Good Night to Your Fantastic Elastic Brain

Gr 1-3–In a series of charts and infographics, the authors convey up-to-date knowledge about the human brain and the science of sleep. Concepts are broken down into digestible chunks with straightforward vocabulary and charming analogies. The aunt-and-nephew writing team demonstrate respect for their audience, delving into complex vocabulary (often with phonetic pronunciation guides) and fascinating phenomena such as sleep paralysis. Though the recurring comparison of brains to muscles may do more to obscure than to elucidate accurate biological information, the text on the whole is useful and inviting, with positive suggestions to help readers develop sleep habits for continued brain health. Daggett’s digital art complements the appealing presentation, with thick dashed lines emphasizing connections and directing readers’ eyes from brightly colored diagrams offering an internal view of the nervous system and related anatomical structures to explanatory illustrations of children pursuing everyday activities. Cartoon-style sentient organs with smiling faces introduce scientific facts, led by a cheerful brain in thick-rimmed glasses.