Innovative Octopuses, Half-Brained Birds, and More Animals with Magnificent Minds by Christina Couch

What worked:

The common thread connecting the book is studies of how animals think and then comparing them to human brains. It’s pretty comprehensive as it touches on all areas of the brain. The book opens with a study of how the brain interprets messages from the sensory organs, including our reflexes. A quick activity ends the chapter with a test of how quickly people can respond. Jester is a blue-and-green parrot that was mistreated, and scientists are studying how it recovers from trauma and fear. Did you know llamas and pigs can help humans deal with stress? Other chapters address memory, communication, aging, and even sleeping! Connections are made to a goldfish driving a car, sperm whales speaking in different dialects, and birds napping while they fly.

The author relates the animals to specific people, which humanizes the factual information. A war veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is unable to talk about his terrifying experiences with doctors, but he begins to open up while working with Jester. An octopus named Sawyer has fun with his handler and enjoys playing with the toys Zoe brings him. Color photographs and illustrations fill the pages to add visual interest to the topics. In addition to the activities at the end of the chapters, the book includes short sections on related topics. For example, robo-rodents can hop after scientists studied squirrels, and there are jellyfish smaller than pencil erasers that are virtually immortal.

What didn’t work as well:

How the brain works is an abstract concept for many young readers, and the book doesn’t shy away from the relevant vocabulary. Definitions are included throughout the chapters so the meanings stand out and are easy to recall. Young people can still enjoy the animal studies and other pages even if understanding the exact workings of the brain is a challenge.

The final verdict:

The author does a fascinating job of combining scientific information, interesting animals, and related anecdotes, resulting in a remarkable book about the brain. I recommend you give it a shot!