I.M. Mayes – Russell Sprout & Mr Thinkalot Books on Science, Health & Adventure
Welcome to the imaginative world of I.M. Mayes, author and illustrator of Russell Sprout and Mr Thinkalot’s Fantastic Space Journey. His children’s books blend fun stories with science fiction, health, nutrition, and climate change awareness — inspiring young readers to learn, laugh, and explore life’s adventures.
"Come along with Russell on the most freshest, crispiest, coolest and delicious adventure ever. "
AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon.
Buy now - Click the Russell circle picture below.
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Hayley tamaddon 5.0 out of 5 stars
WONDERFUL BOOK! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2025
Such a gorgeous little book - my 5 year old loves it.. and it’s a nice book to read at bedtime.
I am the author and illustrator of the popular books Mr Thinkalot’s Fantastic Space Journey and A day in the life of Russell Sprout. My passion for storytelling with quirky illustrations, I have created an exciting universe that will spark your imagination and help teach climate change and global warming or nutrition with Russell Sprout. Join Mr Thinkalot on his thrilling space adventures and get ready for an intergalactic experience like no other.
We hear about climate change and global warming a lot, it can be scary for younger people who do not understand it. These books will help them learn the subjects but in a gentle positive way.
The reasons as to why I wrote these books was to help any age group who has worries or concerns over climate change and global warming, because climate change affects us all but more importantly it will carry on doing so in the future.
The beautiful Earth and the natural order of things has been keeping our planet rotating for billions of years, the more we expand as humans the more natural land we take away. With deforestation happening rapidly across the globe and increasing carbon dioxide emissions and other harmful gases entering our atmosphere it's no wonder our seasons and weather patterns are changing as the Earth increases in temperature. Our polar Ice glaciers are melting which will only increase the sea levels.
But we can do it, we still have time to make the necessary changes.
Save our planet 🌍 Let's do it.
Unleash Your Imagination
Explore the wonders of space with Mr Thinkalot and learn about Climate change and Global warming in a gentle way.
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I’m Mary Buenaventura, and I’m a member of the Christian Non-Fiction Lovers Book Club. Mr Thinkalot’s Fantastic Space Journey 2.0 was recently introduced into our community, and I’m so glad it was.
What stood out to me most was the author's ability to blend an exciting space adventure with lessons that encourage readers to think about the world around them. The story is imaginative, easy to follow, and filled with moments that spark curiosity and meaningful reflection. It’s the kind of book that entertains while leaving readers with something worthwhile to think about.
The characters are engaging, and the journey through space keeps the pages turning. Whether you're interested in science fiction, educational stories, or simply enjoy books with heart and creativity, this one has something special to offer.
I can see why this book was chosen for our community, as it encourages discussion and appeals to readers of different ages and interests. It has been a wonderful addition to the Christian Non-Fiction Lovers Book Club.
I wholeheartedly recommend Mr Thinkalot’s Fantastic Space Journey 2.0 to every member of our community. It is a lovely book, and I believe it is a must-read for anyone who enjoys imaginative storytelling with a positive and meaningful message.
Steven
5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Educational, enjoyable and fun read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2026
Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase
Mr Thinkalot’s Fantastic Space Journey 2.0
What an informative, clever way to introduce global warming and climate change learning to any aged readers. Not only is it a fun, action, sci-fi adventure space book. It really does help younger readers understand global warming/climate change and make the whole subject a lot less scary with a very positive outlook for change, it features many fantastic characters too.
You have Mr Thinkalot, Maggie, a robot cop called Mike and more. What I found the most impressive is that it covers so much content in this book and it has many real life lessons about healing the planet, friendship and more.
This is suitable for any age especially if you are reading it to your child. My son and daughter loved it, Mr Thinkalot was my son’s favourite character and Maggie is my daughter’s favourite. It’s a brilliant read for both boys and girls.
This should definitely make it into classrooms and it should be on the national curriculum. We are all looking forward to number 2 especially the audio version. A new firm favourite that will be ready for again and again. The ending was spectacular and the lovely illustration at the end, made us feel honoured and proud.
I fully recommend this to parents and teachers.
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I’m Angela Hunt, a member of the Christian Non-Fiction Lovers Book Club, and I was delighted when Mr Thinkalot’s Fantastic Space Journey 2.0 by I.M. Mayes was introduced into our community.
This is a lovely book that combines adventure, imagination, humor, and meaningful educational themes in a way that is both entertaining and engaging. The journey through space is filled with fascinating moments while gently introducing readers to important topics such as climate change and global warming without making them feel overwhelming.
I also appreciate the care and passion the author has put into remastering this edition. It’s clear that a great deal of dedication went into creating a story that is enjoyable for readers of all ages while encouraging curiosity about our world and beyond.
Our community has enjoyed discovering this book, and I believe it has something valuable to offer anyone who loves imaginative adventures with an educational message.
I highly recommend Mr Thinkalot’s Fantastic Space Journey 2.0 to everyone in the Christian Non-Fiction Lovers Book Club. It is a lovely book and a must-read for every member of our community, as well as for anyone looking for a fun, thoughtful, and inspiring space adventure.
You genuinely feel like Russel is in school, it’s very funny. Russell is a great character, but there are also so many other great characters in the book too.
The characters have lessons at Greenhouse Elementary, the teachers are excellent and also the pupils.
Russell goes through many relatable challenges at the school, but the best thing about this book is how nutrition is intertwined in a way that is very clever, which makes it fun and a really funny read to the kids.
So much so that I ordered the kindle, paperback version and I’m waiting on the audio for the car 😂 kids love it and also educational.
July 12, 2025
So much fun and surprisingly heartwarming!
This book was such a fun surprise. I picked it up thinking it would be silly (which it totally is in the best way!), but I didn’t expect to feel so connected to a little brussels sprout named Russell. He’s honestly such a sweet, funny character, and his world is just bursting with creativity.
The idea that fruits and veggies have secret lives when humans aren’t around? Genius. I loved the setting of Greenhouse Elementary so imaginative and packed with fun little details. It’s like Toy Story meets VeggieTales with a fresh twist. There are some great messages woven in too about learning, friendship, and even how to handle those who don’t have the best intentions (aka the “unsavoury” new students).
It’s definitely perfect for kids, but honestly, I think grown ups reading it with their kids will have just as much fun. It’s light, quirky, and packed with charm. Plus, it might even make picky eaters see veggies in a whole new light. 😄
All in all, Russell Sprout is the unexpected hero I didn’t know I needed. I’d totally read another book set in this world. Highly recommend for a fun, imaginative escape!
As a children’s librarian, I’m always searching for books that promote healthy habits in a fun way. This one is perfect. Kids learn about the value of vegetables without even realizing they’re being taught they’re too busy enjoying the story. The humor, relatable school setting, and adventurous plot all work together to create a book that’s both entertaining and subtly educational.
Amazing book, my kids love it so far, such a fun way to teach kids their knowledge on their healthy foods!! Funny, exciting and engaging story to read for little ones, I wanted to read more by myself after bedtime!!
Recommended to many people would 100% buy again
The Greenhouse Elementary setting is too good to be a one time thing. I could easily imagine more stories about Russell and his classmates. There’s so much potential for new adventures, new characters, and new challenges. Hopefully the author keeps going this world deserves more than one book.
Children loved this story.So important that fruit and vegetables are in children’s diets.The story backs me up as I’m always saying how good Fruit and Vegetables are full of goodness.Very well put together.We loved the story.
This isn’t just entertaining it also subtly teaches kids about friendship, understanding differences, and not judging too quickly. The “unsavoury” characters ended up being more complex than I expected, which I think is a great lesson for children. Russell Sprout makes learning and growing (pun intended!) an exciting journey.
It’s rare to find a children’s book that balances entertainment with meaningful messages so well. A Day in the Life of Russell Sprout pulls it off effortlessly. The story is light and fun, but it still tackles topics like fitting in, handling change, and valuing education. Russell’s time at Greenhouse Elementary is full of laugh out loud moments, but also sweet, heartfelt ones. The “unsavoury” pupils storyline gives kids a safe way to think about conflict resolution and empathy. It’s both a giggle-worthy and thought-provoking read.
This book is such a joy. It’s playful, imaginative, and has that spark of innocence that makes it feel like a timeless children’s classic. Russell Sprout isn’t just a vegetable; he’s a character with big dreams and a kind heart. I loved the school setting especially how the fruits and vegetables had their own personalities and goals. The tension with the unusual new pupils kept me hooked until the end. I can imagine this being a fantastic bedtime read-aloud for kids, but even as an adult, I enjoyed every crisp page.
From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the idea that fruits and veggies have lives when we’re not looking. Russell is such an endearing protagonist he’s curious, eager to learn, and loyal to his friends. I enjoyed the creative details of their world, from their “best before” dates to their little adventures in the greenhouse. The arrival of the strange new pupils added mystery and suspense, making it more than just a sweet slice of life story. A wonderful mix of whimsy and excitement.
This isn’t just a cute children’s book it’s a well crafted tale with thoughtful themes. Russell’s journey is relatable in so many ways: making new friends, adjusting to changes, and facing unexpected challenges. The setting is colorful and alive, and the author does an amazing job painting vivid pictures without overcomplicating things. By the end, I found myself surprisingly attached to a little green sprout. Highly recommended for young readers and families.
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A bit about the author ✍🏻 📖📘
Hello and thank you for showing interest or for reading this section.
My name is Ian Mayes, I am 40 and I live in the United Kingdom. I love the UK and I enjoy chatting to anyone, whether that be people from the UK or any other part of the world.
One thing I really care about is humanity, Climate change and Global warming, I am fully aware everyone has different views on the subject. There are people who believe and there are people who do not believe in it. Global warming and Climate change can happen naturally on the Earth but humans and our practices and ways of doing things scientifically have been proven to increase the temperature of our planet.
I have Osteoarthiritis and sometimes this slows me down or makes things much harder but I will always persist and strive to do more.
Growing up and being enthralled with nature and our living planet and how things work, how one species may die off/ become extinct and how that can affect other species of animals, bugs etc or even plants and trees.
When I was younger I wanted to learn about all these subjects and also how we can improve things or what effects we have on the planet and how are population increase can affect our surrounding environment.
As I got a bit older and Climate change become more of a conversation spoken about in todays times. I wanted to help younger people understand it as I am fully aware how it can upset or worry others. I wanted to simplify it and explain we have time to change our ways in a positive way.