First of all, I would like to thank @Netgalley and Clive Gifford for the gift of this advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

You and Your Strange Brain is a cute little non-fiction book probably best pitched for the age 9-12 age range. The book was filled with chunks of information about the brain and its functions, which smoothly followed on from the segment before. It also included lots of activities you could try out on the spot to test the information you had been given. Another cute little feature is that it beautifully decorated in colourful pictures that fill the whole page and are very engaging.

Taken from the book:
Dizzy Directions
Lift your right foot off the floor and rotate it clockwise at a regular pace. Now draw the repeated number sixes in the air with your right index finger, starting at the top of the number. After a few sixes, look down at your foot... (Gifford, C, 2020)

I read this book with my children who are slightly younger than the age I believe it best suits but they were absolutely thrilled with it. My 5-year-old was inquisitive and formed logical questions to explore certain subjects further. And we all enjoyed trying out the little experiments. Overall, I give this book 5/5 stars. The language, pace, level and content was consistent throughout.

This is a well written, well-illustrated book that talks about the physiology of the brain as well as some of the more important functions it performs such as filling in optical illusions, controlling emotions, and replacing memories. As an adult, I enjoyed it and would have loved to explore the topics in greater depth but understandably, I am not the intended audience. I was also pleased to learn interesting facts that hadn't been part of my curriculum.

I feel You and Your Strange Brain made a moderate subject area for the age group, a very interesting topic in digestible bite-size pieces. It is a great piece of extracurricular learning material for a child interested in biology whilst still being a fun and interesting read for an absolute beginner. I think children would love this read as much as parents wanting to read it with their children.

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This is a fantastic non-fiction book all about the brain. It is really well presented with pictures and diagrams that are really child friendly.
The book is divided into sections about the brain, sight, memory, feelings etc
What I really liked were the extra facts throughout as well as the quick activities to try that demonstrate the information about the brain.
I found this really interesting and easy to read. I will definitely purchase a copy for my classroom, the kids will love it. Can't believe it's not out until May 2021. Already added to my wishlist!

I'll admit, to start, I am heinously bias. From the day I was old enough to grasp that what my mother suffered from, Multiple Sclerosis, was a neurological disorder(among other things), a progressive breakdown of the protective coating of neurons, the Freeway, that carries electrical signals of sensory data from our body to our brains and response data from our brains back to our bodies, I have been fixated on the brain, how it works, why it works and when it doesn't. I didn't return to college to pursue my dream of becoming a Neuroscientist until I was 26 years old. If I had had this book in elementary school? It would have happened straight out of the gate. This is an unbelievable collection of information directed toward middle grade science enthusiasts and reluctant scientists alike. Packed with the vital basics like anatomy, random interesting facts, animal brains, and physiology, You & Your Strange Brain also introduces the fascinating hiccups in scientific history that led to some of the greatest discoveries of all time. Did you know that Phineas Gage took a pipe through the brain and survived?! Or that Giant Squids have donut shaped brains and must be careful not to eat too much, as the food they ingest travels through the center and could cause brain damage!

I can't recommend this title enough for schools, homeschoolers and STEM involved kids. It has been my favorite young non-fiction read and I can't wait to keep a title on my shelf for my own personal reference. The illustrations are clear and beautiful. The facts and information are sharp, relevant and easy to understand. The format is engaging and exciting. I absolutely loved this title. My brain loved this title. I can't wait for my 4 year old to reach the appropriate age to share it with him as well.

What's a lobe? What is sensory memory? Is our brain ever completely sure about things? Why do we have so many emotions? Well, this book has the answer to all of those questions. In fact, this book has everything from serious information, to fun brain games. It even has a bit of information about old ways to cure brain damage, and it has information about fear and phobias! And those pieces of the book aren't even a third of the book's information. Honestly, I have never read anything as full of information about the brain ever.

What I like about this book is that your brain can learn more about itself, literally! Our brain is full of information. This book has given me so much information. I enjoyed "You & Your Strange Brain" so much. Hope you like the book! (Phoebe, nine years old)

Everything you wanted to know about the brain and more. The 80 pages of this book are packed with unique and hard to believe facts, and information about the brain parts, nerves, hormones , senses. Using clear, attention grabbing illustrations and short snippets of key information the book gives a history of past beliefs about the brain along with current understandings. In addition, it describes many facets of how the brain works, how to improve brain functions and how it can be tricked and mislead you. With suggested activities and examples the reader learns about emotions, memory, intelligence, creativity, fears, phobias, pleasure and risk, the benefits of sleep, the biology of fears, phobia, It offers comparisons to animal brains with little known and entertaining details. At the end of the book are brain games, suggested resources and links to online experiments and activities.
I recommend this book for middle grade students who are interested in understanding the brain and the many, many ways it impacts our lives.

A very interesting book. Very well written and easy to understand. The illustrations are perfect for kids and its easy to understand. A good book for adults and children

You and Your Strange Brian is a wonderfully illustrated, descriptive book, enlightening the reader with all facts concerning the human brain.
Children in key stage two would definitely benefit from reading this book as it has lots of interesting facts and even Teachers can learn a thing or two - I know I did.

There is enough information to keep the children interested and the pictures that accompany the text are bright too.

Excellent book by Clive Gifford.

Simple yet interesting book that will introduce young minds to the world of the mind and the brain. It is delightfully informative with detailed photos and even mind games.

An interesting book filled with interesting facts for middle schoolers. It doesn't answer the question about taste really other than to say tastes change as we get older. It would have been good to have a section on learning differences e.g. dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia because of the age that this is aimed at - kids are noticing differences between themselves and peers more and more and having a section on this might make it easier on some kids in the classroom. Well put together, good graphics and some additional brain teasers too.

This is a very interesting book full of bright illustrations. It is filled with amazing information about the brain and is full of interesting facts. It highlights the way they brain works at different stages of a humans life and also looks at how some animal brains work. There are intriguing brain games to complete and simple experiments to do too, if you wish.. What an interesting book for children, teenagers and adults!

This was so much fun! My interest for the human brain started last year when I followed a class called Neurology for my major. A lot of the things in this book are things I already knew, but I learned a lot of new things as well! It's quite easy to follow and the language isn't too hard. I loved all the different illustrations and examples. Would recommend reading this one if you're somewhat interested in this topic.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group - QEB Publishing & NetGalley for the eARC of You & Your Strange Brain!

You & Your Strange Brain: A Book of Brains, How they Work and Sometimes Don't by Clive Gifford is an illustrated, Browse (coffee table) style book look at the brain. I think its prime audience is Middle Years KS3/4. It is informative and entertaining, and a book adults would enjoy sharing with readers. The layout of the book with informative illustrations and factual bites make it easy to digest. This by no means dumbs the book down.
The book is interactive, as there are several "Brain Lab" breaks through the book that ask you to stop reading and test your brain to understand the concepts being discussed. I found myself doing these even before being asked to try it out! At the end of the book there are extra treats, more Brain Teasers. a find out more page with suggestions for further reading and websites to look at, and a Glossary and Index.

Opinions: I simply adore You and Your Strange Brain! It is fun, packed full of interesting knowledge, and inspires children to love science. Something I appreciate about this book is that random facts aren't listed on a page in bullet points; rather, small paragraphs of theories, methods, and explanations guide readers through the book and ensure all key words and definitions are understood. Despite the colourful images and "casual" phrasing, You and Your Strange Brain is educational and provides unique information that anybody of any age would appreciate! The content is displayed in a pleasing and flowing way, making even the craziest scientific theories easy to understand and remember. I couldn't ask for another educational book, this one is insightful yet simple enough that my strange brain will be able to retain the important (and cool) stuff!

My Favourite Thing: Since I have no Least Favourite Thing, I will discuss two Favourite things! These are not in an order.
1. I love the variety of information included in You and Your Strange Brain! Not only are the basics of neurones and cortexes discussed, readers are given insight on all things to do with brains! Decision making, people of importance, the impact of sleep, long vs short term memory, phobias, historical brain surgery, and even fun games to put the theories to test! You and Your Strange Brain is packed full of information, and despite what it says about brains forgetting unnecessary facts, I believe I will remember every bit of this amazing book!
2. As a science geek, I was overwhelmingly pleased to see that all of the scientific information was 100% correct! Unfortunately, this is a big ask for nonfiction authors today, but Gifford did his research and is supplying young readers with correct data. Even more fun for me, as I already knew how the brain worked, it was thrilling to see why different concepts exist. Even as a student much older than the age of nine, I learned from this book and will forever look back at it when I'm revising for exams!

Total Rating: G
Language: G
Adult Content: G
Violence: G

Recommended For and Similar Reads: You and Your Strange Brain is an insightful, educational, yet fun book for anybody, but mostly children and teenagers. If you love "hands-on-activities" that help you learn, this book is for you. Similar reads are The Human Brain in 30 Seconds also by Clive Gifford, The Brain Book by Rita Carter, Positively Teenage by Nicola Morgan, Brain Games by National Geographic Kids, and Body Works: Brilliant Brains by Anna Claybourne!

Colorful, bright illustrations and quick facts are fun for both children and adults to read together and discuss. It was presented in such a fun way and I was eager to keep learning more as I read.

I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – QEB Publishing through NetGalley.
Non-fiction text about the brain for middle grades. Gifford provides a wide variety of data about what the brain is and how it functions. Shorter text boxes and challenges engage upper elementary students. The diagrams and illustrations show readers how the various information fits together.
Terrific format to present important facts in an easy to read format.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group - QEB Publishing & NetGalley for the eARC of You & Your Strange Brain!

You & Your Strange Brain: A Book of Brains, How they Work and Sometimes Don't by Clive Gifford is an illustrated look at the brain aimed toward younger readers. Ranging from the physical structure of the brain and how it works to specific tasks that our brains assist with, You & Your Strange Brain is an informative and entertaining read. There is a lot of information packed into a relatively short book but the information is presented in a way that is not overwhelming or textbook like. I especially enjoyed the bright illustrations throughout that served as diagrams or detailed the specific facts being discussed.

You & Your Strange Brain is also interactive, as there are several "Brain Lab" breaks throughout the book that ask you to stop reading and put your brain to the test to understand the concepts being discussed. There are also a number of "Brain Games" at the end of the book that kids will love.

You & Your Strange Brain will be a hit with kids who love science when it is released on May 18, 2021!

The infographic design allows the reader to move about the pages reading small chunks of information separated by boxes, lines, illustrations, and / or font. The brightly colored drawings easily grab the readers attention and draws them into the descriptive text. I especially love the pictures and experiments throughout the book which challenge or trick the brain. At the end of the book is a section titled "Brain Games". These are "think outside the box" riddles, logic problems, and visual puzzles. (I was able to solve 10.5 of the 14 correctly!) There is also a section of additional resources which includes books (with a separate list for older teens), websites, videos, online experiments and activities; as well as an index.

Although the target audience for this book is preteens (11-13; grades 6-8), it is a very informative book for older readers. As adult learning something new can be daunting, especially when it is a complicated subject, like the brain. For some, me included, it is easiest to begin your learning journey through a children's or young adult book. One should feel no stigma for reading this book. When you need information go to the source, no matter where it may be located in the library!

I would recommend this title for middle school and public libraries.

This is great informative and visually engaging book. It’s all about you and your brain. It’s told in an easy to understand format and is fairly short. I loved the beautiful illustrations that accompanied it as well.

I loved this book about the brain and the strange things it can do! Fun, colorful illustrations accompany tidbits of fascinating information about the myriad functions of the brain and how we grow and develop. Brain Labs throughout the book present fun experiments that require little to no items that reveal eccentricities of the brain and its behavior/perception! This book would be great for elementary and middle school readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – QEB Publishing for providing this ARC.

"You & Your Strange Brain" is a short non-fiction book for children on what the human brain is capable of and its basic mechanics.

I liked the illustrations and how the book broke down a very complex subject.