Human body children’s books for topics in EYFS/KS1, KS2 & KS3, including non-fiction reference, picture books, MG chapter books, and practical guides for early teens, by authors including Charlotte Markey, Robert Winston, Adam Kay, Yumi Stynes, Emma Quay, Nick Fisher, and Elizabeth Verdick. These suggestions have been collated to provide resources for classrooms, ideas for parents, starting points for discussion, and jumping-off points for home-based projects, as well as classroom topic-based teaching.
Our recommended human body and body image topic books for children in KS1, KS2 and KS3
Snot, Sneezes, and Super-Spreaders by Marc ter Horst
This fascinating non-fiction hardback will captivate children in upper KS2. Exploring viruses, Marc ter Horst explains to readers how they spread, how they attack our bodies and what steps we can take to protect ourselves. With an infectious blend of humour, facts and graphics, ‘Snot, Sneezes, and Super-Spreaders’ is perfect for school libraries.
Everything Human Body by National Geographic Kids
Including impressive facts and thought-provoking detail, this text blends useful information that will spark pupils’ thinking and imagination with solid KS2 science content in a bright and compelling format. Up to date and on-trend, with extensively illustrated sections on fitness, sensible living, nutrition and mental health, Everything Human Body is ideal for greater-depth reading and home learning in upper KS2. Highly recommended.
The Museum of Odd Body Leftovers by Rachel Poliquin
This sumptuously illustrated hardback isn’t like any other human body book. Framing our flesh and bone as a set of evolutionary artefacts, the reader is expertly guided (by Wisdom Tooth and Disappearing Kidney, no less) around organs that are peculiar, unnecessary and hark back to our distant past. The perfect present for children who want to be doctors or scientists, we particularly liked the sections on nictitating membranes, hiccups, and the disappearing human tail. It’s absolutely fascinating.
Marvellous Body: A Magic Lens Book by Jane Wilsher
7-11-year-olds can peer deep inside the human body with this bright and highly engaging full-colour interactive hardback. Illustrating numerous areas covered in the KS2 national curriculum, including teeth, ears and hearing, muscles, the digestive system, keeping healthy, growing up and body image, it’s perfectly pitched for both primary school libraries and classrooms. The clever magic lens – which doubles as an x-ray device and a magnifying glass – is bound to encourage children to seek out details and read the labelled explanations carefully. Highly recommended.
The Good Germ Hotel by Kim Sung-hwa and Kwon Su-jin
With hilariously funny images, the bacterial inner workings of the human body are explored in the form of guests in a quirky 5-star hotel. Antibiotics, immune cells, COVID and poop are all examined in detail. This fun, comic strip style, illustrated fact book with enthral children interested in learning about their health and the science of germs. An ideal addition to healthy living topics in KS2.
Cat Eyes and Dog Whistles – The Seven Senses of Humans and other Animals by Cathy Evans
This fascinating journey through the senses explores seven senses shared by humans and animals. Five of them – hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch most of us know about – but proprioception and the vestibular system will be new to some. Not only will this be a fascinating book to help children in KS2 learn about how humans and animals experience and relate to the world around them, but it will also enlighten readers about people and pets who have difficulties due to deficits with particular senses.
It Isn’t Rude to be Nude by Rosie Haine
A down to earth book that debunks the myth that being nude is rude. With clear language that children will relate to, this picture book is illustrated with innovative and accurate ink drawings. All colours, sizes, shapes and ages are shown, to emphasise that skin tone, wrinkles, freckles and wobbly bits are found on all of us.
The Body Image Book for Girls by Charlotte Markey
This book deals sensitively with the pressures experienced by teenage girls, exacerbated by mass and social media, to conform to a trending image. It confronts these influences head on, dealing with diets, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, it provides a positive beacon for those who are struggling.
The Human Body by DK
This encyclopedia peers inside the body and allows inquisitive and curious children to enter a world of astonishing organs and moving parts. Arranged in neat and easy to follow sections, the entire body workings are illustrated and explained. A surefire hit to enthuse and enthral.
Open Wide, What’s Inside by Alex Rushworth
Beware of the sugar bugs! A factual book that gently ensures children are aware of the dangers associated with too much sugar and the effects on teeth and oral hygiene. Using catchy rhyme, the awful behaviour of the sugar bugs will have your child rushing for a toothbrush!
Are You What You Eat? by DK
A clever book, which instead of dictating what children must eat, instead explains why certain foods are better than others for our overall body health. This book describes how to boost energy, brainpower and keep your internal machine functioning to its best. Quizzes, facts about vitamins and minerals all guide the reader towards sensible choices.
What Goes on in My Head? By Robert Winston
The brain – the ultimate human computer that controls everything about you – find out how it grows and changes, influencing emotions, reactions and memory. Try the brainteaser questions and finally the personality section to reveal who you really are!
Illumanatomy by Kate Davies
A unique approach to explain the workings of the human body underpins this informative book suitable for all ages – from primary children to students. Using three colour lenses, the illustrations jump to life, showing the skeleton, organs and muscles, and all their specific functions. The layout, exciting facts and detail in this book will draw children back time after time.
Giant by Kate Scott
A story that will reassure children who feel they might be different or worry that they don’t fit in. Anzo is very short and suffers for it at home and at school. With the help of his friend Elise, and a growing sense of belief, Anzo proves that he is just as good, and tall, as anyone else.
Celebrate Your Body by Sonya Renee Taylor
Aimed at girls aged 8-13, this no-nonsense guide to puberty will reassure and inform. All the bodily changes are described and explained clearly, as well as touching on the emotional experiences to expect. A useful book to provide further reading after PSHE classes.
Kay’s Anatomy by Adam Kay
In this book, parents and their children will find out all they ever wanted to know about the inner mechanisms of the human body. Told in medically accurate language, but constantly added to with tongue in cheek jokes and amusing cartoons. Reproduction, death and germs – including Covid 19 are explained, and advice provided for healthy living.
How Do You Make a Baby? by Anna Fiske
A no-nonsense and refreshingly unsubtle non-fiction book to show primary aged children how babies are made. The cartoon-style illustrations are unabashed and a diverse range of loving relationships are depicted. Ideal for responsible discussion with KS2 children learning the new sex education element of the national curriculum.
Rudie Nudie Christmas by Emma Quay
A lovely bedtime storybook for younger readers to enjoy. It’s almost Christmas and two little Rudies are enjoying the time between bath and bed. With simple text and appealing illustrations, this is a Christmas tale to treasure!
Welcome to Your Period by Yumi Stynes
This book will bust many myths about periods for anxious girls. Full of good, and refreshingly candid, advice, case studies, first-hand accounts and a questions and answer section. Practical advice is also offered for how to deal with the unexpected.
What’s Next for Medicine by Tom Jackson
How will medicine change in the future? This book explains how new techniques and methods might develop, in fields such as genetics, DNA, cell transplants and more. What might happen in laboratories, possible inventions and new approaches makes this a stimulating read for inquisitive young students.
The Boys Body Book by Kelli Dunham
This best-selling book offers a comprehensive guide for boys and all they need to know about puberty. Bodily changes, hormones, and emotional changes are explained. There are also useful chapters about consent and safety, leaving home and feeling confident.
Living With a Willy by Nick Fisher
An accessible, and very practical guide for adolescent boys. This honest account of what is, and what is not normal for young people to experience, explains with refreshing clarity the different stages of puberty and what teenagers should expect.
Kid Normal by Greg James
Murph Cooper feels out of place at his new school. Everyone there seems to possess superpowers. Laugh along with Murph’s exploits as he battles the bad guy, becomes a hero, and saves the day. The illustrated story is ideal for reluctant readers in KS2.
Human Body Odyssey by Dominic Walliman
Join Professor Astro Cat on an adventure into the workings of the human body. How does it work? Why does it have such complex systems? With fantastic illustrations, learn how the heart, ears, cells and genetics combine to keep the body functioning – and also discover how to keep healthy. A must-have for the KS2 school library.
Germs Are Not For Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick
An informative and instructional book that sensitively informs and educates younger children about the dangers of, and how to avoid, spreading germs. This timely publication includes advice for parents and child carers.
Super Foods for Super Kids Cookbook by Noelle Martin
An informative and fun way to introduce KS2 children to healthy cooking and a sensible diet. Full of exciting recipes, information on the best ‘super foods’, how to prepare them, and how to benefit from their nutritional superpowers. With easy to follow instructions for each recipe, including the required equipment, these 50 meals will have children cooking up a healthy storm!
Gut Garden by Katie Brosnan
A spectacular illustrated large-format picture book for children in KS2, Gut Garden explores the microbes that help digest our food and boost our immune system. Not dumbed-down, this is an excellent introduction to human biology for inquisitive juniors aged children. Featured as our book of the month for October 2019.
Human body and body image topic resources and activities
- BBC Teach KS1 human body teaching resources.
- BBC Bitesize KS2 human body teaching resources.
- The major organs of the human body – KS2.
- BBC Teach KS3 resources for teaching human biology.
BBC learning for KS1 – parts of the body.
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Looking for more children’s book recommendations? Have a look at our books for topics, our EYFS & KS1 books, and our KS2 book recommendations.
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