About the Book
A child-friendly guide that strips away the stigmas, myths, and misconceptions associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Different Thinkers: ADHD uses simple language and complementary illustrations to explain how the human brain develops, what it means to have ADHD, how the condition affects emotions and behaviors, and what kids can do to handle its challenges while building on their individual strengths.
Written for elementary-age children and their families, the book features three vignettes of children with an ADHD diagnosis. Each vignette highlights various symptoms of the disorder and the different ways those symptoms can shape a child's behaviors and relationships at home and in school. In addition, a range of practical strategies for managing symptoms related to ADHD are explained.
Thought-provoking prompts are included throughout the text to help young readers better understand their diagnosis, explore what it means to be a different thinker, and ease any insecurities, fears, or negative feelings they might have.
Different Thinkers: ADHD is an empowering read that gives young children the information and facts they need to understand their own ADHD diagnosis, deal with its challenges, and realize their strengths, interests, and abilities are what define them, not ADHD.
This is the first title in the Different Thinkers series for kids, written to help them understand their brains and the challenges and strengths that come with being a different thinker.
About the Author :
Dr. Katia Fredriksen was born in France to a New Zealand mother and a Norwegian father. She later moved with her parents to Norway and then to the Washington, D.C., area, where she grew up. Dr. Fredriksen graduated from Princeton University, having earned a bachelor's degree in psychology with a certificate in French language and culture.
Returning to her roots, Dr. Fredriksen spent a year studying and working in Norway and New Zealand before starting graduate school at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology, and her clinical training included inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy and assessment with children, adolescents, and adults. Her graduate research focused on health behaviors, including sleep and substance use. Dr. Fredriksen completed her post-doctoral training at a private practice in the Boston area, where she focused on autism, genetic disorders, learning disorders, and attention and executive functioning in a pediatric population. She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.
Dr. Fredriksen continues to lecture to parent groups and professional organizations. She lives in the Washington, D.C., metro area with her husband, two children, cat, and parakeet. She enjoys reading cozy mysteries, puttering around the house, dining out, socializing with friends and neighbors, traveling, exercising (sort of!), and navigating the work/life balance necessitated by modern motherhood (not so much). You can follow her on Instagram @neuropsychmomdocs.
Dr. Yael Rothman was born and raised in Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan where she earned a bachelor's degree in biopsychology and cognitive science. Following college, she had the privilege of spending a year in Cambridge, United Kingdom, doing research focused on autism spectrum disorder and tuberous sclerosis complex. She then spent a year in New York teaching young children with autism before earning a doctoral degree from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. Dr. Rothman completed her internship at Children's Hospital Colorado and her postdoctoral fellowship at Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C. She spent four years working as a pediatric neuropsychologist and was an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine.
Dr. Rothman currently works at the Stixrud Group in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she completes comprehensive evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults who have a wide range of conditions that impact learning, behavior, and/or socioemotional functioning. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Rothman also has been involved in clinical research, with a primary focus on autism spectrum disorders. She has presented at several national and international conferences, published more than a dozen articles in peer-reviewed journals, and given lectures to parents and educators.
Dr. Rothman taught and performed improv comedy for 12 years in New York and Washington, D.C., although she is currently taking a hiatus. Now, she performs for her son, husband, and cat (who are sometimes decent audience members!). She enjoys karaoke, Orange Theory Fitness workout classes, musical theater, traveling, and reading young-adult fantasy/sci-fi books. You can follow her on Instagram @neuropsychmomdocs.
Review :
"As an Executive Function Specialist with over 25 years of experience, I know firsthand children with ADHD understand that they see and approach situations a bit differently than others. Different Thinkers: ADHD by Dr. Katia Fredriksen and Dr. Yael Rothman is a godsend for all families with twice-exceptional children. This must-read book demystifies and normalizes testing, diagnoses, and living with ADHD. More importantly, it illustrates how children thrive despite having been identified as having ADHD. It allows children to see that they are not less than or lazy; their brain is just different, uniquely theirs, and amazing. It explains that self-regulation and executive functioning can be hard for many children but with understanding, strategies, and getting older, it will become easier. Most importantly, this book celebrates the ADHD brain, and that Different Thinkers are creative, inventive, adventurous, and smart. Children with ADHD may need to do things slightly differently but that's OK because if we were all exactly the same, life might be boring." - Kathryn Essig, M.Ed.; Founder and President, Essig Education Group; CHADD Educator of the Year, 2022
"Different Thinkers ADHD can help young children learn about the amazing brain and its unique learning styles, along with helping them understand the challenges and gifts of ADHD. I love the interactive portion of the book that allows children to individualize the book to their own experience. It's a great book for parents, clinicians, teachers, and kids!" - Tina Payne Bryson, LCSW, Ph.D., New York Times Bestselling co-author of The Whole-Brain Child & No-Drama Discipline, and author of The Bottom Line for Baby
"Finally! A book that explains ADHD to the elementary school set in a super-relatable and super-readable format. Different Thinkers ADHD is filled with real-life examples that draw the reader in as well as strategies and conversation starters for parents and educators to use. The authors, Drs. Fredriksen and Rothman pepper the book with reminders that children with ADHD are not flawed nor alone, have both strengths and challenges, and most importantly, that different thinkers help move the world forward!" - Leslie Josel, ADDitude Magazine's, "Dear ADHD Family Coach" columnist
"I love this little book, which is written by two outstanding neuropsychologists and illustrated by a talented artist. It will be a wonderful tool for helping children with ADHD understand the advantages of seeing the world and thinking differently, as well as the challenges associated with ADHD and the kinds of accommodations and supports that can help. Different Thinkers: ADHD is engaging and easy for kids to read, and parents will find discussing the book with their children to be a wonderful way of promoting their self-understanding and self-acceptance. I'd like to see this book displayed in the offices of all of the pediatricians, child psychologists, and child psychiatrists who diagnose and treat ADHD." - William R. Stixrud, Ph.D.; Clinical Neuropsychologist, Co-author of The Self-Driven Child and What Do You Say? How to Talk with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home
"If your child has ADHD and you are looking for a way to help them understand why they excel at some activities and struggle with others this book is essential reading. Presented in a highly entertaining, graphic format this book offers parents and children an easy-to-understand, balanced view of "different thinking." - Richard Guare, Ph.D., co-author of the Smart but Scattered executive skill series
"Simply a gem of a book that should be snapped up by every parent in their family journey to best understand ADHD. Explained in lovely child appropriate language, with empowering yet honest clarity, it spells out the actual neuroscience that is the nuts and bolts of the most up-to-date ADHD research. Not only does this book delight the eyes with its sparkling and memorable illustrations, it provides clarity for both kids and their parents. I will recommend Different Thinkers ADHD to every single family in my practice beginning their journey to better understand and embrace ADHD. Although meant for children, the straightforward neuroscience and beautifully simple illustrations are presented in such a way that parents will find themselves adjusting their own lens in how they look at their child with executive function challenges. Sprinkled with an innocent playfulness, Different Thinkers ADHD is a must-read for every family, and deserves a very prominent place in every professional's waiting room and office." - Catherine McCarthy, M.D., child and adolescent psychiatrist and co-author of Raising a Kid Who Can: Simple Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Adaptability and Emotional Strength
"This is a beautifully written and illustrated book for children with ADHD (Their parents, too!). Kids with ADHD often feel 'different' from their classmates or even feel that they just aren't smart. This delightful work will help them to understand how their brain works, learn where their challenges are, but also help them to find their strengths! I highly recommend it for any family with a child with ADHD." - William S. MacAllister, Ph.D., ABPP-CN; Director of Neuropsychology Training at Alberta Children's Hospital and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Child Neuropsychology
"This is the perfect book for kids to explain what their neuropsychological testing is all about and what it means for them. I would strongly recommend that parents purchase this book if they have an elementary school aged child tested for ADHD. It's very kid-friendly and the illustrations are great!" - Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., author of Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids about ADHD and founder/clinical director of the Chesapeake Center
