Patricia Macnair

This book starts with a little introduction to the circle of life and population differences over time and cultures, then goes through human development from reproduction, through adulthood. The chapter names in the table of contents are very clear about what will be covered. Photographs and diagrams are well explained with captions and are relevant, and the sidebar "Info Labs" provide extra background information to flesh out the material. There is a glossary to provide more concise definitions of words than given in the text, with defined words in bold, and definitions separated by ample space to add clarity to this section. This could be helpful for children confused by terms, but in my opinion, the language is written so simply and directly that in most cases, this will not be necessary. I think the glossary could be improved with a pronunciation guide, as words like adolescence and chromosome could be difficult to sound out for the intended audience. The direct and concise language that Dr. Macnair employs results in a large amount of text for 35 pages, especially with the amount of visuals and large text, leading to a large index. There is also a list of websites with additional information and resources for parents, teachers, and students.… (meer)