Bubble Gum Brain: A Picture Book About Growth Mindset

by Julia Cook, Allison Valentine;Allison Valentine (Illustrator)

BECOMING is better than BEING.

I have Bubble Gum Brain. I like to chew on my thoughts, flex, bend and stretch my brain, and expand the way I think! I make great mistakes that help me learn.

I have Brick Brain. With me, things are the way they are…and they’re probably not going to change much. I am the way I am…and that’s just how it is.

Meet Bubble Gum Brain and Brick Brain: two kids with two VERY different mindsets. Bubble Gum Brain likes to have fun adventures, learn new things, and doesn’t worry about making great mistakes. Brick Brain is convinced that things are just fine the way they are and there’s not much he can do to change them, so why try?

When Bubble Gum Brain shows Brick Brain how to peel off his wrapper, Brick Brain begins to realize just how much more fun school…and life… can be!

This creative story centered on growth mindset teaches children (and adults) the valuable lesson that becoming is better than being, which can open the door to a whole new world of possibilities!

Genres: Picture Books, Growth Mindset, Childrens, Psychology, School, Teaching, Kids

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

"In order to teach children, you must enter their view of the world."
~ Julia Cook

JULIA COOK, M.S. is a national award winning children’s author, counselor and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools across the country and abroad, regularly speaks at national education and counseling conferences, and has published children’s books on a wide range of character and social development topics. The goal behind Cook’s work is to actively involve young people in fun, memorable stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspiration for her books comes from working with children and carefully listening to counselors, parents, and teachers, in order to stay on top of needs in the classroom and at home. Cook has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through storybooks, giving children both the “what to say” and the “how to say it”.

Reviews

[Farjaneh_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

هو النور
مغز خمیری، مغز سنگی از انتشارات مهرسا ۶تا ۱۴ سال
خوب بود اما برای سن مناسب، من درد دل مادر یک دخترک ۴ ساله رو شنیدم که توی کلاس کتابخوانی تسهیلگر این کتاب خوب رو برای بچه‌ها خونده بود و باعث رفتارهای عجیب و غریب دخترک شده بود 😶😄 #طنز_تلخ
خلاصه اگر تسهیلگرید یا کلاس کتابخوانی میخواید ثبت نام کنید به بازه‌ی سنی بچه‌ها خیلیییی دقت کنید.
کتاب خوب در سن اشتباه ممکنه کتاب بدی بشه.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have ever read to my class on growth mindset!! We use the language almost every day & the students are now sharing it with their parents!!

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well intentioned, but amateurishly executed. On one page I counted four colors of text, three fonts, three font sizes, and excessive use of bolding and all caps. The illustrations are somewhat horrifying. Good message, gets lost in the telling. Not recommended unless you are desperate for a picture book that explicitly discusses growth mindset. Ages 6-8.

[Amy Oberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Julia Cook effectively distills the most powerful aspects of Carol Dweck's "Mindest" research into the picture book, "Bubble Gum Brain: Ready, Get Mindset...GROW!" While the format may suggest a target audience of young listeners/readers, the dense passages of text and extensive use of metaphor are likely more appropriate for Grades 2 - 5. A title worthy of including in classroom and school libraries.

Publication Date: 2017
Format: Picture book
Elements: Dense text, some passages in rhyme; finals pages have additional information related to Carol Dweck's "Mindset" research
Connection/Topics: Introduction to fixed v. growth mindset; the "power of yet;" making mistakes, becoming v. being; metaphor
Activity Ideas: Compare a small LEGO brick and a small block of unchewed gum; activity with sensory prompts while chewing gum

Related Media:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brpkj...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_oqg...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiiEe...

[Geyz-G1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book compares bubble gum brain and brick brain. Bubble gum brain is stretchy, hopeful and willing to grow. Brick brain refuses to grow. Brick brain would say I cannot do it, while bubble gum brain would say I cannot do it yet. There is one subject which is very difficult for me, and I feel that I cannot do it. But I would like to use my bubble gum brain and say that I cannot do it yet.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to teach children about the difference between growth mindset and fixed mindset and that we all have the ability to change from being a fixed mindset (a brick brain) to a growth mindset (bubble gum brain). if we take time to "unwrap" and change our mindset. Would work well if while sharing the story, the teacher passes out a piece of brick bubble gum.

[Melissa Ganka-Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are a little weird (a kid with a bubble gum head is pretty comical) but the dialogue between the kids with growth and fixed mindsets is easy to understand. The author gave good and relatable examples of both kinds of mindsets.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bubble Gum Brian" is a great reminder that mistakes can happen and that we all need to be a little flexible. A great read for the classroom or one on one when we're feeling a little extra frustrated.

[Heather Gmiterek · Rating 5 out of 5]

We got this Fort he 11 year old but the 3 year old has claimed it as her own. It’s a fantastic book for kiddos who struggle with rigid thinking and being inflexible. A fun read with great coping skills and flexible thinking ideas.

[Melanie Swider Wenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book comparing growth mindset to fixed mindset - great read aloud to explain the difference to students.

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growth mindset

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my classroom "March Madness" read alouds

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice book to get us to start thinking outside the box.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This topic is important - but why is it so tempting to make these books rhyme?!?

[Melissa T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. What a great book for kids. After reading this book my son has decided to no longer be a brick but to become a bubble gum person, in his words.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great message, but pretty juvenile read. Too young for our 5th graders.

[Zahra tavakoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتابی که ضرورت انعطاف‌پذیری در زندگی را به مخاطب یادآوری می‌کند. این که انعطاف‌پذیری مغز ما را توانمندتر می‌کند. مناسب مخاطب بالای هفت سال.
عنوان فارسی: مغز خمیری مغز سنگی

[Dream]

جمله‌های به درد بخور، حتی برای بزرگترها
مخصوصا بزرگترهایی که عادت به جملات و واژه‌های منفی دارند.

[Erin Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughters come back to this book again and again. They refer to it all the time when talking to others. It’s a wonderful resource that I am thankful to have found and use!

[PottWab Regional Library]

E

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the words, but pictures are disturbing.

[Maki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book about changing your mindset and trying new things.