BSEL Library: Understanding "Your Amazing Brain" through Nonfiction Picture Books

When I experienced my brain injury in 2022, I learned the hard way that your brain really impacts everything! 

That's why I was so glad to see a book come out that teaches children just how our brains work and interact with the world to form our thoughts, feelings, and actions - really, our behavior. 

That book is "Your Amazing Brain"
by Jessica Sinarski. 

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While this brand new book is written for children and contains fun, age-appropriate analogies and characters, there is much for adults to learn in the pages as well. You could use this book at home, in the classroom, or in a more therapeutic setting like counseling. "Your Amazing Brain" covers everything from neuroscience to the nervous system, teaching both how the brain works and ways to support it. 

Here's some aspects I love about the book:

1. It balances real-world vocabulary with child-friendly explanations. With a glossary of words like "glial cells," "proprioception," and "limbic system," you know this book doesn't shy away from giving children the language to speak about their brains in practical ways. Yet it also discusses the "upstairs brain," "protection mode," "false alarms," and your "act without thinking team," to make difficult concepts more approachable for kids.
2. It contains practical strategies for students. Whether it's the ABC strategy, the HALT strategy, and a list of "brain boosting habits," it really makes this information easy to apply right away. The upstairs/downstairs hand model is another great tip, as is protection mode vs. connection mode. It just has so many good places to start conversations around the support students need.
3. There are lots of tips for the adults too. From little quips throughout to an entire page dedicated to the adult, the book helps grown-ups understand their role in the child's brain development. This book really gives a team approach to the adult and child reading it together.
4. It's just a quality nonfiction text for integrating comprehension strategies! "Your Amazing Brain" contains lots of text features such as thought bubbles, speech bubbles, labels, graphics, step-by-step descriptions, and more. This would be a great book for marrying literacy instruction with BSEL.

As usual, there are a couple things to be aware of in this book.

• The book contains a LOT of information. It's almost a mini textbook of sorts! It says it is for ages 7 and up, which I agree with. However, I can't think of an age that would be able to finish this book and truly understand it in one sitting. This book will and should take time to work through. Even I needed to read it a few times and suggest other adults to do the same before attempting to use it with children. In fact, the author suggests the same above the table of contents.
• The book mentions needing connections to safe adults for healthy brain development. I bring this up for two reasons: first, it can be hard for children who may not have safe, healthy, connected adults at home to discuss this. Second, it can be hard adults to work through realizing they may not have had the safe, healthy adults they needed when they were growing up. It would be beneficial to include a guidance counselor, social worker, or other mental health professional when you use this book if possible. Thankfully, on the "Quick Guide for Grown-Ups" page, this is acknowledged and resources are provided for adults to work on healing their own nervous system too. 

If you can't tell yet, I'll make it clear - I think this book is an AMAZING tool for educators! (See what I did there?) Here's how I would use it in a classroom setting.

Read and discuss during morning meeting or whenever you provide SEL instruction. The book is broken down into sections in the table of contents on page 2 to help you navigate the book. I would walk through section by section, discussing and pausing as class-led conversation allows. The author says it well when she states, "Above all, let curiosity and connection be your guide." Considering it has about 10 sections, I would work through this book over about two weeks.

Use this individually with a student or small group who needs additional support. There are a few individualized extension activities this book lends itself to nicely. First, you could have students define each of their protectors on their Act Without Thinking Team, using the "X-Ray Vision" page as a guide. Second, you could create choice contingency comics, using the "Protection Mode Vs. Connection Mode" page as a guide. Third and Fourth, there are two worksheets in the back of the book that you can download at jessicasinarski.com/Amazing that would make great extensions as well. 

Provide this book as a resource to colleagues and parents. This book really is just as much for the adults as it is for the kids. Unfortunately, many of us adults were not taught these things either! The "Quick Guide for Grown Ups" and "Tips For Using This Book and Beyond" pages would both be easy to share with other adults and keep yourself on track too. A child's development really does begin with the adults around them. 

Let me know in the comments how you use this book in your classroom!

***I was offered a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

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We already know books provide opportunities to teach just about any skill, and that includes behavioral, social, and emotional skills, too! Through character, conflict, and more, BSEL skills can be found on nearly every page. A library of BSEL books gives you endless options to incorporate academics as well. Grab some BSEL books and get teaching!