[Familyofmonkeys]

A detailed biology book that would be suitable for younger children?

My 6 year old daughter is really interested in human reproduction at the moment and how mummies and daddies 'mate', and we've recently managed to find a fab Usborne book called 'Let's talk about where babies come from?' that goes into quite a lot of the details with nicely done diagrams, and explains things from puberty, conception to birth etc. But now she's starting to ask me about zygotes, chromosomes, genes and DNA, and my old A Level biology books are not really suitable for her reading ability. HELP :uhoh

[mgbridges]

The only thing I can suggest is Browns Bay library which seemed to have a good selection of reference books on all sorts of subjects. I'm fairly certain they'd have something that would be suitable. I'll also have a look at DS's school as there Topic this term is Mind, Body, Soul and I know they have a selection of books in each classroom so I'll note down some titles.

I know I borrowed a couple of good books when a few 'interesting' questions came up about where babies come from but luckily the subject went away and we haven't had to have that conversation just yet! Phew!

HTH
Anneliese

[victoria24]

is this the sort of thing? http://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Stork-Families-Friends/dp/0763600474

[JandM]

I think it's pretty safe to say that there AREN'T any books for 6-year-olds specifically about zygotes, chromosomes, genes and DNA! They probably say something like, 'There are tiny messengers that tell a new baby what Daddy was like and what Mummy was like.' I used to talk to top juniors about reproduction, and this kind of detail next to never came up with them, even...

[Familyofmonkeys]

I think it's pretty safe to say that there AREN'T any books for 6-year-olds specifically about zygotes, chromosomes, genes and DNA! They probably say something like, 'There are tiny messengers that tell a new baby what Daddy was like and what Mummy was like.' I used to talk to top juniors about reproduction, and this kind of detail next to never came up with them, even...

This is the problem I'm having. We explained all about where babies came from, birth etc (apart from the detailed sex part) when she was 3 and I was pregnant with no3 child, and she understands about how the fertilised egg develops and how both identical and fraternal twins are concieved etc. But i'm at a bit of a loss about how to go about explaining the genetics part. Obviously I can pull up some pictures of human chromosones and DNA strands on the internet so we can have a discussion, but with 3 young kids and limited individual time I prefer the option of finding some suitable reading material that she can persue as the mood takes her. She has a reading age of an older child, so I don't mind something aimed at young teenagers as long as there are good illistrations.

[JandM]

To the best of my knowledge, these kind of topics don't come into the school syllabus before A-Level, and aside from schoolwork, I would think the demand for that sort of detail for teenagers is very small. (They're more likely to be interested in the practical. :exit) Maybe you'd find some suitable written material on the internet as well, thinking on my feet here, an A-Level revision, bite-sized info place, perhaps? - with the pictures and her interest, she might be carried over any difficulties of language.

[BkyMonster]

You might try the Physiology (or the Anatomy one, that has some basic physiology iirc) coloring book. http://www.amazon.com/Physiology-Coloring-Book-Wynn-Kapit/dp/0321036638 I know the Physiology one has chapters on both reproduction and endocrine function. The Anatomy one has a lot less words, but covers a lot of the same material. iirc the Physio one has quite a bit of complicated text. Both have all the parts labeled and are fairly common. You should be able to get it at your online bookstore of choice (amazon etc), if not more locally. There are other books in the coloring book series, though not necessarily by that author. I don't think the Anatomy or Physio ones cover much in the way of genetics though. There is a Biology coloring book as well that has cell details, gene expression and other things, though is a bit wordy. For the least wordy I'd say the Anatomy would be good. The Physio and Biology will definitely be harder to color.

Mainly I think you'll find online resources are going to be better.
http://www.brainpop.com/health/growthdevelopmentandgenetics/heredity/preview.weml
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/dna/
http://www.neok12.com/Genetics.htm

In addition I've been seeing some good computer animated videos on YouTube lately in topics such as DNA synthesis and other more technical things. I had to learn it all the hard way, lucky kids!

[BkyMonster]

I found this as well http://www.amazon.com/Its-So-Amazing-Families-Library/dp/0763613215/ref=pd_sim_b_7 which has a section on chromosomes and is obviously aimed at younger children than the books I listed above. No idea on pictures though.

[Familyofmonkeys]

I found this as well http://www.amazon.com/Its-So-Amazing-Families-Library/dp/0763613215/ref=pd_sim_b_7 which has a section on chromosomes and is obviously aimed at younger children than the books I listed above. No idea on pictures though.

LOL that is the same book we already have, although ours is published by Usborne and has a different title......my 4 year old son is enjoying it at the moment as it has excellent pictures for all the hard to explain stuff :)

[Tia Maria]

How about this book, Have a Nice DNA:

http://www.amazon.com/Have-Nice-Enjoy-Your-Cells/dp/0879696109/ref=pd_cp_b_3_img

Also the Sam's Science range may be of interest:

http://www.amazon.com/Know-Cells-Make-Grow-Science/dp/0744572347/ref=pd_sim_b_5

And there is always Magic School Bus range I think there are a few biology ones Germs, Heart, inside the Human Body etc although I'm not sure if they cover DNA, although if there isn't one there should be as they cover just about everything else!

Cheers

Tia

[norma]

I'm a big fan of the Dorling Kindersley range of books for children and they've published one called 'Open me up - everything you need to know about the human body'.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Open-Me-Up-Everything-about/dp/1405341602/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271283379&sr=1-7

Also, have you tried the Horrible Science range? They may have something.