A Walk in the Rain with a Brain

By Edward M. Hallowell

Book Overview

Each brain finds its own special way -- that's the message in this delightful, colorful story by America's foremost expert on learning and childhood development.

Edward Hallowell, M.D., is a noted psychiatrist and teacher and a leading authority on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. At many of his lectures worldwide he has read a story he wrote for children about how each person's brain is unique -- and it has resonated among the thousands of parents, teachers, and others who have heard it.

A Walk in the Rain with a Brain is the illustrated version of that story. In it, a little girl named Lucy is making her way down a rainy sidewalk when she spies, of all things, a brain -- Manfred, called Fred -- sitting forlornly in a puddle. The courtly cerebrum asks Lucy for help getting home, and as they walk along she worries that she's not smart enough. "Everyone's smart!" explains Fred. "You just need to find out at what!" Fred reassures her that each child learns and thinks differently -- and that every child has special talents.

Charming illustrations and a funny, whimsical story teach children to play and learn in order to find the strengths they have -- and a discussion guide at the end gives parents and educators the background support they need in order to help children understand and discover the sparkling individuality of their minds.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060007311
• ISBN13: 9780060007317
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.2" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 3

Customer Reviews

great book about "smart"

As a Special Education teacher I enjoyed this book and how it explains the brain. I listened as Dr. Hallowell read this book to a group of children, what an awesome experience. A great book to read to all children but especially lower elementary special education students.

Smart We All Are

Written as a children's book, Dr. Hallowell's message is an important one for all ages. As Yoda would say, "Smart we all are, in our own way." The "plot" is weak. When would we ever see a "brain" walking in the rain looking for his head? My 5-year-old great niece will surely say, "That makes no sense." But, the message makes sense and the lesson is a powerful one: "No brain is the same, no brain is the best, / Each brain finds its own special way." Being smart cannot always be measured by a test, and we must play to find our brain's way. In too many homes, watching TV and videos consumes active play time. In our schools today, recess is being taken away to make more time for tutoring and testing. This story reminds parents and teachers about the importance of play as learning. Parents and educators need to hear Dr. Hallowell's message and make changes at home and in school that promote our kids' physical, mental, and intellectual development. The discussion guide at the end makes suggestions for doing so.

Wonderful Book!

This is a wonderful book to help children understand that people's brains work differently. It may help them understand that being different isn't a bad thing.

Kids Loved It

I know Ned Hallowell and like his work, but this review is actually from my kids - they loved it! The message is simple and right on - no one type of brain is superior - all are special and you just need to find out at what. Our family also had fun using the discussion guide at the back of the book and talking about what our own brains do best. This story is a gem!

A Walk in the Rain with a Brain

This book is fantastically right that every brain/person is special, no brain is better than any other, and Smart is just a word made up by brains that wanted power. This book fosters the idea of individuality and learning through play which is the way we all learn. I use it in my Brain Gym work with people of all ages. Wonderful illustrations.