The Ins and Outs of Air

 As with the other books in his series, The Sum of Our Parts,  Bill Kirk has done a great job with The Ins and Outs of Air. This book gives lots of practical, scientific information while being entertaining.

While it's intended for 8 to 12 year olds, the rhymes on each page could be read aloud to younger children, perhaps even Kindergarteners, and the information in the Factoids on each page might be informative to older Middle Schoolers.

Of course Eugene Ruble's illustrations are accurate and informative, too.

When I was a child I had severe, chronic asthma and would have found The Ins and Outs of Air helpful in understanding what happened inside me.

But the book isn't only helpful to kids with breathing problems or others who want to understand those. Any youngsters who are interested in science and how our bodies work would appreciate this book. Like the other books by this author, it would be valuable for schools to have in their libraries.

I think every pediatrician's office ought to have copies of all Bill Kirks' The Sum of Our Parts books in their waiting rooms.

And the details might even keep kids who read it while riding in cars so interested that they'd forget to ask, "Are we there yet?"