It Takes Guts: How Your Body Turns Food Into Fuel (and poop), written by Dr. Jennifer Gardy with illustrations by Belle Wuthrich. Greystone Kids, 2021. $24.95 ages 10 and up

 

"Food is a little trickier, though. 
It needs to stop and say awhile, 
so the stomach can break it down 
into small enough pieces to move

down the line. The long side of 
your stomach-bean contains 
lots of folds, holding it in place
until it can be liquefied by 
stomach acids, while the short 
side allows liquids to pass 
through right away."

The table of contents is an intriguing start to this very accessible and informative study of digestion. The author clearly establishes her plan to share just exactly what happens from start (the mouth) to finish (the end) whenever we eat or drink. 

"Everybody eats and everybody poops. It might seem ordinary, but what happens between your mouth and your butt is almost magical, and you owe it all to one of the most remarkable parts of your body - your gut. Every day, you turn food into fuel and neatly dispose of the leftovers. Did you know that you produce over a pound (half a kilogram) of poop every day?"

How's that for an invitation to new learning? It is quite amazing to see what the gut does for a body every single day. As those days go by, scientists are learning more about how the gut sends signals concerning hunger and satiation, how it can influence mood, how it triggers defences when a person ingests dangerous germs, and how it hosts untold numbers of bacteria meant to keep us healthy and strong. There is no lapse in learning when it comes to how remarkable the digestive system truly is! 

In this welcome book, Dr. Jennifer Gardy examines one body system in a conversational tone that is sure to inform, while also amusing readers of all ages. Each chapter is designed in an organized way, using bulleted lists, highlighted words (later found in the glossary), descriptive text boxes, helpful illustrations, and a Fast Facts at each chapter's end. There are many I didn't know that moments for readers. 

Did you know there are three stages to barfing - nausea, retching, and finally, vomiting? Or that you can 'put the brakes' on barfing? You have a P6 point about three finger's width below the wrist joint where you might try applying a firm, gentle pressure to help prevent nausea, or try chewing on a piece of ginger. Worthwhile suggestions, for sure. Referrals to historical discoveries and scientific advances add to the book's appeal. The chapters are full of pertinent information, explained in a way that much of the complexity is made easier to 'digest'.

Back matter includes a glossary of highlighted terms, and a very useful index.