Professor Thomas Cat’s Guide to Understanding the Human Brain: The Dyslexia Files

Gr 6 Up–Professor Thomas Cat helps a young girl named Ava understand her life with dyslexia. Through this lens, this graphic novel presents dyslexia in an accessible way for readers, offering encouragement to those who have it while clearly explaining its causes and how to support peers to those who do not. The title goes into much detail, including medical explanations: neurotypical vs. neurodivergent definitions and comparisons, in-depth brain anatomy, and an example of how a document might look to a dyslexic person, allowing those not affected to see and empathize. Where the book excels in the psychological explanation, demonstrating for those affected how to overcome negative self-talk and focus on their strengths. The book also provides examples of famous people who have dyslexia, helping to normalize the common disability. The visual graphic novel format makes the text more accessible for dyslexic readers, while the whimsical cat professor presenting facts will hold attention spans. However, some of the medical terminology is more informative and reads at an older teen or young adult level.