cover image A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu, and You

A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu, and You

Mike Barfield, illus. by Jess Bradley. Aladdin, $16.99 (128p) ISBN 978-1-5344-6721-7

This wide-spanning illustrated reference guide offers bite-size introductions to “a day in the life” and the “secret diary” of 100 things on Earth ranging across the human body (“pee, pimples, poo, and a whole lot more”), the animal kingdom (limpets, “Mega Marsupials”), and earth and science (“Fab Fungi,” clouds). Filled with colorful comics panels displaying such items as an anthropomorphically angry pimple, Barfield keeps the information entertaining without overwhelming, while “the bigger picture” sections offer extra detail in digestible prose (“Bones make up around 20% of your body’s weight”). Illustrations by Bradley, meanwhile, keep visual gags rolling. Expressive characters help to break up text-heavy segments, and a nonlinear approach makes this volume just right for young fact aficionados to pop into and out of. Back matter includes a glossary of terms used throughout. Ages 7–10. (Mar.)