Why “Heart and Brain” is a Must for Kids

Comedy of Contradiction: Why “Heart and Brain” is a Must for Kids

In the world of graphic novels, few series have the appeal of “Heart and Brain” – for both kids and parents. Created by Nick Seluk, creator of The Awkward Yeti, this collection explores the humorous battles we go through internally with heart and brain in our day to day life. While “Heart and Brain” often targets an adult audience, its silliness and charm remains appealing to younger readers, expecially those with a love for the quirky and absurdity of life.

An Introduction to “Heart and Brain”

“Heart and Brain” is a comic series which personifies the internal struggle between logic and emotion. In this series, the brain and the heart appear as two separate characters – each with a developed unique personality that delivers its own brand of humor. Brain is a logical and practical thinker, always wanting decisions based on reason and facts. Heart, on the other hand, chases passions, emotions, and spontaneous whims. The battle between the two creates a comedic look at the contradictions we all experience.

The book “Heart and Brain: An Awkward Yeti Collection” brings together some of the funniest strips from the series, into one book. A hilarious must read for younger kids that combines LOL moments with relatable situations from characters that are all around funny and fun to read about.

Why This Book is Perfect for Kids

“Heart and Brain” is the perfect mix between humor and life lessons, making it ideal for younger audiences. The jokes are quite digestible and humour punches in the early pages with characters that come off as extremely likable characters with situations that every one of us can relate to. It allows children to picture themselves in the pages and laugh at the same real-life challenges that they come across.

Many of the strips center on the age-old battle between doing what you should do (like finishing homework or going to bed on time) and what you want to do (like playing video games or staying up late to watch TV). It’s a predicament every kid knows very well, so seeing it played out doubles as comfort and comedy gold.

Funny Stuff that Will Make Kids ROFL

“Heart and Brain” is filled with strips that nail the absurdity of our inner conflicts. One particularly funny strip has Brain trying to convince Heart to eat something healthy, but Heart has its eyes on a piece of cake. The dialogue is simple yet effective, with Heart’s childlike excitement clashing with Brain’s frustrated logic. This is a great example of the mix for which “Heart and Brain” is known, with a bit of cleverness mixed with a hint of silliness.

Another classic moment has Brain planning every move for a productive day, only to have Heart throw inject chaos by suggesting more fun and whimsical alternatives, like dancing or playing in the rain. Every reader, particularly those children who have found themselves in similar situation, will find Brain’s escalating frustration as the list goes out of control downright hilarious.

Conversely there’s a strip where Heart decides to follow its passion, dragging Brain along for a ride, that includes an impromptu road trip and a spontaneous new hobby. The depiction of Brain experiencing a mix of terror and resignation, is enough to elicit laughter from anyone, particularly kids who live spontaneously.

Life Lessons Wrapped in Laughter

With humor, “Heart and Brain” offers valuable lessons in a playful way. The series doesn’t shy away from the complexities of life and does so with a light touch which makes it understandable, particularly for the middle grade reader.

One strip has Brain doing work and Heart interrupting to talk about fun distractions. Brain refuses initially, insisting that staying on task is priority number one but soon learns that breaks increase productivity. It gives kids the most important lesson of balance – to teach them that it is okay to have fun and take a short break from demanding tasks.

A different comic has Heart pushing for a spur of the moment purchase, while Brain tries to make the case that saving money would be better. The debate that follows is hilarious as well as in its own way an exercise in learning what it means to make considered choices without suppressing kids’ creativity and happiness.

A Book Kids Will Pick Up Again and Again

“Heart and Brain” is certainly golden for kids, but one of the things that makes it a keeper is the re-readability of it. The humor never ages, and the characters are so relatable that kids will want to revisit their antics. Each time they read it, they might discover a new joke they overlooked before or find themselves relating to a different strip as they grow older and experience life differently.

The attractive illustrations, both colorful and expressive, also adds to its charm. Kids who are visual learners and enjoy graphic novels will especially appreciate the way “Heart and Brain” pairs humor with colorful illustrations.

Conclusion: An Addition For Every Bookshelf

“Heart and Brain” really is more than just a set of funny comic strips and instead is a book that rings true with children fueled with an amazing sense of humor that knows no age boundaries. The characters are lovable, the situations are relatable, and the wit is sharp. Kids will giggle at Heart’s crazy notions or Brain’s efforts to keep things on point and will become immersed in the realm of Heart and Brain, returning to it repeatedly.

“Heart and Brain” is a great book for parents who want to introduce to their kid a book that is both amusing and powerful. A book that is going to make kids laugh hysterically while also teaching them the importance of responsibility between having fun. If your kid loves humor and likes to get a kick out of things, Heart and Brain should be on their shelf.

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