Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow?: Curious Questions Kids Ask About the Human Body

by Beth Ann Ditkoff

Read Beth Ann Ditkoff's posts on the Penguin Blog.

Ever wondered what that small dewdrop thing is in the back of your throat? Or why you hiccup? Why Don’t Your Eyelashes Grow ? addresses every weird question about your body that you could think of—or didn’t even think to ask. Prompted by the brain stumpers her own children and patients have asked her over the years, Dr. Beth Ann Ditkoff compiled a list of curious medical questions. In this book, she reveals the mysteries of the human body (gross, funny, or ugly!) to children and adults.

With eye-opening questions, like “Why do toenails grow slower than fingernails?” and “Why do you have earwax?” to weird oddities, like “Why do some people have dimples?” and “Why do you get a headache when you eat ice cream too quickly?” Ditkoff also explains hilarious and bizarre anatomy “situations” that every curious kid wonders, from “If you put a pea up your nose, will it go into your brain?” to “If you eat Pop Rocks candy and drink soda at the same time, will your stomach explode?” With expert explanations throughout, Why Don’t Your Eyelashes Grow ? is an entertaining potpourri of fun factoids packed with real information.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Quite frankly, I think I must have intended to request a different book, and in haste, checked off the wrong one. That said, I felt obligated to write a review since I did read it and feel this fulfills the real purpose of the giveaways. Two disclaimers: (1) I don't (and never will) have children, so I am not the target audience intended for this book. (2) All through school, I was enamored with literature and hated more practical classes such as math, history, and science. While traveling Europe and visiting castles and battlegrounds, I realized my folly. I regretted not paying attention in World History and having no knowledge in order to place what I was seeing into the proper historic background. That's also what I felt reading this book; that, and an affirmation of my decision not to have children being as, at least in science, I would have been a dismal disappointment in answering questions such as the ones in this book. The bright side is that with this book, people like myself CAN answer such questions from children. Had this come out 20 years ago, I may have reconsidered my decision. OK, so that's a lie. People who DO have children, apparently, have reviewed this book and question the intended age group. I know nothing about what children comprehend and when, so I'm staying out of this. One woman did say it should not be categorized as an adult book to which I disagree because the children are asking the questions of the adults in their lives, so it should be targeted toward the adults. That much I know. Now... the bottom line is this: I learned a lot. Whatever I had neglected to learn in school was compensated somewhat by reading this book. It may have been intended to help children, but I know it helped me understand many things about the human body that I should have learned in school had I not been caught up in Carl Sandburg or Walt Whitman. And I feel pretty comfortable saying I think there isn't an adult out there who couldn't find an answer to at least a couple things they didn't know. For one example, I never knew why men have adam's apples and women don't (we actually do...they are just not as visible). This book has been surprising to me. I kicked myself for the mistake I made in requesting it. A book for answering children's questions is not what I consider an exciting read... I would have preferred a long, rich, languid novel. However, I am so glad I read it. I am making a gift of it to my gynecologist at my appointment next week hoping she will read it, keep it on her shelf, and maybe have an opportunity to suggest it to the many mothers that she examines and converses with while doing her "thang." It is a brilliant tool for parents. And as my body ages, things are hurting that never hurt before and now I have a little more understanding of what might be going on. So if someone like me can get something out of this book, I think anyone can. Parents who seek advise on technology from their children may now be able to turn the tables and answer something for them instead. Oneupsmanship is a great motivator!
ADDED on 2/13/09: I was just watching The View. A physician was a guest and he was quizzing the women on their knowledge of the body. Because I read this book, I knew what a uvula was! A month ago, I would have whispered this word, thinking it sounds like something nasty!

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow? is a good book for trivia buffs and those who want quick answers.

The front of the book purports, "This accessible book will save parents the embarrasment of making up mediocre answers to often sophisticated questions children ask... - Mehmet C. Oz M.D." That is true, but only for the much older child. I believe younger kids would become bored or confused by the medical terminology, anatomy, and specific bio-mechanics of the body. Although, as a parent who's read it, summarizing the answers and taking out the technical aspects shouldn't be a problem. Although, I may still wish to come up with some " mediocre answers. "

I was satisfied with most everything, from finding out that Chlorine's being framed for turning swimmer's hair green, to learning that is ok if I don't drink 8x8 of water every day. (Sorry Mom.)

There were a couple entries that just annoyed me, such as "Why can't I get rid of this song that's stuck in my head?" If you don't know the answer, why put it in the book? And I think Ditkoff made up the terms "Last Song Syndrome" and "Repetunitis." But that's ok, since the goods outweigh the bads.

[Jack Kirby and the X-man · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, sometimes scientific explanations for the layperson are so simplified they become wrong. But surely this simplification process should at the very least result in an answer the question...
An example of this is the answer to the question "Why does your blood look blue when it is in your body?" obviously referring to the blue veins that are visible (most familiarly on your wrist). So the answer (paraphrased): So you know blood is red, right. Well oxygenated blood in your arteries is bright red, while the deoxygenated blood in your veins is a darker red. So the veins you see on your wrist are thus blue.
Does anyone else notice that the question hasn't actually been answered here?
For a decent (although infinitely less accessible) answer read this paper. The fact I could find this article (along with a number that summarise it for the layperson) in less than 30 seconds on the internet does suggest that the utility of this book is more in prompting the questions rather than in the actual answering...

[Kiwi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acquiring this from a goodreads giveaway, I'm pretty satisfied with my win. The author and her children compiled a collection of questions frequently asked by kids and answers given in a simple manner. It cracked the truth to urban myths such as sitting too close to the TV will damage your eyes and so on and so forth. While it's a resourceful book, explaining the questions asked by your children in a scientific way might further confuse them instead of solving their questions. I don't usually read this sort of informative books, but this was a great and easy read, and besides, I have learned a great deal from this!

[melydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of questions and answers geared towards parents answering their children's queries about their bodies. No, it's not about puberty. It's about all the other little stuff: why do we have boogers, what are moles, etc. I knew most of the answers already, though I recognized several misconceptions I held as a child. I can see this being a useful book to have in the house. Unfortunately, I am a touch leery about the credibility of the information. Yes, the author is a doctor, but there is no bibliography or even recommended further reading. That always puts up a red flag for me when reading nonfiction.

[North Olmsted Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, but not the greatest format. It was full of questions asked by kids and answered by a doctor. It seems like parents are meant to read it with their children. It was supposed to answer the great mysteries of the human body to children. The questions posed were cute, but the answers were sometimes vague and averted a straight answer. The author kept promoting a healthy lifestyle by saying "exercise and eat smart". This is all well and good, but answer the question!
SJOM

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, and does what it says -- it provides answers to lots of questions about our bodies.

However, there were plenty of questions that either weren't answered or were partially answered. Each question had stuff written about it that related to the question, but the questions weren't always answered.

This annoyed me and I would have given it 2 stars. However, the unnecessary, but excellent, discussion about flipping your eyelid inside out bumped it up to 3 stars.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have three young boys and I expected this to be a good read to help with all those strange and often chalenging questions they ask but I was unfortunately dissapointed. The book has a lot of really great questions but the answers often fall short, I found that instead of answering the questions it tends to explain certain aspects then forgets to actually answer it. the book is light and easy to read but if you want answers for your children then this is not the book.

[Xin Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a simple Question and Answer book that deals with mostly random biological questions we wondered as kids. I guess what's special about this book is that the author, who happens to also be a doctor, got her two young daughters to prepare all the questions in this book and she wrote the answers. While the question and answers may seem a tad too elementary for some, it is a sure way to refresh random pieces of knowledge in your head.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is written by a medical doctor whose little girls would ask her,"Why this, why that.." So with the help of her daughters, daughters' friends and husband's questions, Beth Ann Ditkoff, M.D. began writing this book to answers the questions her family generated. Some of the answers are too technical, but most are not. I found it fun learning medical facts. Great book to pack on a long car trip...could be a fun activity for the whole family!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a kid, I would have really liked this book. But that was 15 years ago.

It's written in more technical language than I like for younger children, and doesn't really go in-depth enough to suit older children. Not much here that I couldn't find in a good Google search, though it may be useful for those kids who want more information but aren't allowed unfettered internet access yet.

[هيا · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is actually interesting . Though the writer is addressing a younger age , yet it's perfect if you are lazy and you want a simple direct information. The questions answered are weird and hilarious.
Thank you Beth Ditkoff for writing this book.
Thank you Ms. Elissar for suggesting it :)

[Talia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting answer book of medical and body questions for the adult or older child. The answers are explained in a simplified way that made me think this was uncategorized and should be in Juvenile instead of adult!

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

1254th - 2011

Yippee... Baru sadar, ternyata buku nonkomik yang dibaca tahun ini sudah lebih dari buku komik... ini pasti akibat cukup banyak baca buku pengetahuan untuk anak-anak yang tidak berbentuk komik... ;)

[N Dorville · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit outdated here in 2021 but still fun, but I feel to a certain extent a book like these would require diagrams, although that would take longer to publish.
I say that as a person who has taught kids up to university students basic biology to physiology 101, it is often hard to for people to visualise something if you can't point or explain in.

[Ayla Breelynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good it answered quite a few medical questions I've had like "what are your tonsils for" the only reason I give it a 3 is because a lot of the questions I already knew the answers to

[Ruth]

Written to help adults answer children's questions. I needed this about five years ago when Podlings 4 & 5 were asking a question a minute.

[me.lita · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Buku ini menyelamatkan orangtua dari mengarang-ngarang jawaban terhadap pertanyaan anak-anak yang tidak terduga tentang keajaiban tubuh manusia” – Dr.Oz

Hmm.. ada benarnya juga sih. Dulu waktu aku kecil, aku pernah bertanya kepada orangtuaku tentang hal-hal seperti: “orang yang punya tahi lalat itu dulunya pernah di pup-in lalat ya Ma?”, biasanya orangtuaku menjawab diplomatis “di majalah bobo ada nggak penjelasannya?” atau “besok kalau masuk sekolah, tanya sama bu guru ya”. Hadeuuhh.. aku kan butuh jawaban saat itu juga, bukan nanti-nanti. Lagipula walaupun jawabannya ada di majalah itu, kan lebih afdol kalau yang bersangkutan jawab langsung. Kalau sudah begitu, aku hanya bisa cemberut.

Nah, aku gak pengen kejadian seperti itu menimpa diriku kelak saat jadi orangtua, jadi aku persiapan deh dari sekarang. Hehehe..

Buku ini membahas secara singkat berbagai pertanyaan yang terkait dengan tubuh manusia. Penjelasannya sendiri di klasifikasikan ke dalam lima bab, yaitu:
1. 101 Hal tentang Tubuh Anda
2. Yang Aneh, Buruk, dan Bermasalah
3. Masalah yang Berkaitan dengan Tubuh dan Keanehan Sehari-hari yang Mungkin Terjadi
4. Mitos Urban dan Bagaimana Jika?
5. Hal Remeh tentang Tubuh Anda

Untuk pertanyaanku waktu kecil tentang tahi lalat, di buku ini ada penjelasannya..

Tahi lalat atau istilah medisnya nevus, adalah kumpulan sel berpigmen khusus yang jinak (tidak menjadi kanker) yang menetap di kulit. Sekitar 98% orang-orang yang berkulit terang memiliki banyak tahi lalat ketika dewasa, biasanya antara sepuluh sampai dengan empat puluh tahi lalat. Terlalu sering terkena sinar matahari juga akan meningkatkan kemungkinan menghasilkan banyak tahi lalat *jadi bukan karena di pup-in lalat yaa*.

Buatku, buku ini merupakan referensi awal dalam mengetahui berbagai hal terkait dengan tubuh *karena aku bukan dokter atau orang yang berprofesi di bidang kesehatan*, selanjutnya kalau aku mau tau lebih mendalam ya googling deh.. Hehehe..

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow , Beth Ditkoff explains a number of the simple yet fascinating wonders of the human body. A great read for those of you is interested in the human body and medicine (like me!).

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book purchased for my 13 year old son who is filled with unique questions. I thought he would enjoy these random facts about the human body.

[Chris]

I think I have the most inquisitive children on the planet. This would be a big help to those "why" questions.

[Neli Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My boyfriend gave me that book has a gift....cause he says I asked him a lot of weird things so I could find answers in it

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very informative. It has things that you would never think about in it.

[Tracey]

I won the book on Goodreads giveaways.