In this well-written book Dr Liz Bannister tells us all about the gut from top all the way to the bottom.

There is great information we learn along the way. Did you know that that digestion starts before you put food into your mouth? Our gut uses signals from our sight and smell to start the process. Once in our mouth food is softened by our saliva. ‘Our mouth makes up to six cups of saliva in one day! Did you know it’s the bile from our liver that makes our poo brown? Otherwise, it would be white.

The author has done a terrific job of teaching us about our gut. As the food makes its journey through our gut, our organs help take nutrients and then send it on its way. We learn about allergies, poo and how many stomachs some animals have. Giraffes have four stomachs. They swallow quickly and then burp up the partly broken-down food to chew it again. Long way down and back up with a long neck!

The text in All About the Gut is very illuminating and interesting. Unfortunately, although illustrations are bright and colourful, I found on some pages they didn’t enhance the text. Rather they left me a little confused or having to work quite hard to make the connection between what I was reading and the accompanying images.

Still, a terrifically informative book which will provide lots of mealtime conversations. Did you know that platypus and the echidna have no stomachs?

Reviewed by Emily Ross

Age Guide 5+