These mysteries of the human body have puzzled most children at one time or another; Berger gives appropriately worded explanations and includes a few other automatic reflexes, such as the hand-on-a-hot-stove reflex. Meisel's engaging new cartoon illustrations include child's-eye-view crayon diagrams of the nervous system. From HORN BOOK Fall 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

K-Gr 2-This newly illustrated edition of Why I Cough, Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, and Yawn (Crowell, 1983) offers very basic explanations. In his trademark succinct style, Berger describes how automatic reflexes cause us to try to generate heat (shivering) or to get more oxygen (yawning). He also explains that the nervous system carries messages back and forth from the brain like telephone wires, and that these automatic reflexes help protect us from burning ourselves, from breathing in foreign objects, etc. In this new edition, the author suggests ways to test one's reflexes and describes "startle" reflexes and goose bumps. The writing is simple but effective, and the charming, colorful pen-and-ink and watercolors are much more detailed than the original black-and-white artwork by Holly Keller. Attractive introductory nonfiction.-Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The subject is reflexes, actions that ""you don't have to think about [to make] them happen. Reflexes happen whether you want them to or not."" For background, Berger and Keller sketch in the nervous system, then trace each of the featured reflexes from the situation that sets it off (""A bit of dust or dirt gets into your nose"") to the reaction (""The sneeze blows the dust or dirt out of your nose""). Except for hiccups (""No one knows exactly why hiccups happen,"" although ""we do know how they work""), the benefits are implicit, and underlined for good measure. It's an easily mastered lesson and an accessible side-door introduction to the nervous system, in the series tradition of manageable units. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.