The Physiology Storybook- An Owner's Manual for the Human Body, 2nd edition
Pub. Date: 2006
ISBN: 0-96744-102-1
Edition Description: 207 pages, $39
Order directly from AAHPERD or from the author - Marla Richmond (order form)

Reviewer: Ted Scheck, MS - Physical Education/Wellness Teacher

I enjoyed Marla Richmond's book very much. Having taught physical education for nearly ten years, I’ve come across my share of textbooks that have attempted to present the concepts of human physiology. All of them were as dry as dust, until I read Richmond's book.

Some of the first things you notice are the "guides" throughout the book's journey of exploring and discovering the human body. Phyllis and Phyl are introduced, interestingly, with just their heads showing. Phyl and Phyllis take turns asking basic questions to each other, questions the reader would be wondering.

I loved the metaphoric imagery used. The prevailing metaphor compares the human body to a factory or processing plant, with fun, engaging illustrations that detail what occurs inside the body. For example, in explaining how the heart functions seemingly on its own, a picture of a man seated at a computer terminal (the brain) with wires linking the brain down to the heart illustrates the complex relationship of organs in the body.

In describing the skeleton and muscular system, Phyl and Phyllis become full-bodied illustrations. Another metaphor I enjoyed and could relate to was the "brick building" image on page 18, which details for the reader what is necessary to build muscles, bones, and related tissues.

The chemical "soup" that resides inside all of us was illustrated very well. Red blood cells (RBCs) are pictured as tiny "spaceships" with the oxygen molecule depicted as the steering wheel. These concepts are presented very effectively, especially for junior high or high school students attempting to learn the complexity of red blood cellss and oxygen use during exercise. These illustrations are sprinkled throughout the entire book, so the reader sees and is able to identify again and again with the metaphor.

I really enjoyed the concept of "communication" between the brain and its system. The "bullhorn boys" are two cartoon figures that reveal the relationship of the brain and spinal cord for initiating movement. The "bullhorn boys" are used repeatedly, and this use of cartoon imagery is very effective in transferring complex material into chunks a student can grasp and understand.

Phyl and Phyllis continue to ask each other questions as the book progresses, bringing further illumination to the incredibly complex machine that is the human body. What Phyl and Phyllis can't communicate is written in clear, understandable prose in the paragraphs below their questions.

I learned a great deal about what mitochondria are, and their important functions simply by studying an illustration. The "factory floor" metaphor takes very difficult concepts and breaks them down into an easily decipherable cartoon. Even very young children could look at the pictures and learn much about human physiology.

I found helpful links to various health organizations throughout the book, and the bibliography was three pages in length. The list of health and fitness websites after the bibliography made me want to drop what I was doing and go surf them to glean more information. The index at the very end provides the reader with the capability to find any concept in the book quickly and easily.

I am not certified to teach health, but will incorporate many of the concepts I found into my curriculum next year. I loved the book mainly because I love metaphors and find them immensely powerful tools to help make sense of the world around us. The world within us – our body – is neatly and nicely categorized by Marla Richmond's book.

Very fun and engaging, brilliantly illustrated with memorable characters, "The Physiology Storybook" is just exactly that: a storybook of the human body and its processes.