HOORAY FOR MY BRAIN!

In praise of gray matter.

Two smiling brown-skinned youngsters, accompanied by a cheerful cat and dog, gleefully announce their many abilities. They can run, jump, throw, read, draw, talk, play drums, and gaze up at the stars—all due, ultimately, to the brain. The kids walk us through the spinal cord and nerves before taking us up to the brain, that “gray sponge” that allows us to answer such crucial questions as “Do we want pizza or tacos?” and “Where is our cat Fluffy?” The youngsters consider the cerebrum’s four lobes, each of which does an important job, as well as the brain stem, the cerebellum, the pituitary gland, and the hypothalamus. Clearly, the kids demonstrate, without a brain we wouldn’t enjoy much of life. The writing is direct and simple enough to be understood by its target audience without sacrificing accuracy. A glossary neatly summarizes the information laid out earlier. Yes, occipital and parietal will be challenging words, but the functions they oversee are explained well: “You see the soccer goal because of your occipital lobe.” “You run to where you’re supposed to be thanks to the parietal lobe.” The clear, attractive art is integral to the book: The children do kid things, and the pets frolic, while images in bright, varied colors bridge science and art, and brain diagrams beautifully illustrate the intricacies of the brain.

An amazing organ presented with amazing clarity.