My Fantabulous Brain - by Julia Cook (Paperback)

About the Book

"Learning doesn't come easy for many children. They struggle with schoolwork, have trouble focusing, and can't make sense of instructions. Oftentimes, these challenges can cause children to internalize their struggles and question their abilities. In My fantabulous brain, Julia Cook helps children understand that everyone needs help sometimes, and there are people who can give us the tools we need to make our brains stronger!"--]cBack cover.

Book Synopsis

Take the "T" out of "CAN'T" and the "DON'T" out of "I DON'T KNOW!"

Learning doesn't come easy for many children. They struggle with schoolwork, have trouble focusing, and can't make sense of instructions. Oftentimes, these challenges can cause children to internalize their struggles and question their abilities. In My Fantabulous Brain, Julia Cook helps children understand that everyone needs help sometimes, and there are people who can give us the tools we need to make our brains stronger!

Wade doesn't understand why things like math and spelling seem so easy for other kids but so hard for him. His brain doesn't seem to work right, and he can't focus with all the stuff going on in his head. He tries so hard, but feels like he stinks at everything!

Just when he is about to give up, Wade's Fantabulous Brain comes to the rescue. By using tools in his "Brain Tool Box," Wade learns how to give his brain a tune up, making it stronger and more efficient. He also visits a Brain Trainer, a special brain mechanic, who teaches him how to work smarter not harder.

With a little time and a lot of hard work, Wade is amazed what he can accomplish when he and his Fantabulous Brain work together!

Review Quotes

My Fantabulous Brain helps children realize that their brains (with a little training and practice) can grow, learn, and improve at anything! The story helps students understand how their brains work and how we can master new skills with determination and hard work. I could see this book being especially relevant for children with learning differences, but also helpful for all children (because we all struggle in some areas!) It could go along well with a growth mindset unit or with lessons on determination and effort.

Laura Oathout

School Counselor, Instagram @musiccitycounselor

Having a son that struggles and seeing students with similar struggles, I see the frustration and don't want it affecting their self-esteem or giving up. This book is fantastic for all to better understand and help children realize it's okay find ways to make your brain stronger. We all want our kids to feel successful!

Debi Salazar
Teacher, Instagram @sunshineandrainbowsinteaching

This book talks about how everyone's brain is unique and just because it doesn't work like someone else's, it's ok. The book is easy to read and easy to understand and shows kids that people can help them. It doesn't blame or fault a child for struggling. Rather, you can work at training your brain to help you. The book contains exercises to help (a sequence of colored arrows and you have to name the direction or the color and then switch it up). This would be great for kids in the upper elementary school grades (4th-5th) for both parents and educators.

Sarah Lewis
Parent, Instagram @get_ready_get_set_read

About the Author

Julia Cook, M.S. is a national award-winning children's author, counselor, and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools nationally and internationally, regularly speaks at 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."

Olga and Aleksey Ivanov are a family team of children's book illustrators, and have collaborated on over 100 books, using an unusual approach wherein both artists conceive, sketch, design, and paint.