I’m thrilled to discover a book that reassures (kids) that there are a lot of ways to excel and that we each have our own unique gifts’.

But saying "we're all smart in our own ways" is often code for, this kid isn't great at drawing/reading/maths whatever. Ik had op een gegeven moment echt wel door dat slim zijn duizend dingen is, en ik vroeg me af of we echt naar duizend dingen gingen. Some of the ways highlighted in a pleasing rhyme include creativity, physical activities, music, emotional sensitivity, memorizing information, math, and traditional academic knowledge . Our book today is All The Ways To Be Smart, written by Davina Bell and illustrated by Allison Colpoys, a delightful ode to different types of intelligence. For any child who has ever worried about being "smart", Australian author Bell and artist Colpoys offer an expansive, reassuring look at the many ways there are to be that way .It looks as though printed via lithograph, and with a bold, strong font the harks back to a few decades ago, Bell and Colpoys take a diverse perspective on what it means to be smart, and who can be smart.

For neuro-atypical or otherwise differently-abled kids like JJ, a book like this can make them, and their caregivers, feel seen. It’s highly likely every child who reads this book will find something in it that shows they too are smart. This colourful picture-book provides an alternative perspective on the culture of academic achievement by celebrating a diversity of talents … Allison Colpoys’s illustrations celebrate a diversity of cultures too, offering a parade of beauty that will give children of all backgrounds and interests confidence in their own uniqueness. Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys have done it again, following up the absolutely beautiful 'Under the Love Umbrella' with this gem!

Being smart is more than just one thing; it’s not just being good at taking tests or doing math or getting good grades in school.

In this cheerful exploration of all the nonstandard ways a person can be smart, the creators paint an expansive picture of intelligence that goes well beyond "being best/at spelling bees, /a tricky test. With sing-song rhymes and bright colors, All the Ways to Be Smart echoes classic children's literature with a modern take.The rhyming text describes the many different kinds of activities and personal qualities that require intelligence, thereby highlighting that there are many different kinds of smarts, while the colorful artwork depicts those activities and qualities.

The illustrations are beautiful and the writing has a nice rhythm that makes it pleasant and easy to read - even if it is a little dry. The pack, suitable for ages 6–8, is based around books by Allison Colpoys and Davina Bell, including All the Ways to be Smart, Under the Love Umbrella, and The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade.This is a lovely thing as it introduces them to the book and its teaching before they have been conditioned to think anything else. The lovely rhyming text and vibrant illustrations with splashes of neon make this a truly unique book. This book is perfect for a KS1 class but would also be interesting to read with year 6 to get a deeper conversation about what "smart" means to each of them and how it has been taught throughout their schooling so far. A needed reassurance that tests can’t measure everything, and that we need all kinds of kids to create a smart and inventive world. This picture book from Australia has glowing colours that seem to leap off the page and rhyming text that children will very much enjoy chanting … The book is a jumbly rumble of busy, bright colours and kids doing fun things – along with di-nosaurs, birds and flowers and all kinds of creatures.