When winter weather keeps the kids inside, they can exercise their minds, if not their bodies, with Wendy Ashton Shimkofsky’s new book, Brainstorm! It’s full of great ideas to challenge kids to look at their world in new and often crazy ways. Readers are asked to make up games with household paraphernalia, invent new labour-saving devices, create drawings out of spilled milk (and other messes), build and design, write and doodle. Creativity is the name of the game and stimulating messages are printed at the bottom of every page to keep kids, and their parents, thinking. For instance, what would happen if the alphabet had one more letter, or if the day had one more hour? What three things would you take from your room to put into a time capsule? What if your thoughts determined the shape of your face?

Secret codes and messages are explored and readers are asked to decipher a real secret message found near the infamous Oak Island treasure in Nova Scotia. The story of young Bombardier’s invention of the snowmobile is used as a stimulant for budding inventors to get busy and create. And they’re encouraged with the thought that every list of outrageous ideas has the start of at least one great idea. In fact, the book’s first piece of advice is to avoid the obvious.

Loris Lesynski’s cartoon-like graphics are upbeat, energized, and sure to appeal to eight- to 10-year-olds. (Lesynski is the author-illustrator of Boy Soup). Her book design is highly visual, slightly offbeat, and certainly conducive to mind-stretching activities. Teachers will find a host of ideas for encouraging creativity and stimulating exciting discussions. Many of the ideas could also lead to interesting conversations around the dinner table. Bored and active minds alike will find something to challenge them in Brainstorm!