The Fairview Review: Virtual Book Tour In My Mind

ABOUT THE BOOK

Illustrated by HV Helmut

Ages: 3-8 | 38 Pages

Publisher: Mascot Kids! (2026) | ISBN: 979-8891382909

Publisher’s Book Summary: Starting school is both terrifying and exciting for Camilo. He wonders what his new teacher and classmates will think of him. But, as the day unfolds, Camilo has a hard time fitting in. The classroom feels overwhelming, and he battles nerves that make it hard to focus or speak up. He gets distracted, daydreaming about far-away places, and sometimes he forgets that he is in school altogether. But as the day goes on, Camilo discovers unexpected joys.

This heartwarming story captures the challenges of a child with ADHD who has to navigate a busy first day at school.

PURCHASE LINK

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MY REVIEW

Many of us know a story from the first day of school about a child getting lost on the way back to class from the lunchroom, getting their shoelaces knotted up trying to tie them without help, forgetting the teacher’s name, etc. In Camilo’s case, he imagines that everyone in class will be his friend, but then it doesn’t feel that way.

As the day progresses Camilo faces one difficulty after another. He feels overwhelmed when everyone turns to watch him enter the room. The illustrations show that the children in class were waving and smiling, but he was looking down at his shoes and didn’t register their welcoming gestures. He gets distracted and doesn’t come to circle time. During a phonics lesson he gets bored and curls up on the rug; the teacher has to remind him the “carpet is not your bed” and send him back to his seat. It seems that when it is not his turn during a lesson he has a hard time paying attention.

I have seen many students who have similar difficulties. Like Camilo they are ambivalent about cafeteria food because it does not taste like their mother’s cooking. They are great at playing recess games and at leading an activity (just as the images show Camilo smiling as he leads the class in identifying numbers), but are easily distracted when they have to sit quietly or wait for a turn. And many of them have an interior dialogue like Camilo’s: “I think differently from my classmates, and I am scared some of them are starting to look at me like I’m different.”

Books like this help families and classmates understand what children are going through when they find it difficult to sit still and give their undivided attention in school. Stories of this sort can open up discussions about how all of us process things differently and what we can do to help each other be successful.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carmen Y. Hernández was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and moved to the United States at the age of five. Carmen is the first in her family of five to earn a master’s degree in general education. With fifteen years of experience as an educator, she has witnessed a growing number of students with undiagnosed cases of dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and intermittent explosive disorder (IED).

Through this book, Carmen hopes to raise awareness among a new generation of parents about the increasing prevalence of these disorders and the importance of understanding and supporting children with these challenges.

https://www.instagram.com/carmen.y.hernandez/

https://www.facebook.com/carmen.y.hernandez/

https://www.tiktok.com/@carmenyhernandez

https://www.instagram.com/MascotBooks/?hl=en

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, February 2, 2026

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of In My Mind

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

The Starlit Path

Book Review of In My Mind

Wednesday, February 4, 2026