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Human Bodies Topic (KS1)

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Best Children’s Books about the Human Body

In the younger primary school years, children learn the basics of human anatomy, including learning to name and identify body parts and finding out about the senses – as well as learning about basic human needs and the importance of healthy lifestyles.  To support children in finding out more about their amazing bodies, we’ve put together a list of the best children’s books about human bodies and health.

NB: This human body topic booklist is designed to cover Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7). For human body books for older children, try our Healthy Humans (KS2) booklist.

Children's books about parts of the body

Paul Mason
 & Dave Smith
Non-fiction

Hair-Raising Human Body Facts is a fascinating tour of the human body. As they read, children will learn a huge amount of intriguing facts about the body that they have inhabited since they were born. They will be desperate to share information – such as how your body sheds 50kg of skin by the time you are seventy and that the average human passes wind about twelve times a day!

Each colourful double-page spread focuses on one aspect of the body. The information is a mix of explanations, fact boxes, historical information and common myths about the body feature being discussed (Did you know that kissing a donkey was thought to be a cure for toothache in medieval Germany?).

Learners will enjoy the mixture of photographs, illustrations, speech bubbles and cartoons. The photographs also include images from a microscope, which are captivating.

Jane Wilsher
 & Andres Lozano
Non-fiction
In this eye-catching book, readers can explore the hidden inner workings of the human body, look inside different organs and body systems and learn about how to look after their own physical and mental health at the same time. Readers use the see-through magic lens to reveal how our bodies function and the different body parts hard at work inside us. Find out how your senses work with your brain to show us the world around us, how doctors and nurses spot diseases and how we turn food into energy... and poo.So pick up the magic lens and take a tour of the marvellous human body!
Hannah Alice
Non-fiction

The Body Book aims to help children aged 4-7 to explore some of the incredible things that our bodies do. This is an engaging non-fiction board book containing see-through acetate pages, allowing an x-ray peek into the human anatomy. Each page covers a different function of the human body, from breathing air and pumping blood to moving around and – yes – making waste. With labelled acetate diagrams of the muscular, skeletal, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory and nervous systems, this is a superb first look at human anatomy for young children. The smallest readers will enjoy running their fingers along the acetate diagrams, tracing blood vessels or touching the familiar outlines of the skeleton. Older KS1 children will find plenty of food for thought among the pockets of interesting information that outline the processes of each of the body’s major systems…

Rosie Dickins
 & Oceane Mecklenburg
Non-fiction
Lift the flaps to uncover the amazing inner workings of your very own body - from your bones, blood and brain to the bacteria in your belly button. Discover what happens when you eat, how your senses work, what your heart and lungs do and lots more fascinating facts. With links to specially selected websites for activities and videos about the human body.
Jane Lacey
 & Sernur Isik
Non-fiction
This first science book exploring the science behind the five senses provides a great foundation for scientific knowledge. From sight and hearing to touch, smell and taste, the book has clear information, fun illustrations and plenty of interactivity from challenges to think about and activities to try. It also has lots of facts about animal senses and would be a great resource for comparing humans with other animals.

Robert Winston
 & Owen Gildersleeve
Non-fiction

We love this highly visual guide to the human body, perfectly pitched for 4-7 year olds. The book takes a journey around the amazing human body, zooming in on each key part of the anatomy.  With simple text, colour photographs, clear illustrations and plenty of bite-size facts about the human body, this is a super choice of science book for children who love pictures and facts.

Children's books about healthy lifestyles

Jory John
 & Pete Oswald
Picturebook

If you’ve ever made a New Year resolution to improve your fitness or get outside more, you might just relate to the journey of this hilarious spud. With everything he needs within arm’s reach of the sofa, this potato has it all – multiple TV screens, hundreds of video games and even a button that activates a snack-fetching gadget. He can’t see any reason at all to leave the couch… until the electricity cuts out. The potato steps foot outside and embarks upon a new-found appreciation of fresh air, exercise and the sounds and sights of the great outdoors. After some deep introspection, the potato sets himself a resolution to achieve a better balance between screentime and time enjoying the outdoor world.

This is a really funny book and is always a winner with children. As well as guaranteeing giggles, this story can provide an opportunity to reflect on healthy lifestyles, screentime limits and personal resolutions.

Katie Woolley
 & Ryan Wheatcroft
Non-fiction
How much sleep do I need? What happens when I sleep? Why do I dream? Will screen time affect my sleep? Why should I rest? The answers to these and many other questions about resting and sleeping can be discovered in this lively and informative book. The topics of fitness and fun are complemented by charming and humorous illustrations. This book is designed for children to begin to learn about the importance of being healthy, and the ways in which we can look after our bodies to keep fit and well.At the back are notes for parents and teachers that provide additional advice and support as well as further activity ideas and information.
Katie Woolley
 & Ryan Wheatcroft
Non-fiction
Why do I have to wash? What's wrong with biting my nails? Why can't I pick my nose? Why can't I wear the same socks each day? The answers to these and many other questions about hygiene can be discovered in this lively and informative series. The topic of keeping clean is complemented by charming and humorous illustrations.This book is designed for children to begin to learn about the importance of being healthy, and the ways in which we can look after our bodies to keep fit and well. A clean body is very important for keeping illnesses at bay and for feeling good about yourself. Creating good hygiene habits from an early age is vital.At the back are notes for parents and teachers that provide additional advice and support as well as further activity ideas and information.
Katie Woolley
 & Ryan Wheatcroft
Non-fiction
Why do I have to exercise? Why is it fun to play? The answers to these and many other questions about exercise and play can be discovered in this lively and informative series. The topics of fitness and fun are complemented by charming and humorous illustrations. This book is designed for children to begin to learn about the importance of being healthy, and the ways in which we can look after our bodies to keep fit and well.At the back are notes for parents and teachers that provide additional advice and support as well as further activity ideas and information.
Mike Henson
 & Barbara Bakos
Picturebook
All the Nonsense in my Teeth is a fantastical, dream-like story about teeth brushing, that takes readers on a journey into the narrator’s imagination and encourages good personal hygiene and following a daily routine.Tonight I brushed my teeth. They really needed a good clean! Oh, let me tell you about all the things that I found in them… There were breakfast hoops and ice cream scoops An aeroplane doing loop the loops An aeroplane, now that’s absurd! Then to my shock... a flock of birds!The charming artwork and sing-song rhyme scheme take readers on an adventure filled with fantastical imagery, as all kinds of things from cyclists doing stunts to an animal brass band are revealed inside the protagonist's mouth as they brush their teeth!With entertaining illustrations from Barbara Bakos, let this wonderful picture book transport you and your children to another world before they go to sleep.

Children's books about growing

Pat Hutchins
Picturebook
It's not easy being the smallest in the family, like Titch. But Titch soon discovers that even something as tiny as a little seed has the potential to grow into a plant that is very big indeed. Titch is a story for anyone who knows what it is like to feel small.
Ruth Krauss
 & Helen Oxenbury
Picturebook
The Growing Story is an enchanting story about a boy who watched living things grow and change through the seasons. Just as he begins to think that he will be small forever, he learns to see the signs that he is growing and changing too.
Laura Ellen Anderson
This little boy is fed up with being so little. He wants to be as tall as his friends and his big brother. But when he loses his teddy bear up a tree, not even his new tall friend can get it back for him. Maybe with a little bit of help they can reach the bear together ...A fun and inspiring tale about learning to love who we are, no matter what size. A perfect picture book for little people who don't want to be so little.
Martin Waddell
 & Penny Dale
Picturebook
Once there was a baby in the house - and to that baby, Mum and Dad and Jill and John and Uncle Tom were giants. But little by little, that baby grew up - until she became a giant too! Martin Waddell says of the book, "Small children live in a world designed for big people. I wrote this story to help them understand it, and the idea of growing older."

Children's books about bones and skeletons

Kim Norman
 & Bob Kolar
Picturebook
A pirate skeleton seeks to put its bones back together in this rhyming first book of anatomy! A stormy night at sea has uncovered some long-buried secrets and surprises. Is that the mast of a shipwreck? A faded pirate hat? And what's that hiding in the sand? A mandible and a clavicle, phalanges and femurs, a tibia and a fibula - could there be a complete set of bones scattered across the ocean floor? And who might they belong to? A jaunty rhyme takes readers on an underwater scavenger hunt as a comical skeleton tries to put itself back together piece by piece. Make no bones about it - this rollicking read-aloud will have young ones learning anatomy without even realising.
Idan Ben-Barak & Julian Frost
Picturebook
Quog and Oort are on their way to Kevin's birthday party. Unfortunately, their spaceship has crashed. Pick up this book to lend them a hand!An interstellar exploration of hands and what's inside them, from the award-winning creators of the internationally successful Do Not Lick This Book.

Children's books about hair

Laura Ellen Anderson
All Curly Haired Girl has ever wanted is straight and luscious locks, but when she meets a little girl with the smoothest, silkiest hair, who says all she's ever wanted is spirally, squiggly hair, they are BOTH confused!A hilarious tale about loving what we have. And hair, lots and lots of hair.I Don't Want Curly Hair! is a glorious picture book for little people who always want what they can't have!
Matthew Cherry
 & Vashti Harrison
Picturebook
Zuri loves her beautiful hair. Even though it has a mind of its own, it lets her feel like a superhero. Mum usually styles Zuri's hair, but one day Mum is away and Daddy has to step in and create a wonderful hairstyle for her - with plenty of help from Zuri. This is a lovely story showcasing a tender father-daughter relationship and encouraging young readers to love the hair they have just as much as Zuri does.
Hannah Lee
 & Allen Fatimaharan
Picturebook
Joyous and vibrant, this captures perfectly the excitement of getting ready for a celebration, as well as showcasing a dazzling array of intricate hairstyles.This is a glorious debut from an exciting new partnership who both emerged from the FAB Prize for undiscovered BAME writers and illustrators.
Rochelle Humes
Picturebook
Two friends. One wish. Mai and Rose are best friends but they're not two peas in a pod. Mai has dark hair that is curly and whirly and never stays put. Why couldn't she have perfect hair just like her best friend Rose? Rose has blonde hair, as straight as a ruler, which slips and slides whenever she tries to put it in a pony tail. Why couldn't she have perfect hair just like her best friend Mai? When a magical coconut grants each girl their wish, and they get the hair they've always dreamt of, the friends are overjoyed. However, they soon learn that perfect hair is not everything it's cracked up to be. In fact, their hair was pretty magical and perfect the way it was before... A joyful and fun story about celebrating differences and loving yourself from head to toe!

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