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ALL ABOUT BRAINS

Name: ALL ABOUT BRAINS
Author: Lake Bell
ISBN: 9781665906753

A BOOK ABOUT PEOPLE

by Lake Bell ; illustrated by Rachel Katstaller ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2025

Encouraging.

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Children expound on how their brains make them special.

On “share day” at school, Nova nervously reveals that she has epilepsy. Seizures, which Nova calls “brain sparkles,” make her stutter and shake, and “it feels like you can’t see and can’t talk.” Teacher Robin explains that all brains are different, but some are “especially unique.” She adds, “That uniqueness is called neurodivergence, which absolutely can cause challenges but also creates cool strengths.” Nova’s classmates share their own experiences. Isaac, who’s autistic, tends to focus heavily on interests such as flowers; Phoenix’s ADHD makes it hard for her to sit still, but running helps calm her “swirling” thoughts—and her speed is impressive. Teacher Robin—whose obsessive-compulsive disorder keeps the classroom tidy—names various neurodivergent celebrities, including gymnast Simone Biles and soccer player David Beckham. Cheered, Nova realizes brains are “all…magic. We love our brains, and we want to make sure they’re happy.” While some dialogue feels stilted, Nova’s classmates’ banter adds humor, and the positive tone will inspire many neurodivergent readers to find their own “superpowers.” Katstaller’s big-eyed cartoon illustrations vividly express the distinctive personalities of Nova and her classmates. Nova and her family are light-skinned, Teacher Robin presents Black, and the class is diverse. In an author’s note, Bell mentions that her protagonist is based on her own daughter, who was also diagnosed with epilepsy.

Encouraging. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 15, 2025

ISBN: 9781665906753

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S HEALTH & DAILY LIVING | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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BYE BYE, BUTTERFLY
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

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NO MOUSIE LEFT BEHIND
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MAKER'S A TO Z
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)