Kindergarten-Grade 2-The Gumboyles' pet beagle, Dr. Dog, teaches his family that smoking hurts their lungs, that germs can attack tonsils, and that nits live in hair. He then proceeds to explain that Baby Gumboyle caught worms by not washing his hands after using the toilet. He issues the admonition, "Never scratch your bum and suck your thumb!") The coup de grace, however, is Granddad's gastrointestinal problem from eating too many baked beans and drinking too much beer; "...he farted so hard he blew the roof right off the house!" Children will no doubt learn a few hygiene lessons here, and find this story funny. Despite the silliness of the presentation, the information is basically accurate and important. The illustrations are typical Cole-full of humorous detail, including cartoon drawings of the "tubes" inside the human body. On-target health lessons delivered with a decidedly different slant.
Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.