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Wonderfully Wired Brains: An Introduction to the World of Neurodiversity

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An informative and inclusive children's guide to neurodiversity for those not in the know and to inspire children who are neurodivergent.

Our brains are unique in the way they function, work, and think. Neurodiversity is still a relatively 'new' concept that can be tricky to understand, but this book is here to help! This inspirational book written by neurodiverse author Louise Gooding challenges misconceptions and shows how neurodivergent brains work a little differently.

It is common for neurodiverse people and those with neurological differences to feel as though they don't fit in, but their extraordinary differences should be embraced. Wonderfully Wired Brains teaches children aged 7-9 all about the awesome abilities that neurodiverse individuals have, introduces them to advocates who are challenging neurodiversity stereotypes, and most importantly gives them a safe space to feel accepted.

This informative and educational book for children

- Accurate, understandable explanations of diagnoses that impact the brain, including each area of neurodiversity and what it can or does mean for anyone with that particular neurological difference.
- A positive, friendly look at neurodiverse brains that debunks myths and stereotypes.
- Informative, inclusive text is accompanied by colourful, modern illustrations.

The font and colours used have been selected to accommodate a range of neurodiverse readers. Combining neurodiverse experiences with science, history, and brain-bursting facts, Wonderfully Wired Brains has something for everyone!

Whether your child is neurodiverse or not, this book will inspire inquisitive young readers and show them that no two brains function in the same way and that everyone's differences should be celebrated. There really is no other book like it.

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2023

11 people are currently reading
301 people want to read

About the author

Louise Gooding

5 books35 followers

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5 stars
141 (61%)
4 stars
72 (31%)
3 stars
12 (5%)
2 stars
2 (<1%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Louise Gooding.
Author 5 books35 followers
May 15, 2023
Once again, this star rating is going to be incredibly bias BUT I do think it’s worth it, and as the author, i’m happy to share a ‘behind the scenes’ look at Wonderfully Wired Brains.

When I started writing this book I had a vision of creating something that was going to not just take a difficult subject and make it accessible to kids, but to get people excited about how fascinating brains are too.

Neurodiversity is a word that covers us all, the neuromajority (those with ‘typical’ brains) and the neurominority (dyslexic. ADHD, autism etc). I wanted to take this subject and find its history, throw in some science, share some epic facts and introduce you to some awesome people. I want you to get excited about your brain and how, ultimately, it makes you you. I want you to come away from this book knowing that brain diversity is normal, and very much needed too. If we were all the same how boring would that be?

I really hope you enjoy WWB. It’s been a pleasure to research and write. Ruth Burrows has done an amazing job with the illustrations so a huge big thank you and of course, a big thank you the team at DK books!
Profile Image for Natasha M. Nurse, Esq..
418 reviews5 followers
June 10, 2024
What a brilliant and beautiful book about neurodiversity for the entire family. I can't wait to share this with my toddler to help him learn the importance of understanding how wonderfully diverse this world is ❤️
Profile Image for Heidi Goehmann.
Author 13 books68 followers
October 28, 2024
I really like the design of this book and the availability of an intro to neurodiversity for kids, particularly with enough wordiness and content to be intriguing for older kids. I appreciated several mental health challenges being included and appreciated for the processing perspective they bring. I super appreciated the strengths based perspective and would have liked to see a little bit more dialectic of the challenges appear on the page. And I did already buy it for a few gifts.
Profile Image for Linda Hill.
1,526 reviews74 followers
June 19, 2023
A children’s book about neurodiversity.

It was quite tricky to review Wonderfully Wired Brains as it took considerable effort to prise it from my husband’s hands! He’s in his mid sixties with a Ph.D in Chemistry and he loved this book!

As with so many DK books, I simply want to repeat the book’s description as it sums up perfectly what a fabulous book Wonderfully Wired Brains is. In keeping with other DK books this one has all the physical properties and qualities one expects. There is a vibrant, robust and superb quality cover that encases a non-fiction book jam packed with information that makes Wonderfully Wired Brains perfect for home, school or other institution use.

The illustrations in Wonderfully Wired Brains actually made me cheer aloud! The children represented are as physically diverse as the brains being written about with children in wheelchairs, wearing glasses, with different coloured skin and hair and so on, so that the book feels inclusive before a word is read.

There’s a lovely personal introduction by Louise Gooding which means that children (and the adults around them) have an instant connection and feel they are not alone in their own neurodiversity. Indeed, brain difference is seen as absolutely normal whether that’s through a leech’s many brains through bi-polar brains to the fabulous artistry of Stephen Wiltshire.

The range of information in Wonderfully Wired Brains is astonishing so that every reader, regardless of age or their own unique brain, will find something of interest here. Just the two succinct pages on Brain Care would make us all happier and healthier if we followed them.

I think Wonderfully Wired Brains is fantastic at exploring neurodiversity but equally it has so many other uses too. The book can be used to model research practices with a glossary and index perfect for literacy lessons. The Brilliant brains in history or the Wonderfully wired people could lead to all kinds of projects, from oral presentations to the use of the Internet for example. This really is an educational book of the highest quality.

However, the most powerful aspect of Wonderfully Wired Brains is its humanity and inclusion. Written and illustrated with celebratory sensitivity whilst not shying away from issues such as tics, anxiety and depression that can affect neurodivergent people in particular, Wonderfully Wired Brains is completely brilliant. Every home, hospital, children’s group and classroom should have one. I thought it was sensational and only wish my family had had access to it years ago.
Profile Image for Leo.
701 reviews15 followers
February 2, 2024
3.5

TW: association with squirrels and ADHD, mentions of Judy Singer (who has shared terf beliefs) and glossibg over of racism and misogyny

I'm...torn. on the one hand, this is by far the most comprehensive mini encyclopedia of neurodiversity that is a perfect intro for all kids and even adults. Its so wonderful to finally see a book like this covering so many different aspects of disability.

My gripes are few but wont stop niggling. One, how on earth did any sensitivity reader, or the auther herself, not see the negitive connotations of associating squirrels with ADHD? It's such a tired old meme/insult/comparison. The page about ADHD is littered with (while adorable, still problematic) squirrel illustrations.

The page on autism had the fact that boys are more likely to be diagnosed than girls with autism. Nothing else said. I was disappointed, thinking the author could have easily mentioned *why* that is. It’s an important thing to talk about. But nothing. Maybe there just wasnt enough room? But then on the next page, the one on ADHD, the same fact is stated, however this time with the reasoning for it. The author could have easily said 'many of these disabilities are overlooked with girls due to masking, etc' but no, instead it is only is said for ADHD.

Now dont get me and my other unmentioned niggles wrong, I think this book will do far more good than any harm. I especially appreciated the section on tourettes because that is so oft misunderstood by kids.

Do get it, do read it, even if you are not a kid. Talk about it in your classrooms and home.
Profile Image for Haylee Perry.
411 reviews
January 21, 2025
Ok so this is a decent guide to neurodiversity and the brain for kids (and adults). I think it’d be a fine resource for elementary classrooms and for parents to have at home. But I was really disappointed by a lot of things, so it will not be making its way into my classroom.

The author began the book by defining “neurodiversity/neurodiverse” and “neurodivergent” correctly, but then used them interchangeably throughout the book. Honestly, she just used “neurodiverse” incorrectly over and over again. I want to make it clear to everyone who reads this book that the HUMAN POPULATION is neurodiverse. Individual human BEINGS are neurodivergent.

Towards the end of the book, we are celebrating “wonderfully wired people” and most of them have neurodivergent identities. However, Stephen Wiltshire is just a really talented artist? And Jonathan Van Ness just exists? My guess is that Gooding was trying to show the “neurodiversity” that exists, but the focus of this book was all about neurodivergence and disabilities. So JVN’s feature felt transphobic—she only used he/him pronouns, and the only “difference” mentioned about them is that “being feminine often made Jonathan a target for bullies.” ????

Finally, with all that said, I guess my question here is, what WAS the focus of the book? Was it supposed to be about neurodivergence and disabilities like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, etc? Or were we just celebrating the way the brain works and every single aspect of it? I really don’t know. It seemed all over the place.
Profile Image for Michelle Grorud.
99 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2024
Mostly pretty great. There were a few things I wasn't a fan of being lumped into the neurodiverse universe so I knocked off a star. Overall really helpful book to read with my kids
Profile Image for Mano (Leslie).
43 reviews11 followers
October 5, 2025
This book has a ton of pertinent information on understanding wonderfully wired brains, with easy to grasp descriptions and easy to read format, text and illustrations. I appreciated the sections such as the first part explaining how brains work, then the section on neurodiverse minds, etc.

I have some feedback and a request but I know the author may never see this feedback/suggestion. I saw several of the disorders that could be seen negatively such as discalculia and dyslexia, but I did not see the opposite counterparts that are also markers of neurodivergence, such as hyperlexia, hypernumeracy and hypercalculia. There were also many super rare, not very common things mentioned, whereas most people do not know what hypernumeracy, hyperlexia and hypercalculia are, when they are more common than some of the other ones mentioned.

My son is autistic with hyperlexia and hypernumeracy, and I hoped that this book would contain some snippets for him to recognize himself in the descriptions, but instead only saw disorders that lie in difficulties for those who have it. The book included wonderfully wired brains, and I hoped to see my son's brain in this thick volume, but for now we still don't really find much out there bringing light to these particular brains.

Please Louise Gooding, if you ever find this feedback please revise your book to include some of these (just two pages could cover all three!), and help get these terms and knowledge out there. Otherwise I appreciated the care and love put into this book, I think it will be awesome for nd and non nd folks to gain understanding, especially inquisitive children and teens.
Profile Image for Jim Faust.
4 reviews
December 17, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! As someone who didn’t get an ADHD diagnosis until adulthood, I found it both comforting and eye-opening. The tone is approachable, the explanations are clear, and the illustrations? They make the whole experience FUN (yes, learning can be fun!).

What really stood out to me was how inclusive it felt. It doesn’t just focus on one condition—it covers a wide range of neurodivergent experiences in a way that’s easy to digest without feeling overwhelming. It’s the perfect introduction for anyone curious about neurodiversity, whether you’re neurotypical or, as my friend says, “neuro-spicy.”

I’m so thankful for Louise Gooding’s effort to raise awareness and celebrate the wonderfully wired brains among us. This book is a gem, and I’ll be recommending it to friends, family, and anyone who wants to understand the beauty of different minds.
15 reviews
July 19, 2024
As a neurodivergent adult who is trying to learn more about my brain, this was the perfect book to learn the basics and to get me reading again!

The colours are bright and the pages are laid out beautifully - not too overwhelming, but just enough to be engaged and to be able to appreciate the graphics too.

The information is clear, and provides an overview of the brain and different aspects of neurodiversity. It has given me some ideas on how to explain my own brain to people who don’t have a broad understanding of neurodiversity yet.

I’d recommend it for both children and adults for a clear overview of neurodiversity, even better that it is written by a neurodivergent person and it celebrates everyone’s differences!
Profile Image for Lauren.
221 reviews
November 30, 2024
I've got this for my 10 year old niece for Christmas, but, as someone considered neurodiverse, thought I'd have a read myself first.
It's a very interesting book that is definitely written for children but equally could be read as an adult either with their children or as a simple way of explaining what makes us different. I wish a book like this was around when I was a kid, as then being called weird would have made me feel a little more connected to a world I couldn't have felt more disconnected from.
My only worry is the possibility of self diagnosis, but I'm hoping with mine and her parents' guidance, she will use this book as a reference rather than a diagnostic manual.
Profile Image for Universal  Truth.
25 reviews
September 26, 2024
A soft intro into the world of neuro divergence. It's designed for younger audiences, it appears, since it has lots of visuals and colorful text. The book is eye opening for us who are not well versed in the topic. It describes numerous brain diagnosis and people that lived with them. It is always quick to note when we don't have enough information to fully understand some of the mental situations. I think the book is done in an approachable way and doesn't try to diminish anyone while explaining anything.
Profile Image for Jennifer Ingle.
258 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2024
A comprehensive, nonfiction text geared towards kids about neurodiversity. It includes topics such as ADHD, mental health, history and famous, neurodivergent people.


A 6-year-old kid’s review: It taught me a lot of new things. There was very good pictures. It gave me lots of ideas to write my own book or comic.
1 review1 follower
April 9, 2025
Kui soovid saada keerulistest asjadest kiiret ja head ülevaadet, loe lastele kirjutatud raamatuid. Sama põhimõte kehtib selle raamatu puhul. "Minu harukordne aju" tutvustab neuroerilisuse kirevat maailma, annab ülevaate ajaloost, kuulsatest neuroerilistest. Ja seda kõike lihtsalt ning kaasahaaravalt.
Profile Image for Simply Sienna.
17 reviews
May 14, 2025
It's one of the best books I've read, super informative but easy to read at the same time! probably because the Author is also Neurodivergent like myself, so her book was easily comprehendable. The fonts were so satisfying to read. The images were amazing and added to the easy reading aspect. this was just an introduction, so I would love to read another!
Profile Image for Joanne.
1,953 reviews42 followers
June 19, 2025
Wonderfully Wired Brains is an inclusive and kid-friendly introduction to neurodiversity. It celebrates all the different ways our brains work, emphasizing that none of those differences are bad or broken. The book is brightly illustrated, and clearly written, making it an easy read for both kids and adults who want to understand neurodivergence with compassion and curiosity.
Profile Image for Dianne.
202 reviews
July 25, 2024
This book is amazing. Everyone should read it. Most of us are aware of dyslexia, I'm sure most of us would learn something from it. It's colourful, nicely laid out, easy to read, or a quick reference book.
Profile Image for Paige Hughes.
30 reviews
October 26, 2025
With having children all with differently wired brains this book is AMAZING! I love the facts, the colour the graphics, and how it is all broken down into easy digestible sections. This is a must-read if you are trying to help your child understand their brain and their differences.
Profile Image for Sharon.
48 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2024
Great introduction for children into the world of neurodiversity.
Easy language.
Beautifully illustrated.
Engaging!
Profile Image for Carter Olendzenski.
235 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2024
This book is a really good stepping off point for talking to your kids about neurodiversity. I love how they included other neurodiverse conditions other than just autism and ADHD. Really well done!
Profile Image for Remy.
335 reviews6 followers
August 16, 2024
I thought this was a relatively good book until it got to page p. 87 where it describes Jonathan Van Ness - a male who likes wearing makeup and feminine clothes. Otherwise, I'd give it 4 stars.
5 reviews
March 12, 2025
I'm an autistic counsellor working with neurodivergent kids, teens, and families and THIS BOOK IS A GAME CHANGER. Love it!!!
Profile Image for Joy Marker.
109 reviews
March 19, 2025
This is a great book to help explain how our brains are wired to work differently. Easy enough for older kids to understand and informative enough to be helpful for parents and caregivers.
Profile Image for Alex Adame.
341 reviews3 followers
April 17, 2025
Un libro con ilustraciones preciosas y gran información🫶🏼😊
Profile Image for Alison.
50 reviews2 followers
June 18, 2025
It's rare that a children's book makes me cry, but here I am in tears. I feel seen and I know that the neurodivergent youth I treat will feel seen, too. Thank you.
175 reviews
November 14, 2025
Everyone should read this book. Great information shared in a fun, colourful and entertaining way. Absolutely brilliant!
Profile Image for McKenzie Richardson.
Author 68 books66 followers
September 25, 2023
For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

A fantastic introduction to how the brain works and neurodiversity. Burrows works in modern understandings about different conditions, including how gender may affect getting a diagnosis.

The book covers some basics on how the brain works, dives into different neurodiverse experiences, gives a little history, and highlights a few individuals with wonderfully wired brains. The book covers in detail autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, and dyslexia. There are also shorter sections on synesthesia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, language processing disorder, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, Tourette's and tics, seizures and epilepsy, and cerebral palsy. Throughout, Gooding discusses common characteristics and possible ways to manage difficulties. In many sections, she also lists some of the common positive abilities associated such a strong emotional understanding in those with bipolar disorder, and creativity, visualization, and seeing patterns in those with dyslexia.

Fun illustrations that pair nicely with the text and make reading more engaging. Loved the bright colors and breakout sections. At times, the flow of the different sections was a little hard to follow, but overall the design worked well.

The book presents neurodiversity as a way of life, not necessarily as something negative. Gooding shows the positive traits as well as the difficulties. The book comes from a place of support and education, encouraging readers to talk to trusted adults if some of the traits and difficulties resonate with them.

At the back of the book is a glossary of terms not defined in the text and an index for easy reference.

A helpful introduction presented in an fun, engaging way.
Profile Image for Erin.
310 reviews21 followers
February 12, 2024
"I've written his book for the wonderers, the thinkers, the curious, and the intrigued. IT's for those with their own wonderfully wired brain...I want to show you how different and similar we all are."

This book is a great intro to neurodiversity - and I don't just mean for kids! While children are clearly the target audience, I loved the clear language and the emphasis on both the strengths and challenges of different neurodivergent conditions. The illustrations blend perfectly making this a 5-star book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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