Marie Weller & Paula Vertikoff
CraniumKidsMedia.com
2026
Marie Weller and Paula Vertikoff are longtime educators from central Ohio with over 50 years of combined experience working with children. Their inspiration - and expertise - comes from helping students understand their emotions, build confidence, and navigate everyday challenges. As co-creators of the Cranium Critters series, they blend heart, humor, and brain science to create engaging stories and tools that help children understand how their minds work and what to do when big feelings take over.
Cranium Critters: Paws at the Pause Place
Young readers meet Scout and Einstein, two lovable characters who represent different parts of the brain. Scout, the brain’s safety pup, is ever-vigilant in safeguarding us by sending out alerts when she senses potential danger. Einstein, the brain’s head thinker, is the mastermind behind decision-making and problem-solving. Through their adventures, children discover the significance of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, the brain’s fight, flight, and freeze response, and essential strategies to manage their emotions and anxieties.
Cranium Critters: Einstein Acts When Squirrels Distract
Follow the journey of Einstein the Owl and Scout the Safety Pup as they assist campers in setting up their tent while facing mischievous squirrels determined to derail their plans. Their adventure introduces young readers to essential skills like focus, planning, and managing distractions, making learning about executive functions entertaining and enjoyable.
Cranium Critters: Teaming Up with the Memory Keeper
Emory the Elephant, the brain’s memory keeper, shows us that sometimes looking back helps us to move forward. When Cooper feels frustrated during a STEM challenge, Scout and Einstein team up with Emory to clear his “brain fog.” Emory helps Cooper draw on past experiences, showing how the hippocampus strengthens learning, supports decision-making, and builds confidence.