I recently had the pleasure of reading two of the books in the Adventures of a Boy Named Brooks series by Heather Broner. The series was inspired by the author’s son Brooks and their two dogs Peanut and Leti.
Brooks and the Great Big Playground Song
Brooks adores the playground. He loves the slides, the sunshine, and the laughter heard by other kids playing. One day Brooks notices a new boy who keeps to himself which makes him begin to wonder if he may have said or done something wrong. In the end, Brooks learns a lesson in how we all express ourselves differently. Inspired by the real historical figure Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins, a Black musical prodigy who was blind (and likely autistic), Brooks learns that words aren’t the only way to share your heart. With the help of Nana’s story about Tom’s extraordinary musical memory, Brooks creates a playful playground band where every sound becomes part of a unique rhythm. It’s an inclusive story that opens up gentle conversations about blindness, autism awareness and celebrating differences.
Reading it with two of my students, we found ourselves talking about how special each friend is, how patience makes room for everyone, and how kindness can turn a hesitant hello into something beautiful.
Brooks and the Great Big Bark-Off
Brooks and the Great Big Bark-Off is the first book in the series. It introduces Brooks and his dog duo in a neighborhood dog competition where Brooks can’t wait to help Peanut and Leti win the Golden Bone Trophy. As the contest begins, Brooks learns that true strength is about lifting up the ones you care about most. This book also introduces readers to Robert Smalls, an enslaved man who became a hero in the American Civil War and later went on to serve in the U.S. Congress.
Adventures of a Boy Named Brooks is especially fun for little dog lovers. I’d recommend it for teaching little readers ages 4 to 8 about teamwork, courage, and confidence. Grown-ups can use these books to bridge to meaningful conversations with children.
What I enjoy about this series is how organically it weaves in diversity, culture, and different themes that real kids live with:
- Friendship & inclusion — showing kids that everyone has something valuable to bring to the group.
- Autism awareness and empathy — introducing neurodiversity in a way that’s respectful, joyful, and natural for young readers.
- Courage and confidence — reminding children that bravery sometimes means showing up for others.
- Historical richness — layering in real stories like that of Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins that broaden perspective in an age-appropriate way.
As an added bonus, kids will also learn about real inspirational people from the past who helped shape our history like: Robert Smalls and Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins. My students and I were able to relate some of the challenges Robert Smalls and Thomas Wiggins faced and relate them to situations in our own lives.
Note: In the future, the author plans to have downloadable activity sheets, educator guides and family discussion prompts available for kids and families to enjoy on her website.
About the Author
Heather Broner is a mom, writer, and seasoned marketing leader with nearly a decade working in healthcare-tech. She blends her storytelling talents with a heartfelt mission to uplift kids and families. Heather lives in Plano, Texas, where she also leads early reader workshops, hosts school visits, and creates educational activity kits tied to her stories.