With clearly defined facts, irreverent humor, and a comics format, the titles in the Superheroes on a Medical Mission series offer accessible, entertaining introductions to health topics from sleep issues to HIV. Every volume stars a multicultural Super Friends like team of crusaders, each of whom introduces a different area of anatomy. Formatted in comic-style panels, the digitally generated images and dialogue-bubble text take a young person through a fantasy adventure, in which the team leads an interior body tour to learn about a particular health topic, including causes, treatments, and cures. Each title uses the format's possibilities for wordless communication to great effect. In Medikidz Explain Depression, a series of panels presents common causes of depression, from arguing parents to bullying, creating a direct, visual shorthand. A glossary and resource lists conclude these informative introductions to high-interest health topics that kids may well read for fun, too.

CHILMAN-BLAIR, Kim &; John Taddeo . Medikidz Explain Depression . ISBN 978-1-4358-9455-6 ; ISBN 978-1-4488-1837-2 . LC 2010008833. CHILMAN-BLAIR, Kim &; John Taddeo . Medikidz Explain HIV . ISBN 978-1-4358-9458-7 ; ISBN 978-1-4488-1839-6 . LC 2010001333. CHILMAN-BLAIR, Kim &; John Taddeo . Medikidz Explain Swine Flu . ISBN 978-1-4358-9457-0 ; ISBN 978-1-4488-1843-3 . LC 2010003236. ea vol: 40p. (Superheroes on a Medical Mission Series). illus. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Rosen Central . 2010. PLB $29.25; pap. $11.75. Gr 3-6 A team of superheroes rides around on a medi-jet and whisks ill children, or their siblings, off to Mediland, a giant replica of the human body, to teach them about their particular health problem. The superheroes, who are somewhat generic, are responsible for explaining how different body parts function. For example, plump, ever-hungry Gastro is in charge of, "your bum, your tum and all the tubes in between" while curvaceous, blond Skinderella's expertise is skin and bones. The comic panels are visually exciting with eye-popping colors. Inside Mediland, the science behind various conditions is expertly simplified and explained with a sometimes tongue-in-cheek repartee among the characters as well as with very basic analogies reminiscent of video games (invading viruses versus the defending T-cell commanders, for example). This approach makes the health issues accessible and much less scary for readers wanting to learn more for personal or academic reasons. Autism and HIV are particularly effective. Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY