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 was so excited for his upcoming Championship baseball game! The night before he dreamt of that moment. THE moment.the oohs and ahhs of the crowd as he scored the game-winning run! But imagine his surprise when he woke up to pouring rain.and NO GAME! This, coupled with some events at school that don't go his way, send Braden on an overreaction tailspin! Will Braden be able to recover from his overreacting tendencies and practise the tips of flexible thinking that his teacher and mom teach him? Find out in another comical 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.

Boone is back and boy is he bothered! Why is his brother Finn the first to fly? And why can Otter do somersaults but Boone can't? And what's with Beaver's big tail? It just doesn't seem fair! But Boone soon learns, with the help of those around him, that instead of begrudging what others have or earned, he should be grateful for what he has and work hard to earn anything more he wants.

Blake wants to sell his brother, Braden, to another family. Savannah wants to fight Mary over an insult. Braden so wants to sneak out of class to play football. The characters in this fast-paced story face conundrums that make each of them consider solutions that are inappropriate, ill-advised or irresponsible. Fortunately, some good old-fashioned fatherly advice coupled with a tried-and-tested strategy for solving problems keeps everyone safe and satisfied. This story introduces and encourages readers to use SODAS (Situation, Options, Disadvantages, Advantages and Solution) as a way to logically and thoughtfully work out how to solve any problem, from the silly to the serious. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? adds to the wildly popular Executive FUNction book series, which includes What Were You Thinking? and My Day is Ruined! The series skilfully weaves skill teaching into humorous storylines to help readers become flexible thinkers, problem solvers and self-managers.

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?

Blake has a to-do list that's just too long.How can his parents and teachers expect him to finish his homework, clean his room AND bake biscuits for the baseball bake sale? Don't they know there's something urgent he has to do now like play video games?!When Mum encourages Blake to follow the 3 Ps, prioritising, planning and posting a reminder of what needs to be done, he's unimpressed.But as his responsibilities pile up and his deadlines quickly approach, he has to work out what needs doing now. Can following Mum's advice and using the 3 Ps really make a difference?School counsellor and award-winning author, Bryan Smith, reveals the answer in this relevant story about the power of preparation and planning.

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.

Sharing doesn't come easy to Marcos or Lili. Whatever Marcos has or does, Lili wants a piece of it.They fight over control of the TV remote. They quarrel over who gets to play fetch with the dog. They squabble over toys, and there is absolutely no room for compromise when it comes to the coin collection - EVERY coin belongs to Marcos.Mum has had enough of the arguing and selfish behaviours. She reminds her kids that sharing doesn't have to be hard or painful. if it's done right! Mum teaches them a lesson on how to share and play fair, but is it a lesson either will take to heart?When a brawl breaks out at school because one student is hoarding all the fun games, Marcos has an opportunity to step up and teach his classmates about compromise and kindness. Will he be able to negotiate a solution that is fair, stops the fight, and leaves everyone happy? ALL ABOUT SHARING is an entertaining story with a valuable message about negotiation, compromise, kindness, and fairness. This is the first title in author Bryan Smith's new Social Strategies series and includes a special page for parents and teachers on how to help children learn the skill of sharing.

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.