's way cooler and more compelling ...more

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Oct 27, 2015 Annette rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grades, nonfiction, children, science, life-science, middle-school, sequential-art, stem, graphic-nonfiction, human-body

HUMAN BODY THEATER by Maris Wicks provides an amazing visual introduction to human anatomy.

Designed for middle school youth, this work of graphic nonfiction is organized into eleven acts using a theater theme. Hosted by a skeleton, the author takes readers through the body systems layer by layer. The author effectively balances visually-rich diagrams with accurate, scientific narratives to provide a level of depth appropriate for the audience.

Tweens and teens working on science reports will find ...more

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Nov 07, 2015 Marisa rated it it was amazing

I loved this book! It does a great job of sharing what goes on in the human body in a fun and engaging way. I learned a lot of things from this book myself!!

I think that it could revolutionize how schools give "the talk" ... Meaning the puberty talk. I think it would be amazing if all schools gave each kid a copy of this book after getting "the talk" at school. Kids (and their parents) can get more information about what is going on with their bodies and read it in the privacy of their own home. ...more

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Oct 28, 2016 Alicia rated it really liked it

Shelves: graphic-novel, childrens, stem-nature, humor, nonfiction

This is an epic graphic novel. There is humor and science everywhere, going through the basics and even some minutiae using the body systems as the guide. The coloring is spot-on and the narrator, our sack of bones that becomes a young lady is perfect for explaining everything from how poop is created to which vertebrae are cushioned to allow us to bend and twist to puberty making kids crazy (and smelly).

This is an absolute must for instruction and entertainment!

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Jun 16, 2016 Hillary rated it liked it

This book was not what I expected. I knew it was about the human body but I guess I just expected a bit more story to complement the nonfiction aspect. That being said, there was a wealth of information in this book, perhaps too much? And while I appreciate the fact when covering the reproductive system- I have qualms with introducing that topic to fourth graders.

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Nov 21, 2016 Kelly rated it liked it

Shelves: graphic-novel, non-fiction, science

A fun way to teach about the human body and how everything works. I'm a theater buff, so the revue format appealed to me. Dancing body parts, an emcee, labeled diagrams, dancing, vivid colors, and humor make for a big show stopping hit! ...more

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Nov 26, 2015 Michelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: graphic-novel, finished-in-2016, underhypedbooksreadathon, nonfiction

This was cute and informative.

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May 08, 2016 Joseph rated it really liked it

Shelves: medical-fiction, read-in-2016-05-may, read-in-2016-10-october

Really well done, entertaining and educational. A good read for kids to learn all the details about the parts of the body.

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Jul 04, 2016 Ms Threlkeld rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, graphic-novel-or-elements

Very informative and accessible graphic novel about the various parts and systems of the human body. Would definitely appeal to upper elementary and middle school students.

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Dec 29, 2016 Kristin rated it it was amazing

This is an exceptional book in all ways. It is entertaining, educational, funny, beautiful, and understandable. A must-have for your bookshelf.

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About Maris Wicks

Maris Wicks

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Maris Wicks lives in Somerville, Massachusetts. She has harnessed the power of her various biological systems to draw comics for Adhouse Books, Tugboat Press, and Spongebob Comics, and has written stories for Image and DC Comics. Wicks is the illustrator of New York Times Bestselling Primates, with Jim Ottaviani. Her solo graphic novels include Human Body Theater and Science Comics: Coral Reefs. S ...more