Different Kinds of Minds

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY OCT 2, 2023

"Having a brain that processes information in a new way can lead to innovation, discovery, and invention," write collaborators Grandin (Visual Thinking, for adults) and Koffsky (Sheep Says Shalom) in this somewhat dense work that analyzes how brains work. In the first chapter—"What Is Visual Thinking?"—the authors break down how thinking styles are sorted into visual, spatial visual, and verbal categories, and point out that most people utilize a combination thereof; many kids start as visual thinkers and adapt from there. Identifying as a lifelong visual thinker, Grandin describes being forced to acclimate to a verbal-thinking world, providing anecdotes and examples from her own life as an autistic woman with a career in agricultural design. She also expresses concern that the U.S.'s emphasis on testing rather than on practical, hands-on education doesn't support visual thinkers. Further chapters—rendered via narration that sometimes feels more directed at adult readers than children—delve into topics such as neuroscience and neurodiversity, and highlight evolving views on how animal brains function. Photographs and schematic-like illustrations depict subjects including Grandin, cattle handling systems she designed, and brain diagrams, and accompanying activities encourage readers to consider their own ways of thinking. Ages 8–12. ■