Think Smarter by Kit Harlow
Cover of Think Smarter by Kit Harlow: two children at a desk with a magnifying glass, a tablet, a stack of books labelled Facts, Evidence, Logic and Better Decisions, and a newspaper marked Fake?

In printAges 8–14

Think Smarter

A Kid’s Guide to Logic, Fake News, AI, Social Media & Better Decisions

“Can you trust what you see?”

Every day, kids meet confident claims, viral clips, sponsored posts, AI-generated answers, group pressure, and choices that feel urgent. Think Smarter turns critical thinking into a practical skill they can actually use.

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Inside this book

What the book covers

  • 30 kid-friendly chapters on logic and better decisions
  • AI mistakes, deepfakes, fake screenshots, algorithms, and scams
  • Case files, worksheets, quizzes, and a complete answer key
  • A simple THINK method kids can remember under pressure
  • Parent and teacher discussion tools for real-world practice

The details

Format
7 × 10 in paperback, full-colour interior
Length
30 chapters across three parts
Illustrations
90 original colour illustrations
Extras
Two bonus labs, full answer key, source notes, discussion guide
Reading level
Written for ages 8–14; younger readers can work with an adult

The THINK Method

Five moves a child can run through in about five seconds, in any order of trouble.

T
Tell yourself what the claim or choice really is.
H
Hunt for evidence and missing context.
I
Identify pressure, bias, incentives, and emotion.
N
Notice alternatives, probabilities, and consequences.
K
Keep your brain in charge: pause, verify, decide, and update.

How a chapter works

The same shape, every time

Each chapter is built the same way, so a reader always knows where they are.

  • LessonThe core idea, in plain language.
  • Case FileA realistic situation with an illustration to read closely.
  • Spot the TrickDetective questions that surface what is missing.
  • Think LabA worksheet designed to be written in.
  • Quick CheckFour questions, with the answer key kept at the back.

From the pages

What it looks like

Chapter 1 opens with a case file: an app promising to double your grades in a week.
Chapter 1 opens with a case file: an app promising to double your grades in a week.
Detective questions and a Think Lab worksheet follow every case file.
Detective questions and a Think Lab worksheet follow every case file.

“Critical thinking is not about teaching children to doubt everything. It is about helping them know what deserves trust, what deserves checking, and what deserves more time.”

From the opening note to parents and teachers

Contents

Every chapter

Part One — How to spot bad thinking

  1. Claims Are Not Facts
  2. The Bandwagon Trap
  3. The Straw-Man Trick
  4. False Choices
  5. Slippery-Slope Thinking
  6. Attacking the Person
  7. The Appeal to Authority
  8. Cherry-Picking
  9. Correlation Is Not Causation
  10. Emotional Reasoning
  11. Confirmation Bias
  12. The Sunk-Cost Trap

Part Two — Thinking in the digital world

  1. Why Viral Does Not Mean True
  2. Fake Screenshots and Edited Clips
  3. AI Can Sound Certain and Be Wrong
  4. Deepfakes and Synthetic Media
  5. Algorithms Are Choosing Too
  6. Influencers, Ads, and Hidden Persuasion
  7. Online Scams Use Your Emotions
  8. Privacy Is a Decision

Part Three — Better decisions

  1. The Power of the Pause
  2. Reversible vs. Irreversible Choices
  3. Think in Consequences
  4. Probability: Possible Is Not Probable
  5. Opportunity Cost
  6. Make a Decision Matrix
  7. Ask What Could Change Your Mind
  8. Disagree Without Becoming Enemies
  9. When to Ask an Adult
  10. Your Personal Thinking Code

Is it for you?

This book is for you if…

  • Your child repeats things they saw online as settled fact.
  • You want screen-time conversations to be about judgement, not just minutes.
  • You are teaching a class or running a library group and need ready-made practice.
  • You would rather hand over a method than a verdict.

Free download

Free: The THINK Method Card

A two-up printable card carrying the THINK method and the five-second habit that opens Think Smarter. Cut them out, keep one by the door and one in a school bag.

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