Earthlings Inside and Out: A Space Alien Studies the Human Body

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

At the start of this fun and informative look at a child’s body,
Danoid, a robot alien from the planet Memo, veers off course and ends up
on Earth. He encounters Pete, studies him, and reports his findings to
Central Command. Danoid draws some pretty odd conclusions about the
human body. For example, he thinks that someone lifting weights has
bought extra body parts and attached them. To describe the things he
sees, he uses robotic terminology: bones are structural units, legs are
planet connectors, and emotions are TSMs or Temporary System
Malfunctions.

Danoid’s evaluation of humans conveys a good deal of basic
physiological information in a fun way. Each of the body systems is
dealt with separately, and there are lots of experiments built in so
that children can actively learn about their bodies. There are amusing
drawings and incidents. For example, when Danoid calls a dog over so
that he can study it, the dog lifts its leg.

Having an alien provide descriptions of the human body takes away some
of the embarrassments. For example, excretory functions are described as
follows: “The solid leftovers fall out the bottom of the hole (the
‘anus’). The liquid leftovers exit through another hole ... young
Earthlings wear leftover catchers. Older Earthlings go to special rooms
to deposit their waste material.” Highly recommended for school,
public, and home libraries.