Growth Mindset, a term coined by Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist, is the idea that when people change their beliefs about their own efforts, they can better adapt to create successful outcomes. In other words, when you believe that you will succeed after practice and effort, your odds of doing so improve. It’s a powerful theory that’s gained popularity and been adopted by schools across the country. So, how do you introduce the concepts associated with growth mindset to your class? One of the best ways is to incorporate children’s books about growth mindset. Here are 10 books to start a discussion and help your students change their perception about their abilities and efforts.
Growth Mindset Children’s Books
1. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
Perseverance and creativity are key to creating marvelous things, but what happens whey things go awry?
2. Rosie Rever, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Rosie learns a powerful lesson about success and failure in this adorable children’s book with a strong female lead character.
3. Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It by JoAnn Deak, Ph.D.
Streeeeeetch your brain and learn new things with the tips in this children’s favorite.
4. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett
What would it be like to never make a mistake? Beatrice Bottomwell is a perfectionist who must confront her very first mistake in this fun book.
5. What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada
Change your mindset about problems and you may find that nothing is as bad as it seems!
6. Thanks for the Feedback, I Think… by Julia Cook
Feedback, both positive and negative, can create growth opportunities. It’s all about how you handle it!
7. Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
Teaching children that it’s okay to make mistakes is one of the most important lessons they can learn.
8. The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
Creativity is on the rise in this adorable book that encourages children to embrace challenges that put them outside of their comfort zone.
9. The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
This little book emphasizes to children that being OK at something is okay!
10. Making a Splash: A Growth Mindset Children’s Book by Carol E. Reiley
Compare a growth mindset to a fixed mindset in this children’s book that addresses different attitudes and ideas about learning.
BONUS TEACHER BOOK: The Growth Mindset Coach: A Teacher’s Month-by-Month Handbook for Empowering Students to Achieve by Annie Brock
What are some of your favorite Growth Mindset books for kids?
Share them with us in the comments below!
I love to read ‘Spaghetti In a Hot Dog Bun’ to my kiddos! It confirms that we are all different, sometimes in ways that seem weird to others, and that is okay to just be who you are. It also shows that we can be kind and decent to those who might make fun of us if we think about the situation with a good perspective.
Another children’s picture book, Growing Smarter, should be on your list, too! Its story is about a little owl who demonstrates perseverance, critical thinking, problem-solving skills and finds out that the brain is like a muscles that gets smarter when learning occurs. A great story to use at the beginning of the school year!