Books to Build Brain Power

II. Books to Build Brain Power: Primary Grades
Compiled by Nancy Polette © 2006 Nancy Polette

** FACTS ABOUT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT: **

Brain size doubles the first year of life but the number of cells remains the same.
Brain growth is due to a growing mass of connections which link neurons into efficient relay systems.
As stimuli are heard, seen, felt, tasted, neurons fire off messages which build new physical connections with neighboring cells.
New neural networks from through active interest and mental effort by the child.
Every response to sights, sounds, feelings, smells and tastes makes new connections!
The ability to think in certain ways depends on maturation (myelination) of neuron systems.
MYELIN GROWTH IS STIMULATED by helping the child see patterns and relationships.
The pre-frontal lobes are the last to fully develop and mylenate. Until this occurs (usually between the ages of four and seven) the child cannot read!
TRYING TO SPEED LEARNING OVER UNFINISHED NEURON SYSTEMS CAN LEAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE.
Just as physical growth and IQ are not related, brain growth and IQ are not related. A very bright child may not be reading at age six if pre-frontal lobe closure has not yet taken place.
The early childhood thinking processes essential to reading (conservation, reversibility) depend on maturation of the pre-frontal cortex.

Your Child's Growing Mind by Dr. Jane Healy. Doubleday 1987.

CONSERVATION
Anno, Mitsumasa. ANNO'S COUNTING HOUSE. Philomel 82
Ahlberg, Janet. EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM Greenwillow 85
Balian, Lorna. THE HUMBUG WITCH. Abingdon 70
Hutchins, Pat. CHANGES CHANGES. Macmillan 71
Joyce, Wm. GEORGE SHRINKS. Harper 85
Ross, Tony. I'M COMING TO GET YOU. Greenwillow 86
MacDonald, S. ALPHABATICS. Bradbury 87
Thaler, Mike. CLOWN'S SMILE. Harper 86
Turpin, Lorna. SULTAN'S SNAKES. op
Gomi, Taro. WHERE'S THE FISH? Morrow 77

SERIATION
Allen, Pamela. WHO SANK THE BOAT and BERTIE AND THE BEAR. Coward 85-86
Aylesworth, Jim. ONE CROW. Harper, 1988.
Brown, Ruth. THE BIG SNEEZE. Lothrop 85.
Fox, Mem. HATTIE AND THE FOX. Bradbury 87
Goodsell, Jane. TOBY'S TOE. Morrow 86
Hall, Zoe. THE APPLE PIE TREE. Blue Sky, 96.
Hayes, Sarah. THIS IS THE BEAR. Lippincott 86
Hutchins, Pat. I HUNTER. Greenwillow 85
Lobel, Anita. THE ROSE IN MY GARDEN. Harper 84.
Moore, Elaine. ROLY-POLY PUPPIES. Scholastic,96.
Robart, Rose. THE CAKE THAT MACK ATE. Little , 88
Ward, Cindy. COOKIE'S WEEK. Putnam 88.

CLASSIFICATION
Elting, Mary. Q IS FOR DUCK. Clarion 80
Craig, Jean. MAN WHOSE NAME WAS NOT THOMAS. pb 78
Hoberman, Mary. HOUSE IS A HOUSE FOR ME and THE COZY BOOK. Puffin 78
Lloyd, David. THE SNEEZE. Lippincott 86
Reeves, Mona. I HAD A CAT. Bradbury 89
Winthrop, Elizabeth. SHOES. Harper 85

REVERSIBILITY
Cribbin, June. INTO THE CASTLE. Candlewick, 96
McBratney, Sam. THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS. Candlewick, 96
Nobel, Trinka. DAY JIMMY'S BOA ATE THE WASH. Dial 80
Novak, David. ROLLING. Bradbury 86
Numeroff, Laura. IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. Harper 85. If You Give a Moose a Muffin, Harper 86.

INVOLVEMENT -- BOOKS WITH REPEATING PATTERNS
Asch, Frank. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOON. Scholastic, 82.
Brown, Margaret. RUNAWAY BUNNY. Harper, 77.
Brown, Ruth. A DARK, DARK TALE. Dial, 84.
Carle, Eric. VERY QUIET CRICKET. Putnam, 90.
Day, David. KING OF THE WOODS. Four Winds, 93
Gag, Wanda. MILLIONS OF CATS. Putnam, 77.
Guarino, De. IS YOUR MAMA A LLAMA? illus by Steven Kellogg. Scholastic, 89.
Hutchins,Pat. DON'T FORGET THE BACON.Greenwillow,78
Lobel, Arnold. A TREE FULL OF PIGS. Scholastic, 81.
Mayer, Mercer. IF I HAD. Dial, 77.
Martin, Bill Jr. BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR. Holt A BEAUTIFUL FEAST FOR A BIG KING CAT. Harper, 94
Polette, Nancy. THE LITTLE OLD WOMAN AND THE HUNGRY CAT. Greenwillow, 89.
Robart, Rose. CAKE THAT MACK ATE. Little Brown 88
Shulevitz, Uri. ONE MONDAY MORNING. Macmillan, 86.