Random Body Parts: Gross Anatomy Riddles in Verse

“Shall I compare thee to a clenched-up fist?” asks one of the lines in this poetic guide to the human body, which invokes Shakespearean themes, to boot. The “thee,” in this case, is the heart muscle, which is actually “more gloppy, shaped more like a cone,” readers learn. In poems like “Wherefore Art Thou, Alveoli” and “Good Riddance to Bad Blood,” Bulion blends highbrow humor and scientific information while paying tribute to the nose, pancreas, skin, and more. In scrapbook-style spreads, Lowery offers an entertaining mix of cartoony humans and disembodied organs, which are accompanied by close-up photographic images of various organs. Supplemental information about the anatomical subjects and the poetic forms Bulion uses appear throughout, making this a smart pick for left- and right-brained readers alike. Ages 8–12. Illustrator’s agency: Lilla Rogers Studio. (Mar.)