What is it
Parts is a book about a kid who thinks his body is falling apart.
There are also two sequels: “More Parts” and “Even More Parts”
The book is written in rhyme:
“I stared at it, amazed, and wondered,
What’s this all about?
But then I understood. It was
My stuffing coming out!
And has whimsical, cartoon-ish full-page illustrations.
Who is it for
Kids from 4 to 8 are the core group, but younger kids might enjoy it. There is a bit of gross-out humor (boogers and ear wax) so kids of the age to enjoy that are the right age.
What Kids Like
The book is funny. The character gets increasingly anxious as he thinks he’s discovering evidence that his body is falling apart. The pictures are fun in their detail.
Part of the pleasure is having an anxious kid finally realize that there’s not really a problem after all
I’m not sure what the magic ingredient is for this book, but it’s one of the few that gets pulled off the shelf at bedtime every few months. The kids remember it, even after months have passed, which is much more than can be said of most of their books.
What Parents Like
There is just a hint of education in the book, with simplified explanations of the relationship between skin and bones and teeth and guts. It’s not much, but it’s enough to spark curiosity about anatomy and lead to conversations about it.
What the Critics Think
Parts gets 4.3/5 on Goodreads
and 4.7/5 on Amazon
There is a review at the-best-childrens-books.org
Who Made it / History
Parts was written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold and published by Picture Puffin Books.
Arnold is probably best known for his “Fly Guy” series.