Leave it to Rachel Poliquin to craft a fascinating and hilarious non fiction book all about weird evolutionary leftovers. The Museum of Odd Body Leftovers: A Tour of Your Useless Parts, Flaws and Other Weird Bits, illustrated by Clayton Hanmer, is a book for your budding anthropologist.

Readers are treated to a tour through a book museum conducted by a wisdom tooth and a disappearing kidney. This cleverly crafted expository literature non fiction title takes readers all the way back to our earliest ancestors and shares the weirdest ways our bodies have evolved.

The Museum of Odd Body Leftovers is so interesting. I learned A TON on my delightful tour through the museum. I really enjoy how Rachel Poliquin has found an innovative and interesting way to share information that could be somewhat bland and overly scientific. She gives readers just enough information in an age appropriate way so that we can all learn a little more about our bodies. 

The humour factor is what really sets this book apart. Chunks of text are spread throughout with comic style interludes between our wisdom tooth and disappearing kidney guides. They are some of the most engaging tour guides I have ever had! There are funny little corrections to the text made by the tour guides amping up the fun factor and making it so easy for readers to engage with the content. I love how Rachel Poliquin has also included different places for readers to stop and try things related to the odd body part featured.

Clayton Hanmer’s illustrations make this book shine. Taking his cues from the humour in the text, he has imagined the whole museum from top to bottom with amazing displays and dioramas for readers to peruse as they read about each body part. The book is colourful, eye-catching and one where readers will return to to see what else they can find hidden in the artifacts.

Designer Jessica Sullivan has done amazing work to engage readers, ensuring there are maps and timelines, bold illustrations and “Try This” moments throughout.