Review by Booklist Review
Seluk, the cartoonist behind the popular Awkward Yeti webcomic, calls upon some of his physiological characters to teach kids about the almighty brain. The cover features Brain as the lead in a band, supported by Heart, Stomach, Tongue, Lungs, and Muscle anthropomorphized with eyes and limbs and while this focuses on brain function, it accordingly ties in various other body parts and functions, including language processing, the senses, memory, movement, and emotion. Humor is the platter on which science is served, and everything here is done with the lightest touch. Don't worry, you don't have to remember their names, Brain says after labeling his different lobes. Funny cartoons are used to illustrate each concept, often with short comic strips dramatizing the core idea. Small, informative digressions are housed in little asides labeled Smart Stuff, and important terms are highlighted in bold, with back matter containing a glossary of definitions as well as wild facts about animal brains, though no sources are cited. A winning balance of laughter and learning.--Ronny Khuri Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--5--Seluk intermingles simple information on the role of the brain and how we learn with silly, humorous comics-style illustrations. A round pink brain wearing square glasses tries to make the other organs behave. A smart fact section on this page explains involuntary vs. voluntary functions. Some organs might be difficult for youngsters to recognize in the illustrations. Color pages help the text stand out, and every inch of the book is used. VERDICT Though some of the humor will fly over kids' heads, they will enjoy the silliness. Paired with Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak, this is a winner.--Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An introduction to the lead guitar and vocalist for the Brainiacsthe human brain. The brain (familiar to readers of Seluk's "The Awkward Yeti" webcomic, which spun off the adult title Heart and Brain, 2015) looks like a dodgeball with arms and legspinkish, sturdy, and roundish, with a pair of square-framed spectacles bestowing an air of importance and hipness. Other organs of the bodytongue, lungs, stomach, muscle, and heartare featured as members of the brain's rock band (the verso of the dust jacket is a poster of the band). Seluk's breezy, conversational prose and brightly colored, boldly outlined cartoon illustrations deliver basic information. The brain's role in keeping the heart beating and other automatic functions, directing body movements, interpreting sights and sounds, remembering smells and tastes, and regulating sleep and hunger are all explained, prose augmented by dialogue balloons and information sidebars. Seluk points out, importantly, that feelings originate in the brain: "You can control how you reactbut your feelings happen no matter what." The parodied album covers on the front endpapers (including the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Green Day, Run DMC, Queen, Nirvana) will amuse parentsor at least grandparentsand the rear endpapers serve up band members' clever social media and texting screenshots. Backmatter includes a glossary and further brain trivia but no resources or bibliography.A good overview of this complex, essential organ, with an energetic seasoning of silliness. (Informational picture book. 6-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
