Our Marvelous Memory

Helena Harastova is a writer, translator, and mother. She graduated in Dramaturgy from the Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Arts, having previously worked for the National Theatre in Brno, Czech Republic. Her most unusual pastime is proofreading texts for errors in spelling, grammar, and style.Dita Vopradova is a Czech illustrator celebrated for her playful drawings that delight children and adults alike. She creates illustrations for books and educational programs, including Toinou by Robert François and A River with Loose Hair by Honza Vojtko. Known for her detailed and colorful style, Dita studied art history with a focus on medieval art at Charles University. Finding inspiration in art, architecture, nature, and her daughter Anna, she lives in Prague.

"Gr 2-5–This primer effectively covers the basic concepts of memory in a fun and unforgettable way. There are a wide range of topics including what a memory is; parts of the brain and memory; where memories go; memory in babies, children, adults, and seniors; plus, what gets remembered when memory breaks down. The more complex concepts are given two pages, and the text is conversational, factual, and engaging. Blocks of bold background colors and the consistent use of different font sizes and types are effective for the readability, organization, and flow of information. Some words and phrases are shown with visual emphasis, although it’s not always clear why. The text and illustrations seamlessly support and reinforce various concepts. Cartoon illustrations contain plenty of humor, engaging details, appropriate facial expressions, and a wide range of natural skin tones. The abundant illustrations are given sufficient white space so as not to feel cluttered or overwhelming. A short glossary and list of additional resources are included, although one entry, the podcast The Hidden Brain, is not suitable for elementary school children. VERDICT Purchase as needed for collection development or where the other title in the series, Our Incredible Imagination, does well." —Catherine Callegari, School Library Journal"The format of Our Marvellous Memory makes it easy to access for children of all ages. The large size and sturdypages mean it can beread many times. Memory is “An inner store of information about who you are.” This includes all that you know and have learned and experienced and even things you have forgotten. This means that your memory will affect your thinking and behaviour. The interesting facts that follow are accompanied by illustrations to clarify each point. We learn that dogs,plants and jellyfish all have memories. Stored in the brain, when recalled, memories can have pieces missing. The author mentions how memories are encoded, processed conserved and evoked. There are different kinds of memories, short term, long term, visual memory, and echoic memory. The brain remembers best, repetition, unusual things and things that relate to powerful emotions. The brain is still largely unexplored, and the author suggests that children reading this book may wish to learn more. She gives suggestions for books to read. There is a table of contents at the back and information about the author. Words such as Amygdala are explained. Our Marvellous Memory is a marvellous, informative book, set out in such a way that children will be encouraged to browse and reread the pages." —Blue Wolf Reviews