Lila and Raffie playing football together in Mindsville®
Nippy and the friendly neurons smiling together.
Cover of Welcome to Mindsville® showing Bertie and Betty in the colourful land of Mindsville®.

The Brainy Brains of Mindsville®

A magical world of new friends, big feelings and brilliant discoveries, where every idea has a home, every feeling has a name and every brain belongs.

A warm, magical story to share for children aged 3–7 year olds.

When Lila and Raffie arrive in Mindsville®, they meet Bertie and Betty - two friendly Brainy Brains with plenty to show them.

Together, they explore how ideas grow, why feelings matter and what makes every brain brilliantly different.

Mindsville® is a place filled with questions, imagination, friendship, kindness and wonder. A place where every idea has a home and every feeling has a name.

A BRILLIANT DISCOVERY

For many young children, this may be the first time they have discovered what their brain is and all the extraordinary things it does.

Through warm, imaginative stories, Mindsville® enables children to discover, understand and love the extraordinary brain that makes them who they are.

It also gives parents, grandparents and teachers a gentle way to begin conversations about thoughts, feelings, learning, individuality and growing up. It is a joyful first step into brain and emotional literacy—without losing the magic of childhood.

COME AND MEET THE BRAINY BRAINS

Lila has an idea while exploring Mindsville®.
Nippy and the friendly neurons smiling together.
Raffie riding his green scooter through Mindsville®.

It’s a wonderful book my son adores Raffie and Lila and has so many questions”.

“What a powerful message to teach young inquisitive minds - the power your mind offers and how we are all unique.”

This story makes sense of the brain, helping children fall in love with theirs and see where the brilliance begins.
— Kate, Early Years Specialist

So proud of you Soraya! This is a magical book introducing young children to the power of their brain. It should be in every key stage one library”.

Soraya, thank you so much for Mindsville. My grandchildren enjoyed every minute and can’t wait for Bertie and Betty’s next adventure”.

A cartoon yellow butterfly with orange accents

Welcome to Mindsville® is the first in a growing series of stories exploring the wonderful world inside every child.

Each new adventure will open another door into feelings, memory, imagination, confidence, kindness and curiosity - with familiar friends accompanying children along the way.

The Mindsville® Adventures Have Only Just Begun!

Yellow butterfly with orange accents on its wings.
Nippy and the friendly neurons smiling together.
Lila smiling in the colourful world of Mindsville®.
Yellow flower with green stem and leaves.
A yellow flower with a rounded petal and green leaves on a tall stem.
Bright yellow butterfly with orange spots on its wings.
Orange star with a textured, rough appearance on a black background.
A yellow butterfly with orange markings on its wings.

Begin Your Mindsville® Adventure

People from Mindsville® reading and relaxing.

WHAT AWAITS INSIDE?

Lila, Raffie, Bertie and Betty share questions around a garden table in Mindsville®.
Lila and Raffie making music with Bertie and Betty their Brainy Brain friends in Mindsville®.

A warm, magical story to share for 3 - 7 year olds

Orange star on a black background.

Big feelings and brilliant “aha!” moments

Yellow five-pointed star on a black background.

New friends children can grow to love

Science made child-friendly and easy to learn

Blue textured star on a black background.
Blue five-pointed star with a textured, slightly distressed appearance.

A joyful first introduction to the brain

Gentle conversation ideas for families and classrooms

A large blue star with a rough, textured appearance on a black background.
Nippy and the friendly neurons smiling together.

Rich, painterly illustrations filled with warmth and wonder

Bertie and Betty, the Brainy Brains of Mindsville®, smiling together.
Yellow star with a distressed texture on a black background.
Soraya Shaw, the author and creator of The Brainy Brains of Mindsville®.

Meet the Author

Soraya Shaw MSc is an applied neuroscientist, author, international speaker and grandmother who believes children should not have to wait until they are grown-up to discover how extraordinary their brains are.

After years of bringing brain science to adults, she created The Brainy Brains of Mindsville® for her grandchildren and every child beginning to wonder why they think, feel and learn in their own unique way.

In Mindsville®, real science becomes a joyful adventure filled with imagination, friendship, kindness and wonder.

Soraya is also the founder of BrainShaw® where she brings brain science into the world of work, and co-host of Brainy Podcasts.

Orange thought bubble with white text that says 'Future'.

“I wrote this for everyone who has ever wondered, ‘Why am I like this?’”

Nippy and the friendly neurons smiling together.

Bring Mindsville® Home

Open the book, meet some wonderful new friends and begin your first brilliant brainy adventure together.

Bertie and Betty, the Brainy Brains of Mindsville, smiling together.