Professor Thomas Cat's Guide to Understanding the Human Brain: The Dyslexia Files

by Rachael Allen, Miguel Díaz Rivas (Illustrator)

Professor Thomas Cat is an expert brain scientist! He's spent years learning all about how to control—er, understand—the human brain.


He has a very thorough presentation put together to show other cats just how the human brain works, and how they can use that to . . . nevermind. Today's dyslexia!


But Ava actually has dyslexia, so she has a few things to add. Professor Cat's presentation does a good job focusing on the science, but what about what it's really like to live with dyslexia? She and her dolphin sidekick step their way out of his presentation to give him some (unasked-for!) notes. Between Ava's personal experience and Professor Cat's science, they might just get close to rounding up all the information that a kid with dyslexia needs to succeed . . . that is, if world domination doesn't get in the way. And if Dolphin doesn't press that mysterious secret button.


With an emphasis on empowerment, encouragement, and the hidden strengths of kids with dyslexia, this graphic novel demystifies brain science and provides actionable tools. Included is a list of resources and profiles of several famous people with dyslexia.

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 3, 2026

About the author

http://www.rachael-allen.com
Disabled Author, Artist, Musician

Rachael Allen is a disabled writer and native of Baltimore, Maryland, USA, who now lives in England with her husband. Growing up in Baltimore, she had a deep love for horses and cats, which played a part in her writing at an early age, as she completed her first book when she was only nine years old. She enjoyed creating poetry, artwork, playing guitar and composing songs, until several chronic illnesses changed her life.
Velvet Hellion was a labor of love, born over many years as Rachael found herself becoming housebound, due to her illnesses. She's very grateful to her readers who purchase her book; any profit helps her to acquire the necessary vitamins and supplements she needs for her illnesses.

Reviews

[Drew Litteral · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book strikes a good balance between being informative and engaging. The graphic novel offers valuable insight into dyslexia through Ava, a spunky girl with the learning disability, and does an excellent job at making its readers understand how this can affect someone's brain and what dyslexia might feel like. Even as an adult reader, I learned new information about how our brains work for my read of this graphic novel.
This book also includes interactive experiments that can be done with friends or family members. These experiments are charming and accurate in demonstrating dyslexia to those who do not experience it.
The book also offers encouragement with empathy, confidence, understanding, and situational strategies that that anyone can benefit from, but particularly for those who already feel isolated or different from their peers.
It is worth noting that some of the terminology used while explaining how the brain works are a little more advanced compared with what would be expected in graphic novels geared toward young readers. Because of this, younger or struggling readers may need occasional guidance over certain sections. A consideration of the individual reader's literacy level in advance will ensure they learn what the book has to offer.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher, American Psychological Association, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Steff Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachael Allen’s Professor Thomas Cat's Guide to Understanding the Human Brain: The Dyslexia Files is the sort of book that I’m desperate to see more of. Though I will admit to there being a sort of irony to the fact that this book focuses heavily on the topic of dyslexia when the text is as advanced as it is. I don’t think that this is a fault of the book, exactly, but it does speak to a higher need for books that are more accessible to dyslexic readers about the things they experience as they are experiencing them.

So, with that in mind, this is likely the sort of book that many dyslexic kids will have to read with a parent or teacher.

Given the field that I work in, I already had an awareness for much of the information included in this graphic novel—what I will say is that I am deeply appreciative of having the information written in a fun way for young minds. I was even incredibly excited to see programs that I not only recognize and use, but the company I have worked for included in the book, even if it doesn’t quite get into the prices of said programs.

All in all, I think this is a reasonably accessible—energy and theme wise—graphic novel about an experience a lot of people have. One of the biggest pieces to supporting those who struggle with reading is time spent building the muscle and I loved how this book went into those themes through various points. I do believe that we ought to have more books like this, especially if they go into specifics of how to support developing reading skills. Definitely one for my recommendation list.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.