The Nervous System

Children's Literature

The amazing workings of the nervous system are described in this title from the "Early Bird Body Systems" series. The nervous system enables us to do many things such as dancing, solving puzzles, and laughing. The structure of nerve cells is described, including the nerve cell receptors that collect information either from the world outside or inside the body. Next, the book describes how nerves meet in the spinal cord to pass messages to the brain. The complex workings of the brain are explored from the outside in: from the protective skull to the brain stem, cerebellum, and cerebrum. The brain stem passes messages between the brain and spinal cord; the cerebellum, the largest part of the brain, controls how people move; and the cerebrum helps us do things like talking, solving math, and creating art. By working together, the nerves, spinal cord, and brain tell us everything from what the smell of cookies means to pull back our hand when we touch a hot pot. Numerous diagrams and photographs illustrate the complex concepts presented in this book, making it very easy to understand. Study aids such as a "word detective" section, a glossary, and a "Note to Adults" also add to the learning experience. 2005, Lerner Publications, Ages 8 to 12.
—Amie Rose Rotruck