The Secret Code Inside You

Operating on three levels, this book will help readers crack their own secret codes.
As they begin their exploration of the concept of DNA, the youngest listeners will be drawn in with questions featuring fun animals and text with internal and end rhymes, alliteration, and puns. “Why aren’t you finny like a fish, / or grinny like a shark? / Why can’t you catch flies with your tongue, / or / see / things / in / the / dark?” Describing DNA as “twisted ladders, or tiny, twirling noodles” creates accessible concrete images for children. The science ramps up for slightly older readers and discusses how personal traits like height or the size of a child’s nose, ears, or hands are determined by the DNA that parents and grandparents share with their children. Definitions and explanations of key vocabulary like genes and chromosomes are clear, but the rhyming format creates the occasional awkward phrase. Dynamic and eye-catching illustrations on later pages emphasize the difference between genetic coding and each person’s unique choices. “[DNA] makes the color of your eyes, / but YOU choose where to look: / at butterflies or sunset skies, / or even at this book.” Personal choice also determines how someone uses their muscles and chooses an occupation. For older readers or the more science curious, the backmatter is full of DNA facts and explanations, URLs to child-friendly websites, and a well-designed and -explained experiment to extract DNA from a banana.
A solid introduction to a complex topic. * Kirkus Reviews *
Have you ever wondered why you can’t catch flies with your tongue like a lizard, or see in the dark like an owl, or fly like a bird? The answer is found in a secret code called DNA, deep inside each human, giving bodies the instructions they need to grow. And while cells carry these secret codes, what people do with their bodies-and who they become-is up to them. This whimsical approach to explaining the concept of DNA, cells, and chromosomes manages to make a complex topic accessible to preschoolers. The rhyming text is easily readable, even when dealing with complicated terminology. Salerno’s soft-edge and colorful illustrations bring these hard-to-visualize concepts to life. Resources include a detailed page of DNA facts as well as instructions for a fun experiment. However, suggestions for further reading are limited to a few websites, and only two sources are cited in the bibliography. A good addition for public libraries, appealing to a wide age range. * School Library Journal *

Rajani LaRocca, MD, was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area with her wonderful family and impossibly cute dog. She earned a BA and an MD from Harvard, and spends her time writing novels and picture books, practicing medicine, and baking too many sweet treats. She is the author of Midsummer’s Mayhem, Much Ado About Baseball, Seven Golden Rings, and Red, White, and Whole.

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