A Journey Through The Digestive System With Max Axiom Super Scientist

Not necessarily.

Author: Emily Sohn
Illustrator: Cynthia Martin and Barbara Schulz
Year Published: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2336-0

Summary

This is a book that takes a scientist through the digestive system by shrinking sizes and hopping onto food, putting him into his friends digestive system. The book also tells some information about different nutrients that can be found in foods. The story is told in comic style.

Evaluation

Appropriateness: Medium
Authority: Medium
Accuracy: High
Liteary Artistry: Medium
Appearance: Medium

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Not necessarily.

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

Only a little. The book does a lot of explicit defining of things and the processes of the digestive system. It does give a lot of space for children to make predictions about the science content

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Not really. Like above, it is a lot of explicit defining and telling of what happens.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

Yes. It gives a lot of information about exactly what happens in the digestive system, as well as information on nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

From my knowledge, yes. It follows a digestive system and shows what happens to food in the human body.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

It is obvious what is fiction- this science man shrinking and going into this lady’s body with her food and following it all the way through. But the whole lesson is presented as a guy in this woman’s body, so it is a little strange and not realistic in the slightest.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Yes they accurately show inside the human body, but with a little person inside which would not be accurate.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

Yes, all vocabulary is defined in the book and in the glossary in the back. The language is at an appropriate level.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

Nothing in story very culturally relevant besides characters appearing to possibly be of different cultures from each other. No stereotypes present that I noticed.

Is the book free from gender bias?

The book is presented as an adventure comic, which to me, a female, is not super appealing. The book itself seems like it may be a little more interesting to boys due to the way it is presented, but not the content.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

Besides it being a book that would be read (language arts), the book only talks about science.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

Yes. It talks about the digestive system as a super interesting and important part of the human body.

Science Topics

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

Maximum Suggested Grade Level