Smart at drawing very pointy stars." Wow, again, a kid with learning disabilities like dysgraphia is gonna find this one a gut punch yet again. Berns GS, et al. (2013). Short- and long-term effects of a novel on connectivity in the brain. DOI: Simple, flowing words coupled with fluorescent illustrations (created from ink, charcoal, and pencil, then digitally assembled) give young readers a book brimming with examples of how they are smart all day, every day … Realistic illustrations show children of varying racial presentations joining sentient animals and benign, hairy monsters to confidently explore their world, real and imagined.

The author of this book was inspired by Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences. A framework in which the concept of ‘intelligence’ extends far beyond that of logical and linguistic intelligence. Davina Bell is an award winning children's author. She has written many books such as "All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors", "Under the Love Umbrella", "The Underwater Fancy-dress Parade", "Oh Albert!" and "Hattie Helps Out". These books have won many awards and Bell is working on a young-adult novel to be released later this year. Beydoun MA, et al. (2014). Caffeine and alcohol intakes and overall nutrient adequacy are associated with longitudinal cognitive performance among U.S. adults. DOI: Evans IEM, et al. (2018). Social isolation, cognitive reserve, and cognition in healthy older people. DOI:Basso JC, et al. (2019). Brief, daily meditation enhances attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation in non-experienced meditators. DOI: Australian author/illustrator team Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys, who previously collaborated on Captain Starfish (originally published as The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade) and Under the Love Umbrella, join forces again in this lovely picture-book exploration of intelligence. The rhyming text describes the many different kinds of activities and personal qualities that require intelligence, thereby highlighting that there are many different kinds of smarts, while the colorful artwork depicts those activities and qualities... Intrapersonal – ‘I use self-reflection and analysis to set personal goals and identify my strengths and weaknesses.’

It’s bright, happy, diverse, affirming, challenging, positive, and so much more. Bell reminds us through her words that smart can be so much more than good at reading and math. And Colpoys illustrations help make Bell’s message accessible to all children.All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell explores multiple intelligences in a way that small children can understand and appreciate. Every child is smart in his or her own way. Some of the ways highlighted in a pleasing rhyme include creativity, physical activities, music, emotional sensitivity, memorising information, math, and traditional academic knowledge ... The illustrations by Allison Colpoys are colourful and inviting, reminiscent of the early Dr. Seuss style ... This is a charming book to help children understand that everyone has special skills and talents. A picture book that is joyous, life-affirming, and challenges stereotypes about what it means to be clever. Herold F, et al. (2019). Functional and/or structural brain changes in response to resistance exercises and resistance training lead to cognitive improvements – a systematic review. DOI:

This should be required reading — in families, at workplaces, in schools. I love this beautiful, confidence-building book. I think everyone will find something here to make them feel better about themselves (and appreciate those around them).Anotonenko D, et al. (2013). Napping to renew learning capacity: enhanced coding after stimulation of sleep slow oscillations. DOI: A celebration of creativity and emotional intelligence featuring a diverse cast of kids. A reassuring read for primary-aged children who feel like a round peg in a square, academic hole. Our open-ended mathematics investigation has been designed to deepen students’ understanding of length, and it’s the perfect activity to do after reading this book for a little bit of maths inclusion.

Cutuli D. (2017). Functional and structural benefits induced by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids during aging. This book needs to be in the hands of every policy-maker in the sphere of Education, in every classroom, in every library, and in every home … This book is an utterly glorious call to celebrate your strengths and your own unique smarts. Pervin M, et al. (2019). Function of green tea catechins in the brain: Epigallocatechin gallate and its metabolites.Bell L, et al. (2015). A review of the cognitive effects observed in humans following acute supplementation with flavonoids, and their associated mechanisms of action. Zeidan F, et al. (2010). Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: Evidence of brief mental training. DOI: Being sorry when you’re naughty’, for example, is an expression of interpersonal intelligence. ‘Drawing witches hats’ and ‘gluing wings on bats’ is linked to bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. This book teaches children that intelligence is so much more than being book-smart. Intelligence can also mean being empathetic, artistic, athletic, and inquisitive. It places value in every kind of talent, from ‘building boats from boxes’ to ‘kindness when there’s crying’. All the Ways to Be Smart is the perfect feel-good bedtime story that I can’t wait to gift this Christmas. Brinke LF, et al. (2015). Aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume in older women with probable mild cognitive impairment: A 6-month randomized controlled trial.