THE BRAIN
 OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM

Bibliography:

Simon, Seymour. 1997. THE BRAIN: OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM. Smithsonian. ISBN 9780060877187.

Plot Summary:

Author Seymour Simon invites you to wiggle your toes and scratch your nose. These activities, and many others, are under the control of your brain, your body’s remarkable message center. The brain is made up of microscopic cells, such as neurons, which carry signals from the brain to other parts of the body. Neurons are very important in our daily lives. For example, if you touch something hot with your finger, signals travel through different kinds of nerves (bundles of neurons) in order to reach the brain. Your brain receives the “hot” message and then sends a response to your spinal cord and to your motor nerves so that you can move your arm and get your poor finger out of harm’s way. This example gives you an idea of the complexity of the brain and the interdependence of the cells in the body. Every day when you run, read, solve a problem, breathe, or throw a ball, remember to be grateful for your “wrinkled blob of pinkish gray jelly” that we know as the brain. Simon’s informative text and full-page illustrations will help you to discover many fascinating features of the brain.

Critical Analysis:

The accuracy of this title is assured to Simon's reputation and his works in the science field. Seymour Simon wrote over 250 books on science subjects. All of these books, including THE BRAIN OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM, are photo essay books.

While there is a lack of reference aides (indexes, table of contents, subheadings), the information is presented in a clear logical layout. The design of the book is attractive thanks to greatly magnified full color photos. The style of writing is clear and interesting. The author introduces the complicated scientific information in an easy comprehensive way.

Expert Reviews:

"Full-color photographs, computer simulations, drawings, and three-dimensional models are used to grand effect to clarify, explain, and celebrate the remarkably complex system of brain and nerves; the large format, often with white type on black paper and full-page photos, is visually striking." Kirkus Reviews.

"Simon brings his deft touch to an explanation of the brain and the nervous system. His clear, concise writing style is complemented by stunning color images."  School Library Journal.

"The vivid illustrations catch the eye, but the clearly written text provides a fuller understanding of what happens in various parts of the brain and nervous system." Booklist.

Connections:

Read some of Simon's other titles about the body, including:
BONES: OUR SKELETAL SYSTEM
GUTS: OUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
MUSCLES: OUR MUSCULAR SYSTEM