My brain is magic: A sensory-seeking celebration by Prasha Sooful, illustrated by Geeta Ladi

 The story begins immediately after the title, featuring a brown-skinned girl with short brown hair, a blue headband and jumper, glasses, and striped leggings. She holds up a wand, sparking with light, and says "My brain is MAGIC! Let me show you all the things it can do."

The following pages show her in a wide variety of sensory-seeking behavior and dealing with concurrent emotions. She likens her brain to a buzzing bee, an octopus who wants to touch everything, or a sloth. When her brain overwhelms her with sensations and feelings, she does a calming activity, meditating with her grandpa, and then floats off to sleep with her brain as a whale.

Recommendations in the back, from the author who is an audiologist and educator, give suggestions for helping sensory seekers and examples of some of the behavior they may exhibit. Ladi's illustrations are sweet and exuberant, showing a little girl who celebrates her magic brain, even when she is overwhelmed and upset.

I'm not familiar with the term "sensory-seeking" but it appears to be a facet of sensory processing disorder. The suggestions and language used are similar to other titles I've read and the advice appears to be practical and useful.

Verdict: I think all children, neurodivergent or not, will enjoy this book, especially the animal similes. It would be a good title to match with Samantha Cotterill's Little Senses series or to use in a sensory storytime. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781953859617; Published April 2023 by Soaring Kite Books; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library