After much asking, pleading, and begging, Brooklyn is finally getting a puppy!

She names her four-legged fur friend Boss and immediately falls in love with him. Brooklyn soon discovers, however, that her pup has many mischievous behaviors. He can be shy and sassy as well as stubborn and excitable. If Boss is ever going to live up to his name, he will need better manners, more discipline, and proper social skills! So, it’s off to puppy school for Boss and Brooklyn.

The weeks-long training class culminates in a Canine Good Citizen Test that they must pass. But before that final exam, they have much to do. There are new commands to learn and skills to practice.

As the pair work toward their training goals, Brooklyn starts to realize that Boss’s antics in class mirror her own challenges at school – oftentimes inattentive and impulsive, frequently fidgety and wiggly, occasionally anxious and feisty, and sometimes rebellious and naughty.

If Brooklyn and Boss are going to ace their exam and be successful, they will both need to learn how to maintain focus, be persistent, and have more patience.

My Brain Is Like a Puppy, written for children ages 4 to 8, uses rhyme and humor to teach young readers about their brains, how to navigate challenges, and the power of perseverance, compassion, understanding, and empathy.

Debut author Laura Filtness uses a relatable and adorable analogy to highlight the many ways a young child’s brain development is similar to the boundless and exuberant energy of a playful puppy. Readers are reminded that, like puppies, sometimes it’s hard for our brains to “sit and stay”. But through practice and helpful strategies, such as problem-solving, grounding, naming emotions, and visual supports, children can learn to regulate their behaviors and emotions to become more mindful learners.