Lisa M. Griffin – illustratör

Braden loves to be the centre of attention. His comic genius, as he sees it, causes his friends to look at him in awe. But some poor decision-making, such as a few ill-timed jokes in class and an impulsive reaction during gym class that leads to a classmate on the floor in tears, results in Braden's teachers and mother teaching him all about impulse control. Will the tips provided by the adults in Braden's life help him see a better way to manage his impulses? Find out in this hilarious story by Bryan Smith.

Braden is super excited to go to the Fun Zone with his brother and parents. He knows what he wants - to drive the go-carts for the first time ever! When he arrives, he learns he doesn't meet the height requirement. He tries to get his mum to intervene, but she refuses because “a rule is a rule.” And when the guy behind the track tells him it's not that big of a deal because he can ride with a parent, Braden loses his temper and shouts “It IS a big deal! I hate this place! Braden's mum helps him realise that throwing a temper tantrum doesn't help anyone. She teaches him the steps for calming down so he can think of a way to make the situation better. Can Braden do as his mum suggests? Find out in this third book in the Executive Function series.

Braden's brother Blake is always losing things. What's the big deal? He's just a kid! But when Blake loses the class pet in the debris from his desk, he realises that not being organised is more of a problem than he thought. With the help of his teacher and parents, Blake learns the steps to getting organised using his favourite sport - baseball! Will Blake hit a homerun by getting organised? Find out in this hilarious tale that teaches life skills for children.

Blake is always moving and always has something going on. So why is it that people keep insisting that he do things he doesn't want to do? Why does he have to clean his room RIGHT NOW? He'll get to it eventually! Luckily for Blake, his mum is there to work with him on the important skill of taking initiative. And she should know - she says her dad had to work with her on that same task when she was young. Blake and Mum go through a few simple steps on how to take initiative and get things done. Will Blake use these steps to get started on his work? Find out in the newest title in the popular Executive FUNction series.

When he rushes to get home after a tough evening of baseball, the last thing Braden wants to deal with is his parents on his case about not finishing every little thing on his list. But when his parents and teacher are able to show him it's a pattern that extends far beyond skipping an occasional step, chore or maths problem, Braden starts to realise that he DOES need some help. With Mum showing Braden four steps to better self-scrutiny, he starts to make progress – but of course it takes practice to nurture these skills! How will Braden use the four steps to improve his own self-scrutiny – and perhaps help others?

Isaac is impatient… and a little rude. When he needs help, he wants immediate assistance. When he has questions, he wants instant answers. If he doesn't get a speedy response, this young kid interrupts others by shouting and grabbing. Isaac never waits his turn and does whatever he feels like to get an adult's attention, including shouting at his teacher and grabbing the uniform of a shop assistant. Watching him interrupt others is a masterclass in bad manners and embarrassing behaviour. And it's not just his lack of patience and poorly timed interruptions that cause chaos. He mistakenly stays quiet during an emergency when an adult's attention is desperately needed. The result is a yucky, sickening mess. In the pages of BUT I NEED YOUR HELP NOW!, young readers learn valuable lessons about how to wait their turn, stop blurting out in the classroom and interrupt the right way – when necessary!

Focus. Focus. Focus. That's the advice Blake hears again and again but never seems to follow. Blake has a short attention span. In the classroom, he carelessly demolishes a Lego volcano in his rush to see who's outside the window. On the pitch, he gets his elbow and his ego bruised because of a distracting clod of dirt. In the lunchroom, he stops telling his own story to flip a bottle and ends up drenched in a puddle. The poor guy stumbles from one mishap to another because of a complete lack of concentration. Will his fortunes change when the caring adults in his life introduce him to hands-on tools and manipulatives, such as squishy erasers, stress balls and glove taps? And can a work/break cycle, coupled with using the word FOCUS as a mnemonic device, make things any better? FIX IT WITH FOCUS is from the pen of award-winning author and school counsellor Bryan Smith, whose popular Executive FUNction series offers great lessons to young readers who struggle with self-control, have the wiggles, or are coping with ADHD.

Amelia has never been one to be timid. She's confident enough to stand up for others and let people know what she thinks. So why is it that she's having a hard time advocating for herself? When a new seating arrangement lands Amelia seated next to Billy, who spends his days whining and complaining about one thing or another, Amelia feels doomed, and unloads her frustrations on her mum. But when Mum starts to ask more questions, Amelia realizes that advocating for yourself involves more than just being critical of others or making demands. With four simple steps to follow, Amelia starts to hone her skills. In addition to keeping the steps practical, author and school counselor Bryan Smith's story includes lessons such as the importance of HOW you approach others, and learning that sometimes the answer will still be no.

Issac is a kid who hates having to decide between options that are not fun, boring, or too hard. If he wants to ride his bike to his friend's house, Mum says he needs to wear his helmet - even though it's so hot he thinks his head will melt. Or, he can stay home and be bored. In the canteen, he can pick up the rubbish he dropped on the floor. Or, he can pick up ALL the rubbish littering the floor. This amusing tale teaches kids how to make the best decision when your choices all involve things you really don't want to do.

No matter where he is or what he needs to do, Isaac doesn't want to waste time being bored. So instead of finishing a dull maths worksheet, he watches a robot gobble up numbers. Instead of tidying his room, he crams all his toys, dirty clothes and games into a closet and declares all is clean! Instead of working on his tennis skills, he goofs around and creates a commotion on the court. Isaac is so busy looking to have fun, he forgets about his responsibilities and all the work he needs to finish. Will it make any difference when a caring teacher introduces Isaac to four simple steps that can help him focus and finish his tasks? Or will Isaac keep making more work for himself by putting fun first? In the story, Isaac learns that if he can follow the steps to completing a task, he'll still have time for fun. He needs to: 1. Identify what needs to get done. 2. Give the task his full attention. 3. Make sure the work is done the right way. 4. Continue working until the job is complete. This amusing tale delivers a valuable message to kids about the importance of having a strong work ethic and maintaining a balance between work and fun. Tips for educators, counsellors and parents are included to help teach this important skill.

When he can't be team captain, Isaac stomps away and threatens not to play anymore. When he's told homework must come before fun, he stomps back to his Mum and gets sent to his room. When he refuses to listen to a classmate's opinion, he must redo an entire assignment. Isaac doesn't know how to disagree appropriately or respectfully, and it's creating problems at home and in the classroom. With help from a caring teacher and his loving Mum, Isaac learns four specific steps that will help him respond in more appropriate ways when he has a disagreement. If he can master these steps, he will be able to stand up for himself while still being respectful toward others, realize that it's okay to have disagreements if done the right way, understand that sometimes he must agree to disagree, and be empowered to accept answers or results he doesn't like. THAT'S WRONG! is a must-read story filled with helpful lessons about managing conflict, learning to negotiate, accepting comprises, and disagreeing respectfully. A special page written specifically for parents and educators offers tips on teaching and reinforcing the skill of disagreeing appropriately.