This Is My Brain!: A Book on Neurodiversity

by Elise Gravel

A seriously funny book all about our brains! Award-winning author-illustrator Elise Gravel celebrates the many wonderful ways humans think in a comic-style nonfiction book for curious kids.

Acclaimed creator Elise Gravel (Killer Underwear Invasion!, Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere, and many more) uses her trademark humor and punchy art to explore the fascinating human brain.

Though all our brains look the same, every brain works differently. This Is My Brain! shows readers that understanding how different brains feel and learn can help us connect with others . . . and keep our own brains happy! Through humorous, engaging text and brightly colored art, readers are introduced to the fundamentals of how our brains work, how our unique neurology influences how we think and act, and how the world is a better place when we understand each other’s brains and use them collectively.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Science, Psychology, Health, Juvenile

48 pages, Hardcover

Published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[fer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah é bonitinho mas meio repetitivo, acho que por ser pra criança

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

It's cute and will work for the children it's actually intended for, but it's awfully repetitive without really explaining much, which I'd expect more of considering I've found it being marketed towards - both here and elsewhere - to middle grade ages.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't have a lot of actual information about neurodiversity. It felt more like an introduction to the brain for lower elementary. I thought there would be more information than there was. The pictures are cute and the book does give some information about the brain and different ways of learning, but that's it.

[Hensley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know... I think I was just expecting more.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elise Gravel excels at explanations that kids get and her graphically sophisticated artwork always appeals. Here she creates a giant talking brain who resembles a “big, jellyfish, squishy wad..of chewing gum” to help explain neurodiversity. An unseen narrator and the brain’s funny talk bubbles walk readers through how this unique organ processes information and grows over time. The theme here is that each brain works a bit differently from everyone else’s. For example, we all have different learning styles and here the author creates several jelly-bean shaped creatures in a variety of colors to illustrate this concept (a pink jelly pedals a stationary bike shouts “I learn better when I’m moving!”) We all experience emotion in unique ways, but all feelings are valid; “I’m scared of dogs!” yells one jelly who scoots away while another jelly in a wheelchair picks up the pup for a cuddle. The world would be boring if all brains were the same, Gravel tells us, accompanied by a chorus of square-headed, factory-produced robots. As always, she uses her trademark, handwritten font, with occasional words appearing as giant bubble letters in various colors for emphasis. The book closes with some advice on growing our brains, protecting them, and seeking help when needed.

This would be a good resource for kids who have questions about their own brains or about neurodiverse family members or classmates. Its large images would work well for a group read aloud. It could also be helpful for guidance counselors, social workers, or other therapists. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS MY BRAIN! is a funny yet accurate book about our brains. With cartoon-style illustrations and easy-to-understand science, kids will learn all about how brains function. They will be surprised that in many ways, our brains are similar, but even more so, how they are different.

Brains work the hardest when kids are first born and little. Babies and toddlers have to learn so much like how to walk, how to climb, how to share, how to talk, how to smile and so much more. Our brains have to hold on to so much information. Even though our brains look pretty much the same, not everyone’s brain is the same inside. We all have different talents inside our brains like math, writing, music, drawing, or athleticism. We also learn differently from others. Some need to play to learn while others need to hear it taught to them and even others need to learn in a quiet environment.

If all our brains were the same, what a boring and robotic world we would live in. I especially liked how this book reminds kids to respect others when someone thinks, acts, or responds differently than they do. Our differences are what make our world better and allow us to pull our ideas together for even bigger projects.

This book touches briefly on neurodiverse brains and how their brains might need different ways to learn, respond, or react. The illustrations make the learning approachable for kids and the explanations are easy for kids to understand.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, positive view of neurodiversity, a children's graphic science book by the the passionate STEM artist Elise Gravel. The basic point is to talk about how all brains are different, and to respect those differences in others, a basic picture book and children's book theme. As a parent of no less than three kids on the spectrum, I tend to take a more critical look at the implicit assumption that neurodivergence is always about celebrating difference. This is generally true, no doubt, especially for higher functioning folks, but some people at the periphery of the spectrum are severely challenged, and at least two of my children will never be able to live independently. That isn't just something to "celebrate," surely. But all humans need to feel loved and cared for and connected with, absolutely.

As an introduction to neurodiversity generally for children who need to understand and appreciate all the kids in their classrooms/world, this is a good and useful and enthusiastic book. The publisher insists this is a funny book; I didn't find it so, but it is light-hearted enough.

[Grace Sheldon]

This is a fun book for kids about how the brain works. It shows how diverse we all our and how we all think and learn differently. It shows how we all have different ways we learn and some might be faster than others in certain areas. It also shows how some people's brains might communicate differently than other people. It places a lot of value on respect for each other, their opinions, and how we all communicate.
I really liked this book because it shows diversity and acceptance in a fun and colorful way for kids. It uses neutral language when talking about how we are all different and makes sure to include all different kinds of learning styles. I think this is a great book for kids to realize how we are all unique and different and that's what makes us special and beautiful.
I would use this in the classroom as part of a morning meeting to show community. Even if no one in the class is neurodivergent, I would still read this book to showcase neurodiversity as well as learning differences and how we are all different. I would want to do research on neurodiversity ahead of time in case my class has questions or wants to learn more.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

This is a good book for explaining how brains work and the differences between people's brains. I think I would have liked it more if I hadn't also read How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic today (which is for an older audience but is just so good that it made this book not seem as good).

[Zan Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though all our brains look the same, every brain works differently. This Is My Brain! shows readers that understanding how different brains feel and learn can help us connect with others...and keep our own brains happy! Through humorous, engaging text and brightly colored art, readers are introduced to the fundamentals of how our brains work, how our unique neurology influences how we think and act, and how the world is a better place when we understand each other’s brains and use them collectively."--

[Billasweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book have the good illustration, it makes the book so fun and not boring. This book is way simple to teach kids about our brain. The words is easy to understand with many colors.

And this book reminds us to keep our brain healthy and happy😇🥰

[Ree P · Rating 2 out of 5]

okay so what we're not going to do is tell our youths their every little thing they feel is valid. this will probably cause low impulse control. also I'm sorry why are we associating puzzle with neurodiversity??? I was half expecting to see an autism speaks link in the back.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is AWESOME! Not only are the illustrations and words engaging, but she addresses a very important but often hard-to-explain topic. This is a great resource for helping kids understand neurodiversity and what that looks like for different people.

[Ossy Firstan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sederhana dan menarik

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be lots of fun in Preschool STEAM.

[Diana C · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10 short and sweet for kids

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want Elise Gravel to write all the nonfiction books on all the subjects.

[Abbigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting this book to explore more about neurodiversity/people/etc, but as a picture book about how our brains work and why they are awesome, it's a cute starter.

[Slaa!!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and fun and sweet!!

[Allison Bruns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable illustrations and very accessible, surface level info about brains and all they do.

[Fiore · Rating 3 out of 5]

So very cute but mostly just basics on what brains do and the importance of being different without really going into neurodiversity in anything more than a quick glance.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Elise Gravel's illustrations.

[Eden · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you want to learn about brain, 100% the book for you. Elise very little talks about neurodiversity. Just about when I thought it was gonna get book, the book was done.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great illustrated children's book on the importance of neurodiversity.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

for lower elementary. more basic learning styles. not really Neurodivergence

[Zoë]

Understandable to children, humorously illustrated, informative and digestible!

[Allison Haehnel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever children’s book to help littles start to understand that we are all different. However, true neurodiversity is just hinted at with the puzzle representation.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

not so much about neurodivergent, more so that everyone is different.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read for kids of all ages to help them understand we are all different and why. Perfection, no notes.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool to see a book like this! It shows how different kids learn and develop differently. I liked the pages on learning styles (like reading, group work, listening etc). I certainly would have benefited with understanding that I learn better alone than in a loud classroom setting.