Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack

July 1, 2021
A wild-eyed, green-skinned, ponytailed zombie in a chef's hat discusses a favorite food. What makes human brains so amazing, if not downright delicious? This medley of brain-related information covers many of the basics: a mention of neurons and their supporting glial cells, and the fact that human brains have more folds than those of other creatures. Parts of the brain are introduced: the brain stem ("you need this to breathe, and to hiccup, and to sneeze, and to keep your temperature at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit"), the cerebellum, and finally, "the cerebrum--the gray stuff." This last is accompanied by a diagram indicating each section (parietal lobe, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe) in a different color. The brain's role in the five senses is mentioned but merely attributes touching, hearing, seeing, smelling, and tasting to the skin, ears, eyes, nose, and tongue, without elaboration. The zombie conceit is fairly funny, as the zombie narrator appears to have an increasingly difficult time refraining from munching on the subject matter, and Rivera's cartoon illustrations have a zany energy. Front endpapers feature 11 mammal brains (including human) plus a viper's and an owl's. Back endpapers amusingly are missing one of these--a "scrumptious" one. Seven brain facts, a brief list of sources, and an author's note make up the backmatter. Fun, if not quite enough for someone hungry to chew on all the details. (Informational picture book. 4-7)

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August 1, 2021
Grades 1-3 "Let's take a closer lick--I mean LOOK . . . a closer look at the human brain." A confirmed expert on the subject--which is to say, a zombie--delivers the scoop on the difference between brains and muscles; the role of brains in learning, and how they take in sensory input ("Your nose isn't just for picking"); the parts of the brain, from parietal lobe to "mouthwateringly wrinkled" cerebrum; and even the comparative brain sizes of various animals. In Rivera's engagingly messy cartoon illustrations, a blue-skinned chef struggles to hold back her drool while guiding viewers past informative diagrams and displays to a final roundup of additional notes and sources of information. Younger readers just beginning to wade into these complex bodily topics will "lobe" this approach and will come away appreciating the value of their gray matter well enough to resist the undead narrator's pleas for a nibble.

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September 1, 2021

K-Gr 2-A zombie chef decides to give up her favorite food: brains. Since they were her favorite, she knows just about everything about them, like how they work and that the brain is 75 percent water. Even though the brain itself can't feel pain, when we get hurt, the brain sends messages to the parts of our bodies to tell us when we're hurt. She can't wait to share her favorite parts of the brain and what they control. Since the zombie chef has decided not to eat human brains anymore, she tries to look for a substitute, but animal brains aren't nearly as tasty. Brains are extraordinary, so if she can't have them, she won't have anything at all. This picture book takes a fascinating deep dive into everything about the brain. The book is informative and shares fun facts in an understandable way. The art style is reminiscent of children's drawings and scribbles, with a collage-like construction. The illustrations and lively color scheme will connect delightfully with the book's intended audience. VERDICT This exploration of brains and all they have to offer will be an informative and fun addition to library collections.-Myiesha Speight, formerly at Towson Univ., Baltimore

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2021
A cheerful zombie narrator, who's trying to kick her brain-eating habit, introduces the features and functions of the human brain. Both the text and animated illustrations successfully walk the line between science -- "Your brain is the boss, the coach..." -- and silliness: "...the main computer -- but tastier than a computer." Our ghoulish guide demonstrates how the five senses act as messengers (here they act as a zombie early-warning system). She compares the human brain's appearance and weight to various animal brains and gets a little more science-y in discussion of neurons, glial cells, and parts of the brain (e.g., brain stem, cerebellum, temporal lobe). An author's note, more brain facts, and list of sources are appended.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)