Updated August 11, 2026
Disclosure: TotsFamily received a complimentary review copy of Your Body Sick and Well: How Do You Know?. This review reflects the writer’s honest experience and opinions.
This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. If a child has symptoms or questions about their health, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.
Poems about body parts can give parents and teachers a comfortable starting point for conversations about anatomy, illness, and medical care. Rhythm and wordplay make unfamiliar terms feel less intimidating, while illustrations give children something concrete to examine and discuss.
Your Body Sick and Well: How Do You Know?, written by surgeon and author Dr. Steven Clark Cunningham and illustrated by Susan Detwiler, combines poems with short explanations and a glossary. Our original reviewer found it useful for introducing health vocabulary without turning reading time into a formal science lesson.
Why Use Poems to Teach the Human Body?
A poem does not replace a clear factual explanation, but it can invite curiosity. Rhyme, repetition, and playful language give children memorable clues that help them recall new words. After reading, an adult can connect the poem to a picture, ask a simple question, or explain how the topic relates to everyday life.
This approach is especially helpful when a subject feels complicated. Children do not all understand illness in the same way or at the same age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving information that fits a child’s age and developmental abilities and listening to the questions the child actually asks. A poem can open that conversation; the adult still provides context and corrects misunderstandings.
About Your Body Sick and Well: How Do You Know?
Dr. Cunningham calls his style “poemenclature,” a blend of poem and nomenclature. The idea is simple: use poetry to introduce the names of organs, diseases, and medical instruments, then give readers more information in plain language.
The book is divided into three main sections—Anatomy, Pathology, and Instruments—followed by a glossary. Each topic pairs a poem with an illustration and a “Learn More!” section. This layered format lets families choose the level of detail that suits the child in front of them.
What the Book Covers
1. Anatomy: names and jobs of body parts
The Anatomy section focuses on organs and other important structures. A child can first enjoy the poem and picture, then use the accompanying explanation to learn what the body part does. This is a natural place to connect the book with a body outline, a simple anatomy model, or a game of pointing to familiar body parts.
The book is selective rather than encyclopedic. It concentrates on body parts that connect with later discussions of diseases and medical care, so families wanting a complete head-to-toe anatomy reference will need an additional resource.
2. Pathology: introducing illnesses carefully
The Pathology section introduces disease names and explains how illness can affect the body. Topics include serious conditions, so an adult should preview these pages before sharing them with a young child. The poems may make the vocabulary more approachable, but children can still have emotional or highly personal questions.
Use calm, direct language and pause when needed. It is fine to say that you do not know an answer and will check a trustworthy medical source. If the topic relates to the child or someone they love, follow the guidance of the family’s healthcare team rather than relying on a general-interest book.
3. Instruments: tools children may see in healthcare
The Instruments section explains tools used by doctors and other healthcare professionals. Learning what a stethoscope or thermometer does before an appointment can make the equipment more familiar. Adults can extend the lesson with safe pretend play: listen to a stuffed animal’s heartbeat with a toy stethoscope, pack a make-believe clinic bag, or match pictures of tools to their jobs.
4. A glossary for unfamiliar words
The glossary gives families a quick place to check terminology. Encourage children to notice a new word, say it aloud, and describe it in their own words. That small routine turns a passive read-aloud into an active vocabulary lesson.
A Simple Human Body Poetry Lesson
- Preview the page. Check the subject, illustration, and vocabulary before reading it with the child.
- Ask what the child already knows. A prompt such as “What do you think bones help us do?” reveals useful starting knowledge and possible misconceptions.
- Read the poem aloud. Let the rhythm do its job. A second reading can invite the child to join in with repeated sounds or words.
- Study the illustration. Ask the child to point out a body part, instrument, or detail connected to the poem.
- Explain one key idea. Keep the first explanation short and accurate. Add more only if the child remains interested.
- Try a hands-on follow-up. Draw a body outline, label one organ, clap the rhythm, or make a vocabulary card.
- Invite questions. Answer honestly, correct misunderstandings gently, and look up anything uncertain using an authoritative source.
How to Handle Sensitive Health Topics
Some pages discuss cancer, leukemia, diabetes, chemotherapy, and other subjects that may worry a child. These are not necessarily appropriate for every reader at every moment. Consider the child’s age, experiences, and reason for asking before choosing a page.
- Read sensitive sections on your own first.
- Use clear words without adding frightening detail the child did not request.
- Let the child stop, change subjects, or return later.
- Avoid promising outcomes you cannot know.
- Remind children that illness is not a punishment and that trusted adults and healthcare professionals are available to help.
For more guidance, see the American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice on sharing age-appropriate information about illness with children.
What We Liked
- The poems, illustrations, explanations, and glossary provide several ways into the same topic.
- Accurate medical vocabulary is introduced instead of avoided.
- The “Learn More!” material gives adults extra context for follow-up questions.
- The three-section structure makes it easy to select a single topic rather than read from beginning to end.
What Parents and Teachers Should Know
- This is a focused collection, not a complete anatomy textbook.
- The reading level and subject matter vary. Younger children may enjoy the rhyme and pictures, while older children can use more of the explanatory text and glossary.
- Serious disease topics should be previewed and discussed with care.
- The book is a conversation aid, not a diagnostic or treatment resource.
Who May Enjoy This Book?
The book may suit families who like poetry, children curious about doctors or the human body, and educators building a health or anatomy unit. It may also help an adult prepare for a basic conversation about a medical tool or condition. Because children’s needs differ, previewing remains the best way to decide which pages are suitable.
Book Details
Your Body Sick and Well: How Do You Know? was written by Steven Clark Cunningham, MD, FACS, illustrated by Susan Detwiler, and published by Three Conditions Press. The author’s official book page lists it as a 2020 release and notes recognition from the CIPA EVVY Awards, Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, and National Indie Excellence Awards.
The book is available through Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Availability and pricing can change.
About the Author
Dr. Steven Clark Cunningham is a surgeon and author whose books use poetry and wordplay to explore technical subjects for young readers. Learn more about the book and his current work at StevenClarkCunningham.net.
About the Illustrator
Susan Detwiler created the book’s child-friendly illustrations. Her artwork gives readers visual context for the anatomy, disease, and medical-instrument vocabulary introduced in the poems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are poems about body parts enough to teach anatomy?
No. Poems are an engaging introduction and memory aid, but children also need clear explanations, accurate diagrams, conversation, and age-appropriate learning activities.
What age is this human body poetry book for?
There is no single best age for every page. Young children may connect with the rhyme and pictures, while older readers can use the detailed notes and glossary. An adult should preview topics about serious illnesses and choose material based on the individual child.
Can this book answer a child’s medical questions?
It can help a child learn vocabulary and begin a conversation, but it cannot provide personal medical advice. Direct questions about symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment to a qualified healthcare professional.
Final Thoughts
Poems about body parts can make human-body lessons warmer, more memorable, and easier to begin. Your Body Sick and Well: How Do You Know? offers a distinctive mix of poetry, illustrations, definitions, and supporting explanations. With adult previewing and thoughtful discussion, it can be a useful addition to a family or classroom health-learning shelf.
Beautifully done! Thank you for this awesome review!
I am the author, and If anyone would like a signed and personalized copy, just order from one of these two local bookshops (Second Edition Books in Columbia, MD, or The Book Escape in Baltimore) and I will sign the books locally before they ship.