Mysteries of the Human Body: Weird and Wonderful Anatomy Explained

by Azmain Chowdhury, Neon Squid, Daniel Nelson (Illustrator)

Overview

A human body book with a twist—discover the science behind the weird and unusual stuff our bodies can do from Dr. Azmain Chowdhury, with illustrations from Daniel Nelson.

You know your heart is always beating, your intestines digest your food, and even that your brain is still awake when you’re asleep—that’s no mystery. But why do we get "brain freeze" if we eat ice cream too quickly? And why on earth do we get butterflies in our stomach when we’re nervous? And is it true we can squirt milk from our eyes?!

This book focuses on the bizarre things all of our bodies do—including things we don’t understand (looking at you, appendix). Dr. Azmain also asks the burning medical questions we’ve all been wondering about:

Why does cilantro taste like soap to some people?

How long can we stay awake for?

Can our hearts actually break after a romantic break-up? (Asking for a friend).

Filled with gross, surprising, and downright terrifying facts, it’s bloated with cool science to impress your friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684495047
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/03/2025
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 10 Years

About the Author

Dr. Azmain Chowdhury is a doctor based in London, UK. He explains the human body to his followers on Instagram (293K followers), TikTok (85K followers) and YouTube (23K followers).

Neon Squid creates beautiful nonfiction books for inquisitive kids (and kids at heart). We believe the most amazing stories are real ones, so our books are for children who want to decipher ancient scrolls, orbit distant stars, and dive into the deepest oceans. Our books are a labor of love—written by experts, illustrated by the best artists around, and produced using the finest materials, including sustainably sourced paper. We hope that by reading them kids are encouraged to further explore the world around them.

Daniel Nelson is an illustrator and designer based in Manchester, UK. In his own words his work is probably so bright to contrast the grey North!

Editorial Reviews

"Anyone who has marveled at the placebo effect or the mystery of déjà vu or contemplated why humans, dogs, chimps, and even unborn babies yawn will come away both enlightened and more aware than ever that our bodies are rich in unexplained wonders. Absorbing insights into what makes us tick." —Kirkus Reviews

"Whether for browsing, reading, and sharing, or as a good complement to more serious books on anatomy, this book offers new information written by a friendly doctor with a sense of humor and illustrated by an artist who supplies a colorful, informative, and friendly setting." —School Library Journal

"Packed with cool science facts, the book is sure to be a hit among groups of friends and within families. It would also make a great gift for any budding science enthusiast – 10/10." —Press Association

From the Publisher

2025-02-01
A doctor digs into 20 common body myths and misconceptions, from why wet skin wrinkles up to whether brains can truly freeze and hearts can break.

Chowdhury offers plenty of unusual revelations: There actually is a “broken heart” syndrome, called “takotsubo cardiomyopathy,” and it’s not water but nerve impulses to local blood vessels that cause fingertips to wrinkle. The author takes each of his topics as an opportunity to describe a broader anatomical feature or process in simple but not reductive language. Readers get a refresher on the heart’s chambers as well as insight into the cardiac effects of physical or emotional stress, and a look at eye colors leads to notes on genes and mutation (because until 6,000–10,000 years ago, all human eyes were brown). Anyone who has marveled at the placebo effect or the mystery of déjà vu or contemplated why humans, dogs, chimps, and even unborn babies yawn will come away both enlightened and more aware than ever that our bodies are rich in unexplained wonders. Nelson’s free-form gatherings of body parts, fanciful spot images, and diversely hued human figures add notes of whimsy and loud color.

Absorbing insights into what makes us tick.(Informational picture book. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews