THE BRAIN

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 2006. THE BRAIN: OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM. New York: Collins. ISBN 006877189

PLOT SUMMARY
Simon’s presentation of the brain is awe inspiring. The large full page images are graphic, grotesque, and cool. The book details the way neurons communicate by firing signals, memory, and how specific portions of the brain function. Chalk full of little factoids such as “your brain continues to grow in size until you are seven years old” young audiences are sure to be fascinated.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Backed the Smithsonian, Simon has created another nonfiction masterpiece about the human body. To further his credibility, he includes a short excerpt thanking Dr. Etingin for her careful review of the manuscript. However, the book is missing a bibliography.

Simon’s book flows logically starting with basic components of the brain first and later progressing to more complex processes. There are no reference aids, but the text is concise and is surrounded by images that help to organize the content.

The extraordinary images make the book very enticing. The clarity is incredible and complements the amazing capabilities of the brain quite nicely. By using large font and dedicating the majority of space on pages to images, the highly scientific text does not overwhelm. Simon’s book is sure to stir curiosity amongst readers.

While Simon’s book is excellent, the topic is difficult to comprehend. I would make sure readers were accelerated before presenting them with this.

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
LIBRARY SCHOOL JOURNAL: “His clear, concise writing style is complemented by stunning color images taken with radiological scanners, such as CAT scans, MRIs, and SEMs (scanning electron microscopes.)”
BOOKLIST: “Simon's way of explaining what's happening in everyday terms enhances the book's readability. Attentive readers will be rewarded with a dramatic portrait of what Simon calls "the control center for everything you do."

CONNECTIONS
* Invite a neurologist to be a guest speaker at your school.
* Explain how EEG, CAT, MRI, and PCT scans work to create images.
* Share other books written by Simon about the body
THE HEART: OUR CIRCULATORY SYSTEM ISBN: 0060877219
MUSCLES: OUR MUSCULAR SYSTEM ISBN: 0688177204