Explodapedia: The Cell

Review also includes:

Explodapedia: The Gene, 978-1788452458

Here are two of the three titles published so far in the new series Explodapedia which is promoted as, ‘An exploded encyclopedia.’ Indeed, they are both accessible books that young people will enjoy dipping into as they learn about these two fascinating subjects. Just as you would turn to an encyclopaedia for trustworthy information, so these volumes are created by reliable biologist Ben Martynoga who writes for national newspapers and speaks frequently in schools and at science festivals.

I particularly enjoyed following the journey of the single cell (named Luca by the author) which could self-reproduce four billion years ago. It hooked me into the text from the start and, with Moose Allain’s fabulous drawings, added lots of humour to the book. Both titles manage to engage the reader whilst explaining complicated biological topics and I think the illustrations are key. The chapter on DNA in, The Gene: What Makes You You,’ compares a human cell to a building site and there is a fabulous double page illustration of the work taking place in there!

This series is certain to draw in budding young scientists and inspire them in their studies; there is a high level of detail in both books. A few pages shine a spotlight on the developing embryo and the foetus, explaining how it takes, ‘266 Days to Make a Human’ (p.62-66) and showing the ‘highlights.’

This innovative series contains up to date scientific information and I am keen to get my hands on the third volume, Evolution: How We Came to Be. Both the glossaries and indexes are substantial, which points to a teenage reader I sense. Nevertheless, enthusiastic Year 7s will gain much from the style and presentation techniques. This writing project began in the pandemic and looks like it will be a great success story. More titles are planned and will be popular in classrooms, libraries and homes.