At once entertaining and remarkably informative.
Introducing a complicated and astounding natural computer.
The science of the human brain and nervous system, and its myriad connections and functions, is addressed in a visually appealing format along with suggestions for experiments requiring little equipment. Clear diagrams and extensive vocabulary accompany an introduction to the mechanics of neurotransmission, structure of neurons, and architecture of the brain. Simple instructions show how to use play dough to construct a model of the brain that can be bisected to reveal the arrangement of the various lobes and parts. There are slightly less clear instructions for constructing a model of a neuron from pipe cleaners. Frequent brain diagrams throughout reinforce an understanding of how this organ is structured. Gill’s conversational, mildly humorous text is comprehensible and memorable. Several scientists are featured, discussing their work in relation to brain function, learning, and neurobiology. Unfortunately, the sole scientist of East Asian descent is also the only human figure in an overall diverse array whose depiction evokes racial stereotypes, with slanted lines for eyes. Gill explains the complex mechanics of seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling and introduces the nerves and systems that are deployed in a variety of experiences, including learning to use language, riding a bike, feeling pain or fear, and remembering things. The book concludes with a look at the biomechanics of concussion, physical therapy, stroke, and rehabilitation.
At once entertaining and remarkably informative. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: June 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4338-3045-7
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Magination/American Psychological Association
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
Hot on the heels of the well-received Leonardo da Vinci (2005) comes another agreeably chatty entry in the Giants of Science series. Here the pioneering physicist is revealed as undeniably brilliant, but also cantankerous, mean-spirited, paranoid and possibly depressive. Newton’s youth and annus mirabilis receive respectful treatment, the solitude enforced by family estrangement and then the plague seen as critical to the development of his thoughtful, methodical approach. His subsequent squabbles with the rest of the scientific community—he refrained from publishing one treatise until his rival was dead—further support the image of Newton as a scientific lone wolf. Krull’s colloquial treatment sketches Newton’s advances in clearly understandable terms without bogging the text down with detailed explanations. A final chapter on “His Impact” places him squarely in the pantheon of great thinkers, arguing that both his insistence on the scientific method and his theories of physics have informed all subsequent scientific thought. A bibliography, web site and index round out the volume; the lack of detail on the use of sources is regrettable in an otherwise solid offering for middle-grade students. (Biography. 10-14)
Pub Date: April 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-670-05921-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2006
This glossy, colorful title in the “I Want To Be” series has visual appeal but poor organization and a fuzzy focus, which limits its usefulness. Each double-paged layout introduces a new topic with six to eight full-color photographs and a single column of text. Topics include types of environmentalists, eco-issues, waste renewal, education, High School of Environmental Studies, environmental vocabulary, history of environmentalism, famous environmentalists, and the return of the eagle. Often the photographs have little to do with the text or are marginal to the topic. For example, a typical layout called “Some Alternative Solutions” has five snapshots superimposed on a double-page photograph of a California wind farm. The text discusses ways to develop alternative forms of energy and “encourage environmentally friendly lifestyles.” Photos include “a healer who treats a patient with alternative therapy using sound and massage,” and “the Castle,” a house built of “used tires and aluminum cans.” Elsewhere, “Did You Know . . . ” shows a dramatic photo of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, but the text provides odd facts such as “ . . . that in Saudi Arabia there are solar-powered pay phones in the desert?” Some sections seem stuck in, a two-page piece on the effects of “El Niño” or 50 postage-stamp–sized photos of endangered species. The author concludes with places to write for more information and a list of photo credits. Pretty, but little here to warrant purchase. (Nonfiction. 9-11)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-15-201862-X
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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