Boobies

At first glance you may think Nancy Vo’s new picture book, Boobies, is all about the blue-footed booby bird. You would be wrong. This clever and interesting picture book is in fact all about mammary glands.

Nancy Vo writes in a very straightforward manner all about mammary glands or boobies. Throughout the book we learn about the importance of mammary glands for humans and animals. We also get to learn some fun facts from other cultures about the long history of boobies in common phrases and art. Boobies is not a story book but a non-fiction expository literature title (see Melissa Stewart’s Five Kinds of NonFiction), an innovative and interesting take on STEM learning that will immediately delight readers, even if the subject makes them feel a little squirmy at first.

Boobies is an excellent STEM book teaching children about their bodies. Sometimes these conversations can feel uncomfortable and awkward, Nancy Vo puts readers and listeners at ease. The charming and simple text teaches but doesn’t over complicate or over simplify. Boobies is funny and takes the time to make young readers think about all of the different types of boobies or mammary glands they have seen before. If you have pets, they may even start a boobie hunt of sorts, discovering which people or animals in their lives have boobies and which do not. Not only do children gain an understanding of mammals but also animals that are not mammals.

Nancy Vo’s stencil art made with matte acrylics and pen and paper illustrations keep the book interesting and add a touch of humour. The eyes of the fish really tell a story and don’t forget to look under the book jacket for a clever surprise.