The Heart: Our Circulatory System [Hardcover]

Seymour Simon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 23, 2006 | Age Level: 5 and up

The heart is an incredible pump. Weighing only about as much as one of your sneakers, a heart beats over two billion times in an average lifetime, pushing a river of blood that carries nutrients and axygen through sixty thousand miles of capillaries to every cell in the body. In stunning photos that will amaze you with their beauty, you can watch while blood cells defeat invading bacteria and see how tiny platelets form blood clots. This journey is as wonderful as any voyage to the stars.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5?Simon approaches the human heart as he approached outer space and oceans: as an adventure to be explored. As always, the full-page, full-color photographs are spectacular, and the text is crisp and full of detail. In a conversational yet instructive style, the author presents young readers with fascinating information that will almost certainly spur them on to read more. Topics include types of blood vessels, coronary bypass surgery, strokes, and anatomy of the heart. There is no index, but since each two-page spread clearly addresses a specific topic, one isn't necessary.?Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Scientific American

In The Heart Simon presents as clear and thorough a look at the human circulatory system as he has at so many other subjects. With the aid of computer-enhanced photographs taken with an electron microscope, Simon explains the system of blood vessels, the role of blood, lungs, and the heart, and a few of the problems which can develop in the circulatory system. At times he uses familiar references to make a point, explaining, for example, that the heart weighs only "about ten ounces, about as much as one of your sneakers." The text, layout, diagrams, and photographs work together to make an eye-catching and useful book. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Collins (May 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060877200
• ISBN-13: 978-0060877200
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,312,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association). His free, educational children's app, SCIENCE FUN TO GO, debuted in the Top 10 of all free children's apps in the Amazon App store, and features in app purchase of original Seymour Simon eBooks, as well as a multitude of free content.

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York. You can follow his daily nature walks and see his photographs from the field on Twitter (@seymoursimon) or on his Facebook group page. He also regularly hosts Q&As and sponsors book giveaways on GoodReads.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Have a Heart, January 24, 2010

By 

Spudman (Pasadena, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Heart: Our Circulatory System (Paperback)

I like the Seymour Simon books quite a bit because after and during the reading you can always see more in the conspicuously powerful graphics. In this book the young reader will learn about the circulatory systems, both of them. He or she will also learn about red and white blood cells, plasma, arteries, veins, capillaries, and arterioles.

One can't read this book and not be awed by the magnificent pump that is our heart, a pump that beats over 30 million times a year and over 2 billion times in a lifetime.

Obviously the 4-8 age span listed for this book is nonsense. Seymour Simon does a wonderful job keeping his working vocabulary simple, but in a science text such as this challenging and difficult words are unavoidable. Try writing a book about the heart while omitting words like: aorta, ventricle, atrium, vena cava, pulmonary, vessel, hemoglobin, carbon dioxide, arteriole, capillary, and the list goes on and on and on. A bright elementary school student might be able to get through this book with some assistance. A good middle school student might be able to read it independently.

For ages 4-8 be ready to read the book aloud and prepare for some blank stares. I shared this book with several 8-year-olds who loved the pictures, but had serious trouble negotiating the text.

The graphics are wonderful, from the crystal clear annotated diagrams to the SEM micrograph photographs of blood cells and platelets. Though I enjoyed the pictures personally, I think they'd be even more powerful and effective had they been printed on glossy, heavy stock paper in colors that pop off the page.

The book has no glossary, no pronunciation guides, and no chapters or sections. The Heart is an excellent little book that with a little tweaking could have been astounding.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book., April 28, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Heart: Our Circulatory System (Hardcover)

My son (7 years old) and I were both entranced by this book. Simon describes our circulatory system in detail, with concrete comparisons that children can easily relate to. He is systematic and complete, yet fascinating. The book also has beautiful, full-page, color illustrations, most of which are electron microscope photographs. A great book

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Heart : Our Circulatory System., January 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Heart (Mulberry Books) (Paperback)

Like "The Brain", this is a great book with a step by step tour into the heart, its location, the chambers, circulation, and different kinds of blood cells. The pictures are amazing and makes one want to read. An excellent scientific health/well being book with excellent color illustrations. I would recommend this book to teachers and students from the 3rd grade through the 10th grades.