The Adventures of Medical Man

Gr 5—8—Using tangible experiences that kids can relate to, this book does a fantastic job of explaining common medical issues in an accessible way. A variety of heroic characters explain otherwise complicated and seemingly scary conditions and occurrences. Through the use of science fiction, adventure, and comics, the book covers nut allergies, concussions, broken bones, strep throat, ear infections, and asthma. For example, the immune system's reaction to allergies is illustrated in terms of an impending alien attack during which security turns on everyone, even the good guys. This happens while one of the characters is having a reaction to nuts, so one is used to explain the other. The fictional stories are interspersed with brief factual articles on the topics that are being discussed. The extensive glossary is straightforward and user-friendly. The pumped-up graphic illustrations are extremely engaging and further bring these otherwise abstract concepts to life. While the stories are inventive and entertaining, the medical facts are at the forefront, and readers will come away thinking about these conditions in a whole new way. This is a great approach to educating kids about health issues.—Kerry Roeder, The Brearley School, New York City