The Eyes Have It

The Secrets of Eyes and Seeing

by Melissa Stewart

Benchmark Books, 2010

for Grades 3 to 5

ISBN 978–076-144–167‑0

Purchase this book at your local independent bookseller or Amazon.com.

The lively, conversational tone and blend of photos and cartoon-style art make The Eyes Have It: The Secrets of Eyes and Seeing a perfect blend of fun facts and serious science learning about the human eyes as well as the visual systems of other creatures. Here at last — a book that’s irreverent enough to captivate young readers, yet authoritative enough to win the praise of teachers, librarians, and parents.

Honors and Awards

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrator/Anna Cross Giblin Nonfiction Research Grant

Reviews

“There is an amazing amount of information packed into every page … [The book] gives many details on the different parts of the ear and their functions. Readers will understand far more about how ears work in hearing and in balance. … this is a good starting point for healthy ear understanding. [The books in this series] are wonderful human body titles for elementary schools.” (School Library Journal’s Practically Paradise blog)

“The Gross and Goofy Body [series of books] enlivens physiology for kids, offering humorous yet scientific surveys of body functions in just under 50 pages each. Kids in grades 2–4 will find [these books] appealing and fun. Each blends photos with fun cartoons and photos of kids, along with plenty of basic physiology.” (Children’s Bookwatch)

“Despite its irreverent moniker, the Gross and Goofy Body series offers detailed science facts in a fashion approachable enough to make it a welcome supplement to school textbooks. Each volume takes on a part or function of the body and then goes through the paces of description, metaphor, examples, data, and, most extensively, comparison to our animal counterparts. … the layout is fresh, clean, and colorful, sidebars keep things conversational, and the back matter is solid.” (Booklist)

Behind the Book

“I’ve written about eyes and vision before, but this is the first time I’ve explained what eye gunk is or discussed how police can use tears to solve crimes. Your eyes — and the eyes of other animals — are truly amazing. Did you know that T. rex may have had the best vision ever or that some animals have three eyelids? These are just some of the incredible topics you can learn about by reading The Eyes Have It.”