In general, whenever a diagram is needed, one is found. My only criticism is that I felt the book lacked sufficient developmental biology perspective. For this specific developmental language, a glossary would have helped enormously. Actually, my Purves and Lichtman textbook has a great developmental biology perspective and glossary, and wonderful vignettes of famous developmental neuroscientists. It seems there will still be a place for it in my teaching program.
Good teachers are essential for maintaining the life of a discipline.
Their primary responsibility is to introduce the questions that inspired the discipline, as well as those that currently drive it, to convey key concepts and language, and to do this in a way that will enthuse the next generation of scientists. Most of us aim to be this sort of teacher, and certainly recognize how much a great textbook can help us achieve this goal. This book, of handy dimensions, will fill a considerable void by providing an essential teaching resource. Although it is impossible to say whether Development of the Nervous System by Sanes, Reh and Harris, like my copy of Purves and Lichtman, will make a suitable Valentine's Day gift, it is more than likely to help woo a number of ardent students into the marvelous field of nervous system development.