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You Are Weird: Your Body’s Peculiar Parts and Funny Functions
Your body sports more hair than a gorilla. About 600 different species of bacteria are living in your mouth. Your head is full of holes. Back when you were a two-month-old embryo, you had a tail. Face it -- you are weird! All these wonderfully weird body features make us human. They also show that we're part of an animal kingdom whose members share a lot more than the same planet. This book tackles those weird questions that everyone's curious about but nobody seems able to answer. What does your appendix do? What exactly are goose bumps and why do we get them? Why can some people wiggle their ears? You Are Weird answers these questions plus many more, backing up answers with the latest scientific theories. Take a guided tour around our oddball organs and freaky body functions that make us who we are -- wacky, wonderful and weird, weird, weird.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2009
About the author
Diane Swanson
88 books1 followerDiane Swanson grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta. When she was a child, she collected rocks, watched insects, went swimming, and ate ice cream cones. She could make paper dolls and play the piano. Diane held pet shows and circuses for the neighborhood children. And to make a little cash she gathered cardboard boxes and sold them to the local grocery stores. She listened to radio programs like The Cisco Kid and played cowboys. Diane also loved to read. The Secret Garden was one of her favorites and she always wrote stuff—all kinds of stuff, especially her own adventures.
Diane’s dog, Sammy, was her ever-present pal. On summer mornings they would walk to a lake and scour the shore for neat-looking rocks. At home, Sammy would sit by the piano as Diane played, pretending that she had discovered a song that could open the door to a secret passage. Diane recalls that about the only thing they didn’t enjoy together were prairie thunderstorms. Sammy would hide, while Diane loved to watch the lightning flash across the sky. She thought it especially great when a hailstorm broke while they were outside. Then she and Sammy would take cover in the garage and send messages along the clothesline to the house: “We’re stranded! Send cookies!”
Now a full-time author, Diane has made a career of writing fun and informative factual books for kids. She credits the astonishing natural world as the inspiration behind her writing. Children have always influenced her approaches to writing: the child she once was, her own two children, and all the children she knows. One tip that Diane would give to young writers is: “Write what really excites you. No matter what your subject is, if you let your excitement shine through your words, you’ll grab your readers’ interest.”
Diane has published over 70 books for children including her latest with Annick Press, Animal Aha! (Spring 2009), about some of the incredible discoveries made about animal bodies and minds. Other books written by Diane include A Crash of Rhinos, A Party of Jays (2006). The Wonder in Water (2005), is a look at just what's in the wet stuff, from the tiniest drop of sweat to the largest ocean. Tunnels! (2003)is the first in the exciting True Stories from the Edge series. While researching these real-life tunnel stories, Diane unearthed the fascinating true story of two families’ daring 1979 escape over the Berlin Wall in a homemade hot-air balloon. That incredible event didn’t fit the underground theme of Tunnels!, but Diane could not let go of the story’s powerful message of triumph over dangerous political folly. The result is her first picture book, The Balloon Sailors (2003), a creative allegorical storybook based on those inspiring true events.
Other Annick Press titles by Diane include The Dentist & You (2002), Turn It Loose: The Scientist in Absolutely Everybody (2004) and Nibbling on Einstein's Brain (Original 2001, Updated 2009), which has recently been updated and newly illustrated. Her work has earned numerous awards, including the B.C. 2000 Award, the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, and the International Youth Library’s White Raven Award. Her work has also been shortlisted for the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the B.C. Book Prize, the Red Cedar Award, the Silver Birch Award, and many more.
She was one of the original members of the Victoria Chapter of PWAC (Periodical Writers Association of Canada), a member of The Canadian Children’s Book Centre, is a member of CANSCAIP, CWILL, and was a volunteer tutor for Project Literacy.
Diane lives in Victoria, B.C., with her husband. When not working on writing projects,she is busy geocaching, ballroom dancing and raising bonsai trees. She also often visits schools and attends conferences.
Diane’s dog, Sammy, was her ever-present pal. On summer mornings they would walk to a lake and scour the shore for neat-looking rocks. At home, Sammy would sit by the piano as Diane played, pretending that she had discovered a song that could open the door to a secret passage. Diane recalls that about the only thing they didn’t enjoy together were prairie thunderstorms. Sammy would hide, while Diane loved to watch the lightning flash across the sky. She thought it especially great when a hailstorm broke while they were outside. Then she and Sammy would take cover in the garage and send messages along the clothesline to the house: “We’re stranded! Send cookies!”
Now a full-time author, Diane has made a career of writing fun and informative factual books for kids. She credits the astonishing natural world as the inspiration behind her writing. Children have always influenced her approaches to writing: the child she once was, her own two children, and all the children she knows. One tip that Diane would give to young writers is: “Write what really excites you. No matter what your subject is, if you let your excitement shine through your words, you’ll grab your readers’ interest.”
Diane has published over 70 books for children including her latest with Annick Press, Animal Aha! (Spring 2009), about some of the incredible discoveries made about animal bodies and minds. Other books written by Diane include A Crash of Rhinos, A Party of Jays (2006). The Wonder in Water (2005), is a look at just what's in the wet stuff, from the tiniest drop of sweat to the largest ocean. Tunnels! (2003)is the first in the exciting True Stories from the Edge series. While researching these real-life tunnel stories, Diane unearthed the fascinating true story of two families’ daring 1979 escape over the Berlin Wall in a homemade hot-air balloon. That incredible event didn’t fit the underground theme of Tunnels!, but Diane could not let go of the story’s powerful message of triumph over dangerous political folly. The result is her first picture book, The Balloon Sailors (2003), a creative allegorical storybook based on those inspiring true events.
Other Annick Press titles by Diane include The Dentist & You (2002), Turn It Loose: The Scientist in Absolutely Everybody (2004) and Nibbling on Einstein's Brain (Original 2001, Updated 2009), which has recently been updated and newly illustrated. Her work has earned numerous awards, including the B.C. 2000 Award, the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, and the International Youth Library’s White Raven Award. Her work has also been shortlisted for the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the B.C. Book Prize, the Red Cedar Award, the Silver Birch Award, and many more.
She was one of the original members of the Victoria Chapter of PWAC (Periodical Writers Association of Canada), a member of The Canadian Children’s Book Centre, is a member of CANSCAIP, CWILL, and was a volunteer tutor for Project Literacy.
Diane lives in Victoria, B.C., with her husband. When not working on writing projects,she is busy geocaching, ballroom dancing and raising bonsai trees. She also often visits schools and attends conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 23, 2013
This book informs readers of the various odd body parts that humans have and their funny functions. This book describes bacteria, flaky skin cells, sweat glands, hair, goose bumps, sinuses, teeth, eyeballs, ears, smells, the appendix and tail bone, toes, and other areas of the body that modern science still has not been able to figure out. This book is filled with funny facts and odd information that is sure to surprise readers of every age.
"You Are Weird" is appropriate for ages 8+ (Grades 3+).
I enjoyed this book because I like reading about odd information, especially if that information involves me. I was very surprised while reading to find the logic behind toothpaste, and the massive number of skin cells shed in a day. Most of this information is a tad bit gross but none-the-less fascinating and entertaining. I liked that each section of the book contains a small area called "Freaky Fact." Freaky fact includes a small, off-the-wall bit of information. This book contains a great variety of information that will keep children entertained. I could see this book being a hit with young children learning about anatomy and the functions of the body. This information in this book would create a great conversation starter, thus getting children interested in the topic.
"You Are Weird" is appropriate for ages 8+ (Grades 3+).
I enjoyed this book because I like reading about odd information, especially if that information involves me. I was very surprised while reading to find the logic behind toothpaste, and the massive number of skin cells shed in a day. Most of this information is a tad bit gross but none-the-less fascinating and entertaining. I liked that each section of the book contains a small area called "Freaky Fact." Freaky fact includes a small, off-the-wall bit of information. This book contains a great variety of information that will keep children entertained. I could see this book being a hit with young children learning about anatomy and the functions of the body. This information in this book would create a great conversation starter, thus getting children interested in the topic.
January 17, 2011
Did you know that about 600 different species of bacteria are living in your mouth and when you were a two month old baby, you had a tail? Face it -- you are weird! All these wonderfully weird body features make us human. This book answers questions that you might have, backing up answers with real theories. Take a tour around our oddball organs and freaky body functions that make us who we are, wacky, wonderful and weird, weird, weird!!!!!!!!!!
I think this book was good because it answered a lot of questions on the human body, but I wish they would expain more about each indiviual body part. Some of the things they said didn't make a lot of sense and the organization wasn't that good. I also think they said "you are weird" WAY to many times. I think we can understand that we are weird by know. Still, it had pretty good ideas and answered many questions and told you things you didn't even know!
I would recommend this book to any one who has questions about the human body or just wants to take a break from fiction.
I think this book was good because it answered a lot of questions on the human body, but I wish they would expain more about each indiviual body part. Some of the things they said didn't make a lot of sense and the organization wasn't that good. I also think they said "you are weird" WAY to many times. I think we can understand that we are weird by know. Still, it had pretty good ideas and answered many questions and told you things you didn't even know!
I would recommend this book to any one who has questions about the human body or just wants to take a break from fiction.
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April 8, 2013You Are Weird: Your Body’s Peculiar Parts and Funny Functions is a wonderful text loaded with fascinating information and full of freaky facts to keep any reader engaged. Diane Swanson’s writing is a perfect blend of factual information and witty language that will appeal to a variety of readers. Swanson covers the weird and wacky parts of the human body such as skin, hair, teeth, muscles and many more. Kathy Boake’s quirky, stylistic illustrations add to the humour of the writing and feature excellent and understandable diagrams to help deepen the reader’s understanding. The text provides the reader with captivating information about the human body and human organ systems, while keeping the reader delightfully entertained. The humour and tone of this book provide an excellent hook to get children interested in the many odd and strange functions of the human body. An informative read that offers a great deal of valuable information in a fun and inventive manner.
Reviewed by Trevor J. Froates in Canadian Children's Book News
Spring 2009 VOL.32 NO.2
Reviewed by Trevor J. Froates in Canadian Children's Book News
Spring 2009 VOL.32 NO.2
September 11, 2011
With the subtitle "Your body's peculiar parts and funny functions" it will respond well with young readers intrigued by science and "yuck" factor. Much information on the human body presented in an entertaining way. Some simple experiments to try out are included as well.
March 2, 2010
The title says it all!
March 12, 2010
Awesome facts. Fun read!
August 17, 2011
Children's book about the human body.
August 20, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyable, surprising, and sometimes disgusting lesson on the different parts and functions of our bodies.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews