“What Was I Thinking? Volume 1: My Brainy Best Friend” by Zac Lange

WHAT WAS I THINKING? VOLUME 1: MY BRAINY BEST FRIEND

Zac Lange
Novel Notions Press (2016)
ISBN 9780996849012
Reviewed by Russ Cramer (age 5) for Reader Views Kids (02/17)

“What Was I Thinking? Volume 1: My Brainy Best Friend” by Zac Lange is about a boy who kicks the ball in the house and knocks over the flowers in the house and gets arrested by his mom. Then the boy calls for his brain and then makes a special learning list that has three rules. The first rule of the learning list is to Stop and Think. Number 2 is to think Could this get me hurt? The third rule is Could this get me arrested? (Parent’s Note: actually the third rule is Could this get me in trouble?”)

My favorite part of the story is that the boy eats cupcakes over brownies, though I like brownies too. I like that he was riding on a roller coaster, tasting cupcakes, and even that he said that cupcakes were more fun than brownies. I also liked when the brain is exercising, I also like that the pictures of the trees have eyes, and when the brain is on the beach. Finally, I like when the boy is looking at the same book as we are.

I didn’t like when the boy cried because he got hurt. I did like the brain patting him on the head. My dad patted me on the head, too. I liked that. I also was grossed out by the brain eating knowledge. Yuck! Knowledge isn’t food.

I think it’s funny that the special learning list is taped to the boy’s face because it’s on the wrong side. The boy can’t see it. The book is very special to me because I like it. It’s important to try again when I make a mistake and make it right.

Parent’s Note:

My son has really enjoyed this book and has read it several times. He really likes what he calls his “Special Learning List’ of those three rules. I look forward to seeing if he applies those rules when he makes mistakes in the future. He says he’s still working on it.