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Brain Based Teaching
Hugh the Hippo Camps Out In My Head follows a young boy and his friends who go on a magical adventure to learn about the hippocampus. What was the inspiration for your story?
As an early childhood educator, I teach my ‘littles’ (K-5) about their amazing brain, specifically the importance of their PFC, Hippocampus and Amygdala. They are fascinated by how their brain learns! Since incorporating brain based teaching (neuroscience) in my classroom (8+ years), I have seen tremendous growth in academic achievement, as well as social-emotional learning (SEL). It changes how students approach learning by empowering them to learn more efficiently, calmly and confidently.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
How amazing our brain is and how we learn and remember things. My students love learning about their brain and how they can make their brain “smarter and stronger”! Additionally, it was important to integrate not only neuroscience, but also interesting science facts that children would enjoy learning.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Mark Jackson?
I met Mark through a mutual friend. It was absolutely Divine! He grew up reading comic books and is a self-taught graphic artist. This is the first book he’s illustrated, and he was an absolute delight to work with. He and I met twice a month to collaborate on the concept, characters, and amusing scenery (we wanted to add an abundance of fun visuals, like gaming, dragons and venus flytraps, so children could make ‘connections’).
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have published eight books, and am currently concentrating on marketing my books. I plan to write a Cindi (the Teenie Chiweenie) Easter book in 2024.
Author Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
There’s an important part of your brain, called the hippocampus. It helps you learn and store information. It’s where your memories ‘camp out’!
DID YOU KNOW? When you smell chocolate chip cookies and think of ooey gooey sweetness — know the name of your friends, your letters, numbers and colors — or remember how to level up in your video games — that’s your hippocampus at work.
In this fun, educational and highly entertaining story, Oliver meets his hippocampus, Hugh. Together, they grow, learn and become inseparable sidekicks.
When Oliver and his friends, Bella and Beau, get lost in an enchanted forest, they find out just how important their hippocampus is! Early readers will laugh out loud at the amusing illustrations and this super cute adventure story.
Hugh the Hippo Camps Out In My Head
Hugh the Hippo Camps Out In My Head is a delightful and informative picture book that introduces young readers to the vital role that the hippocampus plays in our ability to recall information. Following the young protagonist, Oliver, and his friends, Bella and Beau, on a magical adventure through an enchanted forest, the author, Beverley Reichman, skillfully weaves in important lessons about how the hippocampus helps us remember things. The captivating illustrations are not only amusing but also serve to fully immerse the reader in Oliver’s world.
One of the strengths of the book is the clever way in which the author demonstrates the function of the hippocampus through the characters in the story. The book also showcases Hugh the Hippo as a superhero who saves the day, which makes for a fun and engaging read. Additionally, the author highlights that dogs also have a hippocampus, which we learn through Toby’s Treasures.
At the end of the book, readers are offered a fun and educational activity to test their knowledge of what they’ve just read. Overall, this interactive and enjoyable read is highly recommended for young readers and perfect for teachers to share in their classrooms. Hugh the Hippo Camps Out In My Head is a must-read children’s book that teaches important concepts in a fun and engaging way.
Pages: 54 | ASIN: B0BQNPWFN4
LITERARY TITAN 