Does an Apple a Day Keep the Doctor Away?: And Other Questions about Your Health and Body (Is That a Fact?)

Donovan, Sandy

ISBN 10: 0822590840 ISBN 13: 9780822590842

Publisher: Lerner Publications ™, 2010

Synopsis

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Humans use only ten percent of their brains. If you cross your eyes, they’ll stay that way. You may have heard these common sayings and beliefs before. But are they really true? Can they be proven using science? Let’s investigate seventeen health-related statements and find out which ones are right, which ones are wrong, and which ones still stump scientists! Find out if the five second rule for dropping food on the floor is true! Discover if eating chocolate can give you pimples! See if you can tell the difference between fact and fiction with Is That a Fact?

About this title

About the Author:

Sandy Donovan has written many nonfiction books for young readers.

Review:

"This is a book that every student will want to pick up and read. The timeless questions throughout are typical of those children might have about their health and bodies, and the answers are in a format that they will appreciate. The subject matter is very engaging, and the contents page is inviting. The question-style format, with page numbers and photos, allows readers to easily navigate the book. You would not necessarily read this book from front to back, but you might read the answer to a question to begin a science class or use it as a filler at the end of the school day. There are really neat 'Did You Know...?' sections, and these have real-life photos mixed with graphics. The information is contained in text boxes, so it will not be intimidating to readers with disabilities or attention issues. The text is easy to understand, and the author did a nice job of keeping the answers concise and entertaining. My students loved this book, and they continually crave this type of nonfiction. There is a wonderful glossary, a bibliography, a further reading section, and an index at the end of the book; these elements are helpful to readers as well as teachers and parents. I highly recommend this book for a science classroom or school library."
--NSTA

(Website)

"This delightful, informative, and visually entertaining book is written in question-and-answer format to encourage critical thinking and further investigation into what is fact and what is fiction about 17 common, simplistic health beliefs or myths about the human body. Topics include catching a cold by going outside with wet hair; harming your eyes by reading in the dark or crossing your eyes on purpose; that cracking one’s knuckles can cause arthritis; that listening to loud music can cause hearing loss; that humans use only 10 percent of their brains; that waiting after eating before you swim can prevent stomach cramps; the importance of eating fruits and vegetables; that chicken soup cures a cold; that carrots improve vision; that spinach builds big (Popeye) muscles; that eating fish makes you smarter, but eating junk food gives you acne; the 5-second rule about dropped food; and the question 'Do we really need to drink eight glasses of water a day?' A brief one-page glossary, a selected bibliography, a list of further readings, and an adequate index round out the book." --Science Books & Films

(Journal)

"This delightful, informative, and visually entertaining book is written in question-and-answer format to encourage critical thinking and further investigation into what is fact and what is fiction about 17 common, simplistic health beliefs or myths about the human body. Topics include catching a cold by going outside with wet hair; harming your eyes by reading in the dark or crossing your eyes on purpose; that cracking one’s knuckles can cause arthritis; that listening to loud music can cause hearing loss; that humans use only 10 percent of their brains; that waiting after eating before you swim can prevent stomach cramps; the importance of eating fruits and vegetables; that chicken soup cures a cold; that carrots improve vision; that spinach builds big (Popeye) muscles; that eating fish makes you smarter, but eating junk food gives you acne; the 5-second rule about dropped food; and the question "Do we really need to drink eight glasses of water a day?" There are cartoon graphics and less serious topics, such as "Is yawning contagious?" illustrated with adorable colorful photographs of two widely yawning lions, an open-mouthed chimpanzee, and a freckled-face teenage girl. Minority adults, high school students, and children are represented, including a female physician with a stethoscope. A brief one-page glossary, a selected bibliography, a list of further readings, and an adequate index round out the book." --Science Books & Films

(Journal)

"Life often presents us with perplexing questions, and finding the answers isn’t always easy. Luckily this new series should help you look 'oh so smart!' Each book concentrates on a different topic. On each two-page spread questions are answered in a succinct, clear, and understandable manner. In addition, further-related information is provided. The illustrations, a mixture of photographs and cartoons, will grab students’ attention. So the next time a patron arrives wanting to know answers to questions such as 'Can an alligator really live in the sewer?' Or 'Can you fry an egg on the sidewalk?' you’ll be ready for them! Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Table of Contents. Index.
Recommended."
--Library Media Connection

(Journal)

About this edition

• Publisher: Lerner Publications ™
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0822590840
• ISBN 13: 9780822590842
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 40