A Story About Big Brains
Today's power: I can do it
This is Amani and Andre, and their buddy Sprout the seedling. Brains grow stronger every day, a little bit at a time!
Sprout's storyteller reads to you. Just tap the big yellow button!
Follow Sprout through the story. Sprout grows bigger every time you finish a part!
Tap each word. Then say one out loud, and hear yourself say it.
Now YOU say it: “I can’t do it… YET!”
Say it out loud, loud enough that Sprout can hear you!
🌱 Brain Power Meter
Do each part to help Sprout grow! 0/9
Tap the buttons and listen to the storyteller.
At the park, Amani wants to cross the climbing bars. She jumps, grabs, and… falls in the sand at the second bar. “I can't do it!”
Sprout says: Uh oh. That tricky feeling is here. Tap to see how everyone feels.
How does everyone feel?
Say it: “Tricky things are okay!”
Tricky things make your brain grow! Amani wipes off the sand, takes a big breath, and tries the bars again.
Sprout says: When things get tricky, your brain gets stronger!
What should we pick?
Say it: “I can try hard things!”
Amani says: “I can't do it.” Sprout twinkles: add the magic word! “I can't do it… YET!”
Sprout says: You get better every time you practice.
Tap to flip the thought
Say it loud: “I can't do it… YET!”
Amani fell in the sand. But everyone makes oopsies, and that oopsie hides treasure! It whispers: swing your legs, and don't stop in the middle.
Sprout says: Find the oopsie, find the treasure, try again!
Tap each oopsie
Tell a grown-up about an oopsie that taught you something.
Trying hard is tiring! Amani rests, sips some water, and takes calm breaths with Sprout. Brains grow when we move, sleep, and rest too.
Sprout says: Close your eyes for some calm magic minutes.
Calm magic minute with Sprout
Today I can: jump & dance, sleep well, and read a story!
It's not about crossing ALL the bars. It's about trying hard! Amani tried more times today than ever before.
Sprout says: Give yourself a high-five for trying!
Tap to high-five each try!
Say it: “I tried my best, high five!”
Andre shows Amani his trick: swing like a monkey: one hand, then the other! Asking for help grows your brain too.
Sprout says: Tap the words a good friend would say.
Which are good-friend words?
Who helps you learn? Say their name!
Amani grabs the bars, swings like a monkey… and reaches one bar further than ever before! Her brain grew today, and Sprout grew too!
Sprout says: Little by little, that's how big things happen!
What grew today? Tap to see!
Say it: “My brain grew today!”
Amani and Andre cheer on a younger friend at the climbing bars. Now YOU are a Brain-Grower too! Pick a cheer to give a friend.
Sprout says: Teach your friends the magic word: YET!
My cheer for a friend
Who can you cheer on this week?
What this builds (transformative SEL): Agency (“I can do it”).
This story teaches young children daily growth-mindset habits: try hard things, kind self-talk, the power of “yet,” learning from mistakes, celebrating effort, and supportive friendships.
This is a practice tool for building skills, not therapy, counseling, or a clinical service.
From The McCray Learning Lab. Elliott McCray, Ed.S.
🧑🏫 For grown-ups: a companion practice for the adults in this child’s corner: Growing Brain Power: A Grown-Up's Turn.
This story is safe and private. Nothing is saved and nothing is sent anywhere. The narration plays a friendly recorded storyteller voice and only reads the story. When you close the page, you start fresh.