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Smithsonian Visual Encyclopedia
Knowledge Encyclopedia Human Body!
The ultimate kids' guide to the human body, with computer-generated 3-D imagery that shows them the body as they've never seen it before, from the award-winning publisher of Knowledge Encyclopedia.
This visual encyclopedia includes astonishing, all-new 3-D artworks, offering a fascinating view of every part of the body from the skull to the heart and lungs to the joints and muscles, taking kids from head to toe. Supporting STEM education initiatives, all the body systems and structures are made easy to understand. Both the anatomy--how the body looks--and the physiology--how the body works--are visualized and explained with clear, engaging text, and the astonishing facts and figures revealed will keep young readers hooked on Human Body!
With its bold visual approach, Human Body! is the perfect family reference on this subject.
This visual encyclopedia includes astonishing, all-new 3-D artworks, offering a fascinating view of every part of the body from the skull to the heart and lungs to the joints and muscles, taking kids from head to toe. Supporting STEM education initiatives, all the body systems and structures are made easy to understand. Both the anatomy--how the body looks--and the physiology--how the body works--are visualized and explained with clear, engaging text, and the astonishing facts and figures revealed will keep young readers hooked on Human Body!
With its bold visual approach, Human Body! is the perfect family reference on this subject.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2002
32 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Publishing
9,121 books2,076 followersDorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 10, 2017
Colorful, Informative and Entertaining Resource …
This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free copy of the book.
I have yet to perceive any of the Smithsonian DK visual encyclopedia volumes as being substandard. I’ve been collecting them for years and find them serving as invaluable educational resources that appeal to adults and children alike. The HUMAN BODY! Is another fine example of balancing ample visual material with informative text that is never verbose.
Although the general description of this book states it is aimed at children (grades 4-7) and the exclamatory title seem to support this, I found this particular volume suitable for adults as well. At no point did I find anything provided in this volume “childish” in nature, unless the lack of elaborate text defines adult level material these days. Considering the subject matter, I couldn’t imagine WANTING to read more elaborate explanations of such a broad matter unless I was in med school. Sometimes you want basic information for a better understanding and visual reinforcement makes it easier to understand and remember.
At slightly over 200 pages, this coffee table-sized volume covers a lot of ground. As usual with DK books, this volume starts with the basics and explains what comprises a body by detailing cells and DNA. A brief summary of the life cycle is explained in two pages … most every topic addressed in this book is limited to no more than two facing pages. Following this essential background information, the book provides a concise overview of the body’s systems and structures before breaking down various regions of the body in greater detail. Obviously, the material covered is scientific and complex, but the book’s presentation is eye-popping, inviting and most importantly, concise. Each page of the book is filled with colorful images (mostly renderings, but there are actual photos peppered throughout) that fully illustrate a multitude of interesting facts, processes and explanations. HUMAN BODY! covers most every facet imaginable without straying too far into other territories that probably deserve their own DK volumes (disease, reproduction, etc.). I didn’t find any of the material too mature for upper elementary school aged children to comprehend … although I’m sure the realistic artwork detailing the digestive tract functions will trigger a “yuck!” or giggle from most kids.
Staying true to most all the DK volumes I own (regardless of the age group the volume is aimed), the manner in which the material is presented is what captivates and keeps things interesting. As stated previously, rarely (if ever) do you have to flip a page to get more information. The standard is two pages … if a topic requires two pages, it will most always be shown in entirety on facing pages. If there is a lot of material to present, there will be an abundance of insets, informative details and graphics grouped on those two pages. With that being said, even the most elaborately detailed pages never come across as congested or confusing.
I feel this is a common-sense themed book that thoroughly covers basic information without skimping or presenting itself as too laborious to sift through. It invites people to sit down and turn the pages. I would consider HUMAN BODY! as a worthy addition to the family library … it’s a book that should be beneficial to all.
This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free copy of the book.
I have yet to perceive any of the Smithsonian DK visual encyclopedia volumes as being substandard. I’ve been collecting them for years and find them serving as invaluable educational resources that appeal to adults and children alike. The HUMAN BODY! Is another fine example of balancing ample visual material with informative text that is never verbose.
Although the general description of this book states it is aimed at children (grades 4-7) and the exclamatory title seem to support this, I found this particular volume suitable for adults as well. At no point did I find anything provided in this volume “childish” in nature, unless the lack of elaborate text defines adult level material these days. Considering the subject matter, I couldn’t imagine WANTING to read more elaborate explanations of such a broad matter unless I was in med school. Sometimes you want basic information for a better understanding and visual reinforcement makes it easier to understand and remember.
At slightly over 200 pages, this coffee table-sized volume covers a lot of ground. As usual with DK books, this volume starts with the basics and explains what comprises a body by detailing cells and DNA. A brief summary of the life cycle is explained in two pages … most every topic addressed in this book is limited to no more than two facing pages. Following this essential background information, the book provides a concise overview of the body’s systems and structures before breaking down various regions of the body in greater detail. Obviously, the material covered is scientific and complex, but the book’s presentation is eye-popping, inviting and most importantly, concise. Each page of the book is filled with colorful images (mostly renderings, but there are actual photos peppered throughout) that fully illustrate a multitude of interesting facts, processes and explanations. HUMAN BODY! covers most every facet imaginable without straying too far into other territories that probably deserve their own DK volumes (disease, reproduction, etc.). I didn’t find any of the material too mature for upper elementary school aged children to comprehend … although I’m sure the realistic artwork detailing the digestive tract functions will trigger a “yuck!” or giggle from most kids.
Staying true to most all the DK volumes I own (regardless of the age group the volume is aimed), the manner in which the material is presented is what captivates and keeps things interesting. As stated previously, rarely (if ever) do you have to flip a page to get more information. The standard is two pages … if a topic requires two pages, it will most always be shown in entirety on facing pages. If there is a lot of material to present, there will be an abundance of insets, informative details and graphics grouped on those two pages. With that being said, even the most elaborately detailed pages never come across as congested or confusing.
I feel this is a common-sense themed book that thoroughly covers basic information without skimping or presenting itself as too laborious to sift through. It invites people to sit down and turn the pages. I would consider HUMAN BODY! as a worthy addition to the family library … it’s a book that should be beneficial to all.
August 17, 2017
I love these big, colorful, educational books. I'm spoiling my nephew this year
February 5, 2018
Amazing, larger-than-life pictures.
t
January 25, 2018This was displayed atop of one of the non-fiction shelves at our local library and caught T's eye. Aside from the bright colors on the cover, there is an image of a man running, with the muscles on view. T thought that the muscles were a red superhero suit (he loves superheroes). When I explained that this was actually waaaaay cooler than superheroes because it was a true book about our bodies, he still wanted it. Taking it to the checkout desk himself, struggling under its weight, T said, "This would be a good book for doctors because it shows what's inside your body." That also pretty much sums up his review of it.
V's Review
This vivid book of the human body shows large, bright illustrations and photographs of the different body systems and individual parts. There are simple descriptions on each page, as well as more in-depth explanations clustered around each picture. Because the pictures are so large and colorful, this book is a good introduction to what is in one's body for young children. Caregivers and older children can choose how much information is actually digested, as this book provides quite a wealth. This incredible images are what captured and retained T's attention. With each turn of the page, T stated that he wanted to learn about whatever was pictured. Turn to the reproductive system page, for example: T - "What's this?" Me - "How babies are made." T - "I want to learn about how babies are made." No storks in this household.
I think that this will become one of those books that we borrow time and time again. As T grows, we can read more and more of the text. But for now, he really enjoys paging through it, asking questions, and then finding different parts of his own body.
T's Review
(age 2 years and 11 months)
favorite page: digestive system
favorite part of the digestive system: the butt
with literally each turn of the page: "I want to learn about..."
[I love his enthusiasm, but I must admit I did become tired after a while.]
on the foot page: "U. N. should read this book because he's a doctor and it shows what is in your body. U. N. could read it if he were here. U. N. should come visit us."
and finally:
Me: "I was wondering what you thought about the human body book..."
T: "U. N. should read it."
He is really insistent on that point!
V's Review
This vivid book of the human body shows large, bright illustrations and photographs of the different body systems and individual parts. There are simple descriptions on each page, as well as more in-depth explanations clustered around each picture. Because the pictures are so large and colorful, this book is a good introduction to what is in one's body for young children. Caregivers and older children can choose how much information is actually digested, as this book provides quite a wealth. This incredible images are what captured and retained T's attention. With each turn of the page, T stated that he wanted to learn about whatever was pictured. Turn to the reproductive system page, for example: T - "What's this?" Me - "How babies are made." T - "I want to learn about how babies are made." No storks in this household.
I think that this will become one of those books that we borrow time and time again. As T grows, we can read more and more of the text. But for now, he really enjoys paging through it, asking questions, and then finding different parts of his own body.
T's Review
(age 2 years and 11 months)
favorite page: digestive system
favorite part of the digestive system: the butt
with literally each turn of the page: "I want to learn about..."
[I love his enthusiasm, but I must admit I did become tired after a while.]
on the foot page: "U. N. should read this book because he's a doctor and it shows what is in your body. U. N. could read it if he were here. U. N. should come visit us."
and finally:
Me: "I was wondering what you thought about the human body book..."
T: "U. N. should read it."
He is really insistent on that point!
September 6, 2019
Abosolutely amazing!! I love everything about this book! The photographs, the text, everything! It s a fascinating book and an excellent read.
August 17, 2020
Advances the idea that a baby doesn't begin at conception.
September 15, 2020
A fun coffee table book to flip through and a good primer on the major body systems.
December 31, 2025
The Human Body Encyclopedia by Smithsonian was an interesting read. It shows diagrams of the different organs in your body. I loved how detailed each image was, and it was very easy to understand. I recommend this book to readers interested in science and biology, as well as anatomy. This is a nonfiction book. I rate this 5/5⭐️
December 11, 2022
Some really cool graphs and images in there to explain the basics…
July 23, 2024
One of my favorites of the body books I've seen. Thorough and easy to read. Lots of pictures and very interesting.
December 26, 2025
Some of the information is a bit outdated, but I really enjoyed the visuals and the style in which it was written.
April 19, 2022
Wow! I got this book for my 4th grader and my middle schooler but it's a visual treat for parents, too. We have many DK books and they all look sophisticated on the coffee table, but this one is especially neat. Each part of the human body looks lifelike thanks to the computer-generated graphics. The back of the book has cool facts medical milestones, history of imaging techniques, future bodies (genetics, robots, bioprinting), bodies in outer space, which I have not seen in other anatomy books. Minus 1 star for how the female reproductive system is defined on page 160: "From her teenage years to about her mid-fifties, the role of a woman's reproductive organs is, in combination with a man's sex cells (sperm) to create a new human life - a baby." This sounds like a female organs only role is to make babies which is not accurate. With that said, I still recommend this book as well as having other anatomy books to broaden and deepen the facts.
May 14, 2015
Cool images. I liked how well-explained everything was.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews