Heart

You don’t always think about it as you go about your day, but your heart, never, ever stops beating; the average heart beats over three million times during an average life span! Many other surprising facts like these can be found in Heart, for kids who want to get a good basis in the structure and function of this tireless organ. One thing that will make them raise their eyebrows is a section explaining how your heart really is like a small electric pump that gets its kick from tiny sparks that cause it to contract, which forces blood to circulate through your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your cells. Not until modern times, however, was it known just how the heart operates; a section on heart studies through the centuries reveals that not even the best scientists were really sure about its many key tasks.

This issue goes beyond just the mechanics to explore what really happens when you say you’re “dying from a broken heart.” For kids interested in the connections between your heart and emotions, a straightforward section spells out what we know – and what we don’t know – about this fist-sized lump of tissue. A few things we do know, however: You need to treat your heart well if you want it to do the same for you. Following this are some intriguing notes on the heart, for kids who want to know more about how it helps you express your feelings, and a fun trip back through history to check out how Valentine’s Day got started.