Your Brain is a Lump of Goo

Your Brain is a Lump of Goo by Idan Ben-Barak & Christopher Nielsen (Allen & Unwin) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781761180156

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

How do you explain the appearance and workings of the brain to a small child? Ben- Barak, in this picture book for children aged 5 to 8 years, likens the brain’s size to that of a pineapple, and its texture that of goo that looks like a big walnut (but gooey). Accompanied by cartoon illustrations of the brain’s owner, a small girl wearing a helmet and doing things like riding a scooter and walking a pineapple, the text continues… It explains ‘I’m made of hundreds of billions of cells. They’re all connected. They send signals to each other.’ Saying it’s ‘very complicated’, the text states ‘I’m the part of you that is YOU.’

In the middle of the book is what looks like four scoops of ice-cream made of orange, blue, and pink colours (representing the brain). Surrounding it are dozens of words and phrases pertaining to the brain, such as ‘Emotions’, ‘Sibling Annoyance Centre’, ‘Happiness’, ‘Growing,’ and ‘Thoughts.’ 

There is more information on the workings of the brain, including how it can sometimes get confused, distracted, or overwhelmed. The text continues: ‘Look, I’m not a computer. Nobody planned me. Nobody built me. It took me many millions of years to become what I am.’ It proceeds with what the brain is capable of, such as teaching the lungs to breathe, the legs to walk, and so on. None of what the brain can do, it says ‘doesn’t happen with pineapples.’

The book concludes with a double page spread of information about the actual workings of the brain, the sort of text which needs to be read by an adult, perhaps to a child to explain the parts -- and purposes of those parts, of the brain. This includes words familiar to an adult, such as ‘cerebellum’, ‘cerebrum,’ ‘occipital lobe’, and ‘hypothalamus.

It's difficult to imagine that this book would be a favourite of children but it's at least a valiant attempt by a writer and illustrator to capture the essence of the body's most mysterious organ to a youngster.

Arabella’s Alphabet Adventure

Arabella’s Alphabet Adventure by Suzy Zail, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen (Walker Books) ISBN 9781760652425 RRP $25.99

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

This picture book is about an alphabet book in a library with just twenty-six letters, called Arabella’s Alphabet Adventure. The main character, Arabella, is a book fairy and is not happy for her book to be on the lowest shelf in the library with ‘Especially for Children’ written above it. She wants to get away from children with sticky fingers and go towards the top shelves, where books with lots of words are kept. Sneaking her book into the pages of a travel book, she experiences adventures in Africa which are fun at first, but then Arabella realises what she’s lost. She makes her way back to the children’s section, where her book can be borrowed and loved as it should be.

Brightly coloured illustrations accompany the text in this book about the importance of appreciating the good things about yourself. Arabella’s Alphabet Adventures is described as the most beautiful book in the library, with a P that ‘still smelled faintly of pineapple’ and an S that ‘dazzled in a galaxy of silver stars.’ But Arabella still feels her book is not exciting enough. She eventually comes around to seeing that an alphabet book teaches children to read and love books. And what could be more amazing than that?

This is Suzy Zail’s first picture book after more than thirteen novels for adults, primary school children and teenagers. Christopher Nielsen is also a noted illustrator of many books around the world. Arabella’s Alphabet Adventures is suitable for early to mid-primary school children.  

Ponk!  By Edwina Wyatt, illus by Christopher Nielsen, (Little Hare) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781760129774

Reviewed by Mike Shuttleworth

Ponk is a little bird who lives at the top of a very tall tree. From on high, Ponk can see The Hill and the strange beasts dancing and swaying way over there. But Ponk’s problem is not distance—it’s height. Ponk! is a strong, simple story about overcoming adversity, laced with gentle humour, for audiences aged three to six. Ponk lives, metaphorically speaking, out on a limb.

Dwelling alone at the very top of the tree is risky for a little bird who can’t yet fly, and Ponk routinely topples and tumbles through the branches below. Those birds living beneath are not so impressed, and don’t mind mocking the plucky Ponk. They don’t see why Ponk keeps climbing up high—until curiosity gets the better of them. The story’s little drama is nicely rounded with a dash of comedy.

Illustrator Christopher Nielsen’s digitally designed retro palette revels in dynamic contrasts, energising the text and letting the story fly. Nielsen’s old-school colour mix (think early Little Golden Books) is right at home with Edwina Wyatt’s reassuring tale. Wyatt makes good use of sound, rhythm and comic timing to engage young eyes and ears. Ponk! is a satisfying picture book about persistence, doing things your way, and not always following the flock.

Mike Shuttleworth is a children’s bookseller at Readings Hawthorn