"My Fantabulous Brain" Book Review

Julia Cook is one of my favorite authors for social-emotional children’s books and she has a new one coming out on November 5, 2020!

What is it about?

My Fantabulous Brain shares the story of a boy who is so frustrated that he is having a hard time focusing, following directions, and completing his homework in time. By meeting a brain with a powerful “toolbox” he learns strategies for executive functioning.

This book is a good way to get conversations started around executive functioning and growth mindset.

It introduces skills of:

auditory processing
processing speed
visual processing
working memory
attention
long-term memory
logic and reasoning

What I liked

The main character is relatable and the story is entertaining and easy to follow. It makes training the brain seem accessible. There are also some fun brain training activities to try in the back of the book!

What I didn’t like

The illustrations seem intended for lower-elementary students, but the concepts are for upper elementary. Also, I feel like some of the concepts are presented in an abstract way that some of my previous students would have struggled with.

Who would I recommend it for

I would recommend it for upper-elementary kiddos.

How would I use it?

This book would pair nicely with my executive functioning digital doodle journal! I would use this with an individual student who is having a hard time staying motivated academically or with a growth mindset or executive functioning small group!