Reviewed by Donna Rainboth
PEERS Program Coordinator
There’s A Zoo On You! is an entertaining look at the microscopic critters that inhabit our bodies. Kathy Darling’s book is well written, attractive, and enlightening. A sensitive reader will be intrigued, amazed, and even shocked by her text; bacteria on your face, parasites under your nails, mites on your skin, and even tooth amoebas! Dramatic photographs of enlarged parasites and scanning electron micrographs will hook even those who avoid science. Students will find the unique images weird and appealing.
The writing style is inviting and often humorous. While the reading scores at about a fourth grade level throughout, the complexity of the ideas may make the concepts more suitable for middle school students. Many high school students will find the material equally fascinating. The layout of the book makes it better as informational reading than a reference book. For example, there is no table of contents, so the reader jumps directly from the title page to the intriguing premise, “You are not alone!” without much preparation. While vocabulary words are defined and pronounced in colorful pull-out boxes in the margin, there is no glossary at the end. An index has been included, though, so the reader can use it to locate topics within the book.
The entire book is only 48 pages long and its color micrographs make it fairly expensive. However, There’s A Zoo On You! covers a subject that will fascinate students, whether it is read aloud or picked up for enrichment reading. Even though I would have preferred a more traditional design, I still recommend the book to teachers.
Review posted on 1/16/2001
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