Growth Mindset: Best Books to Read with and Encourage Your Children
One of my nieces is rather fond of reading. She has a large bookshelf that she keeps top-notch and up to date. She loves to talk about books and plans to write one too. My other niece is another story though. Whenever you hand her a book, she starts to whine, ‘I don’t like reading’, ‘I can’t finish this! It is too boring!’ and ‘I don’t understand it’.
At first, we simply thought she was being lazy. It took us a while to realize that she actually feels she is a bad reader. She struggles with words, misses the meanings of some words, and has trouble comprehending the situation at times. Unwittingly, she has developed a fixed mindset that she is a horrible reader which is the main reason for her unwillingness to read.
Here are some amazing books that promotes growth mindset according to each age group! Share on XYou can’t force a child to read a book they are uninterested in. If you are facing a reluctant reader, try books based on a growth mindset and encourage them to finish the book by helping them read. Here are some amazing books that promotes growth mindset according to each age group!
Books for Early Readers (Ages 3-8)
1. What Should Danny Do?
This unique and interactive book has 9 stories in a ‘Choose Your Own Story’ format. The book is about a boy named Danny who is training to be a Superhero. The young reader is encouraged to explore through different story lines that shapes Danny’s days and eventually, his life. It is relatable, entertaining and builds excellent social-emotional skills.
2. Nonni’s Moon
This sweet and visionary book tells us the story of Beanie who is far away from her loved ones but devices a way to contact them through the moon itself. It imparts knowledge and understanding of bereavement and how loneliness impacts a person, and most importantly – how to deal with it.
3. Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape it
Our brains are intricate and complex, that’s why it’s important for kids to make sense of things that strengthen and enhance brain activities early on. The author is a psychologist and educator, and she breaks down the functions and anatomy of the brain in an engaging and enjoyable way.
If you are facing a reluctant reader, try books based on a growth mindset Share on X
4. The Most Magnificent Thing
This beautifully illustrated book is great for character education and teaches the young readers how creativity and determination always pays off in the end. It also brings out the imaginative and artistic side by showing how the perfect, most magnificent things require hard work, twists and tweaks and patience.
5. After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)
We all grew up with the catastrophic tale of Humpty Dumpty’s great fall, but what about getting back up? This perfect little book will give young readers the closure they deserve and teach them a valuable lesson along the way on how life begins in a new way after each fall. It gives an understanding of the hold and power of fear on us and how to face it.
6. Beautiful Oops!
To err is human. Mistakes and set backs are a part of life and it’s important to not be discouraged and lose heart because of it. This book carries life lessons for children, teaching them that it’s okay to make a few mistakes here and there, even celebrate them, because something good comes out of it too.
Our brains are intricate and complex, that’s why it’s important for kids to make sense of things that strengthen brain activities early on Share on X
Books for Tweens (Ages 9-12)
7. Mistakes That Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came to Be
This book has stimulating and inspirational stories about how most of our everyday items came to be. Be it popsicles that color your tongue a different color or Velcro that holds your schoolbag’s flap in place, the kids will learn about the haphazard beginnings and how funny and silly mistakes sometimes work out for the best.
8. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life, And Maybe the World
This book contains simple lessons of character building and teamwork, and how the basic things can set you well on the road towards something bigger and impactful. The book will impart hope and optimism, with great practical advice and heartening speech, encouraging the young readers to achieve more, even during hard times.
9. Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are
This book is great to educate young readers the importance of character building and how to start a healthy bond of friendship. It imparts positive character traits through the story of Lucy, who continues to make good choices and be empathetic and kind towards a challenging boy named Ralph.
10. Thanks for the Feedback, I Think (Best Me I Can Be!)
No matter where we go or how successful we are in life, criticism always follows us, and so does compliments. So, what is the best way to deal with them? This highly entertaining book follows the story of a boy named RJ, who is constantly trying to make sense of the positive and negative feedbacks he receives and how to respond to them and grow from them.
11. Between Mom and Me: Mother Son Journal
As kids grow up, they often find it difficult to connect and build an emotional bond with their parents. This gripping journal is a great way to strengthen your connection with your kids. Explore the ever-changing interests of your children with them, record beautiful memories, swap funny stories and compare viewpoints and perspectives.
12. How to Be a Super Kid
This book works on many levels and is inspirational for kids and adults alike. It encourages to develop a positive outlook and growth mindset, perseverance, determination, and healthy habits. We all dream of becoming superheroes one day, this book teaches young readers how they can actually achieve this goal by being super kids who overcome fears, discover talents, spread love, and joy and take risks in life.
Books for Teens (Ages 13 and above)
13. Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results
This is a great read for teens who are discovering the practical aspects of life and need guidance and understanding along the way. It teaches you a great deal about personal development through the author’s own experiences. Developing mini habits can help you consistently move forward and get through the day even when life seems overwhelming.
14. Feeling is the Secret
Feeling is the secret is one of the best self-help books of the 20th century. Hardships and ups and downs are a part of life but how you react to them can change everything. This book equips us to deal with inevitable changes and difficulties in life by refining our own imagination and achieve financial, personal and spiritual fulfillment.
Feeling is the secret is one of the best self-help books of the 20th century. Share on X
15. Emotional Intelligence 2.0
In this fast-paced practical world with cut throat competitions and constant turbulence in our social and economic states, emotional intelligence is critical for survival. In this book, you can enhance your EQ with 4 key steps – Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness and Relationship Management. When your emotions go overboard and get the best of you, through this book you can deal with them creatively and put them to beneficial use.
16. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
This book has great insights on the growth mindset and has changed millions of lives. The power of a positive mindset cannot be overstated. How we perceive ourselves and our talents and abilities greatly influence our performance at work, school, sports, and personal life. People with fixed mindsets flourish less than those with growth mindset as they are constantly remodeling and developing their abilities to grow into a better person.
17. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ
Having a high IQ doesn’t guarantee happiness, success, or virtue, but Emotional Intelligence can help you a great deal in being at peace with life. Goleman has highlighted 5 main skills of emotional intelligence in this book and explained their impact in every facet of our lives. Emotional literacy is something that needs to be introduced early on in life, and that’s why this is a great read for teens.
18. 6 Minutes Wrestling with Life
You don’t necessarily have to be into sports to enjoy this book. You will laugh, cry and smile with the narrator, and most importantly, you will think. When we commit ourselves to something, we have certain expectations, and if they aren’t met, we get discouraged and hopeless without realizing that perhaps we are getting something different or better than our expectations. JohnA Passaro’s personal experience with wrestling teaches us that hard work always pays off in one way or the other.
You don’t necessarily have to be into sports to enjoy this book. Share on X
All these books have characters and story lines that encourage dealing with hardships in life, and promote persistence in young readers. Get some of these books for your little ones and read along with them.
May 13, 2019 @ 12:26 pm
Thank you, Sidrah, for sharing a well-organized article. A few days ago I have read only 2 among your recommended books. One was Between Mom and Me and another one was Mini Habits. The book was fantastic. ?