Sending Signals

Reviews

Science Books & Films
+: Recommended
"This book from the Inquire and Investigate series gives readers the opportunity to explore the human brain with informative text and activities. The seven chapters cover the anatomy and physiology of the brain, brain development, the senses and the brain, emotions and feelings, memory and learning, language and speech, and the healthy brain. The information is well organized, clearly presented, and accurate. The format of the book is inviting. Each chapter has interest-catching sidebars and insets, including: key concepts; brain teasers; QR codes to scan to access primary sources on the Internet; cartoons; and key questions, which can be used by readers to check on their understanding of the material in the chapter . . ."

Publishers Weekly
"In this addition to the Inquire and Investigate series, Mooney provides a thorough discussion of the brain's physiology and its role with regard to the senses, memory, language, and more. Comics from Casteel follow a group of students as they learn about the brain (in one sequence, a girl mistakes a mop for a monster, triggering a fear response from her amygdala; when she realizes the mop means having to clean up the lab, it triggers another one: "Threat confirmed! Keep running!"). Sidebars offer descriptions of jobs that involve the brain, links to online resources, and questions for discussion; ideas for experiments and activities appear throughout. It's an extensive introduction to the brain's capability and function, with just enough humor and interactivity to keep readers engaged."

National Science Teachers Association Recommends
"We hear about the brain fairly often in the news, particularly when someone receives a concussion in a vehicular accident or on the athletic field. This 1.3 kg jelly-like mass of tissue in the head, the master control of all other parts of the body, is the star of this wonderfully engaging book . . . This short book is just plain fun to read. Its attractive, exciting, and colorful pages include a variety of cartoons that grab student attention and provide a humorous look at chapter topics. Many excellent examples and analogies are used to clarify concepts . . . This would be a valuable resource for both high school and middle school classrooms as it avoids much of the technical vocabulary of neuroscience."

Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children’s Media
Recommended Superior in style, liveliness, integrity and format
“Delve deep into the inner workings of the human brain in this book full of eye-catching text features like QR codes and cartoons. Seven chapters lay out topics on the brain’s physiology, development, emotions, memory and learning, language and speech, and brain health. The text explains necessary science vocabulary both in context as well as in its extensive glossary, and it should be accessible to most middle school readers. Engaging content that will drive understanding makes this book useful to students and educators.”

Eric Chudler, Executive Director, Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering
"Clear writing and colorful graphics make The Brain: Journey Through the Universe Inside Your Head a terrific resource for young learners interested in learning about those three pounds of tissue in our heads."

Margaret A.B. Sheridan, Assistant Professor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
"This excellent book not only contains clear and accurate information about neuroscience, but also provides fun activities for children to engage with as they explore the brain! This book makes learning about the brain the fun and exciting topic it should be and is appropriate for a wide range of ages. I just wish books like this existed when I was growing up!"

Nick Spitzer, Director, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind
"The Brain provides an excellent introduction to the way our nervous system works. The text is engaging and lucid, the illustrations are fun, and cool activities are introduced to give students hands-on experience and tests of brain function. Chapters discuss the developing brain, memory and learning, the healthy brain, and much more. Highly recommended!"