Anatomist Abbey Breckling, who lives in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood and lectures at the University of Illinois Chicago, has taken her anatomy lessons beyond the classroom this year. Her goal: to spark children’s curiosity about
how the heart works.
Her new book, Charlie’s Anatomical Adventure: The Heart, follows a young girl and a red blood cell named Mr. Red on a journey through the heart’s chambers.
Breckling was inspired by a 2024 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges, which projects that the United States will face a shortage of 86,000 physicians by 2036. Those numbers motivated her to bring her passion for anatomy to younger audiences.
“Once that data was out, I wanted to get this book out to inspire the next generation,” Breckling says.
In recent months, she has been reading to children at libraries, bookstores, and schools across the Chicago area. To make the story interactive, she brings along stuffed versions of Mr. Red and Charlie, as well as coloring sheets and stickers.
Learn more about Charlie’s Anatomical Adventure at charliesanatomicaladventures.com.
Originally published in the Fall 2025/Winter 2026 print issue.
An award-winning journalist, Katie has written for Chicago Health since 2016 and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief.
