The Brain Is Kind of a Big Deal

by Nick Seluk, Nick Seluk (Illustrator)

Overview

Oh hey, guess what? New York Times bestseller Nick Seluk has a hilarious new nonfiction picture book all about your body's very own computer — the brain!

Have you ever thought about everything your brain does for you? It is always working to keep you alive and safe. (Plus it lets you think about funny stuff, too.) So why is the brain such a big deal? Because it makes you YOU, of course!This funny and factual picture book from Heart and Brain creator Nick Seluk explains the science behind everything the brain helps you do: keeping your heart beating, telling you when you are sleepy, remembering stuff, and more. The brain is in charge of everything you do, every minute of every day for your entire life. That's kind of a big deal.Each spread features bite-sized text and comic-style art with sidebars sprinkled throughout. Anthropomorphized organs and body parts — recognizable from Nick Seluk's New York Times bestselling book — help readers learn through funny jokes and comic panels. Funny, smart, and accessible, The Brain Is Kind of a Big Deal is a must-have!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338167009
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	336,781
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	580L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nick Seluk worked as a graphic designer before becoming a full-time illustrator. He is the creator of the popular Awkward Yeti comic and author of the New York Times bestselling Heart and Brain, and its follow-ups Gut Instincts, and Body Language. His work has appeared on CBSNews.com, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, reddit, and blogs across the internet. Nick lives in Michigan with his wife, three kids, and a very awkward dog. You can find more info on Nick at theawkwardyeti.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Seluk's breezy, conversational prose and brightly colored, bodly outlined cartoon illustrations deliver basic information. . . .A good overview of this complex, essential organ, with an energetic seasoning of silliness."—Kirkus Reviews"Humor is the platter on which science is served, and everything here is done with the lightest touch. . . .A winning balance of laughter and learning."—Booklist"Seluk intermingles simple information on the role of the brain and how we learn with silly, humorous comics-style illustrations. . . .this is a winner."—School Library Journal"A bold, humorous nonfiction introduction to the human brain and how it functions. . . .Readers will delight in the comic details of this title while learning a ton of facts about a typically complex subject."—School Library ConnectionPraise for The Sun Is Kind of a Big Deal:"This charming star shines bright." — Kirkus Reviews"The silliness might be the trick to get students learning about the sun in a fun way. VERDICT An amusing treat for kids interested in space." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

11/01/2019

Gr 3–5—Seluk intermingles simple information on the role of the brain and how we learn with silly, humorous comics-style illustrations. A round pink brain wearing square glasses tries to make the other organs behave. A smart fact section on this page explains involuntary vs. voluntary functions. Some organs might be difficult for youngsters to recognize in the illustrations. Color pages help the text stand out, and every inch of the book is used. VERDICT Though some of the humor will fly over kids' heads, they will enjoy the silliness. Paired with Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak, this is a winner.—Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio

School Library Journal

2019-06-23
An introduction to the lead guitar and vocalist for the Brainiacs—the human brain.

The brain (familiar to readers of Seluk's "The Awkward Yeti" webcomic, which spun off the adult title Heart and Brain, 2015) looks like a dodgeball with arms and legs—pinkish, sturdy, and roundish, with a pair of square-framed spectacles bestowing an air of importance and hipness. Other organs of the body—tongue, lungs, stomach, muscle, and heart—are featured as members of the brain's rock band (the verso of the dust jacket is a poster of the band). Seluk's breezy, conversational prose and brightly colored, boldly outlined cartoon illustrations deliver basic information. The brain's role in keeping the heart beating and other automatic functions, directing body movements, interpreting sights and sounds, remembering smells and tastes, and regulating sleep and hunger are all explained, prose augmented by dialogue balloons and information sidebars. Seluk points out, importantly, that feelings originate in the brain: "You can control how you react…but your feelings happen no matter what." The parodied album covers on the front endpapers (including the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Green Day, Run DMC, Queen, Nirvana) will amuse parents—or at least grandparents—and the rear endpapers serve up band members' clever social media and texting screenshots. Backmatter includes a glossary and further brain trivia but no resources or bibliography.

A good overview of this complex, essential organ, with an energetic seasoning of silliness. (Informational picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews