Brains On! Presents...It's Alive: From Neurons and Narwhals to the Fungus Among Us

by Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, Sanden Totten

Overview

The creators of the award-winning science podcast for kids, Brains On!, present a humorous, highly illustrated, fact- and fun-filled look at life on Earth— from deep sea creatures and carnivorous plants to the human body and stinky bacteria. Perfect for STEM collections!
 
Did you ever wonder why jellyfish sting? Or if trees communicate with each other? How about why you can't tickle yourself?

Well hold on to your noggins, because you're about to find out!

Join the creators of the award-winning science podcast Brains On! as they explore the uber-awesome and sometimes gross world of biology—aka the study of living things. Inside these pages, you'll meet animals with superpowers, plants that eat meat, brains that trick you, and tiny microbes that live, well . . . all over you!

Packed with mind-boggling facts and laugh-out-loud jokes, this book promises a brain-bending, jaw-dropping, belly-laughing good time as readers watch the world around them come ALIVE.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316428293
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/08/2020
Series:	Brains On! Presents
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	638,428
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez and Sanden Totten are the creators of Brains On! They became friends while working at Minnesota Public Radio and decided to make a show for kids, because kids are awesome. They've had all sorts of jobs in public radio, but making Brains On! is their favorite. They invite you to visit them at brainson.org, follow them @Brains_On, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Editorial Reviews

"A grab bag of bio-wonders."—Kirkus Reviews

"This eye-catching and engaging offering will perk up STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math, medicine) collections and will appeal to browsers and researchers alike."—Booklist

"Science and humor come together to create a title that will be picked up again and again."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

09/01/2020

Gr 4–7—The creators of Brains On!, a science podcast for kids, offer a nonfiction book about biology. Each chapter provides a broad overview of the primary subjects, which include plants, animals, humans, and microworlds, followed by a deeper dive into ideas or facts. For example, the chapter discussing humans examines the main body systems, then takes a closer look at the digestive system. The main text is lengthy and assumes some basic knowledge of science and biology in particular, so this title is best suited for older elementary and middle school children. Sidebars, diagrams, and occasional comics break up the text, as do recurring features, including mystery photographs, "Moment of Eww" sections, and "Mega Matchup" battles that inject humor and detail into each chapter. While far from comprehensive, this fact-filled resource is very readable. VERDICT The Brains On! creators know their audience. Science and humor come together to create a title that will be picked up again and again.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill Sch., Cambridge, MA

School Library Journal

2020-06-30
A ramble through “the totally bizarre, ultra-epic, sometimes disgusting world of biology.”

With unflagging zest the hosts of American Public Media’s Brains On! podcast take on dozens of such need-to-know topics as whether plants can perceive sound, “why…frogs’ tongues stretch so far,” why we dream, and “are dogs self-aware?” Along with introducing real scientists working in the actual Dog Cognition Lab and elsewhere, the authors—depicted as small cartoon figures throughout—cast sidelights on historical hoaxes, tuck in “mystery photo” close-ups, and also pair up lots of unlikely adversaries in smack-down–style contests. For the latter, they lay out facts about each and leave it to readers to judge winners: “Which stinker is cooler: Durian or Corpse Flower?” The survey includes breezy ventures into the animal and plant kingdoms, quick rides through select systems of the Bodyland amusement park, and a closing voyage to the teeming realm of microbiota for ganders at microscopic mites, fungi, and bacteria (but not viruses). Even scientifically savvy readers may find the small-print bibliography more than a bit on the technical and scholarly side. Still, it’s always better to challenge an audience than underestimate it. Recurring cast members in the illustrations present White; other cartoon figures include people of color.

A grab bag of bio-wonders. (index) (Nonfiction. 10-13)

Kirkus Reviews