The Best Kids Books About Growth Mindset
What is growth mindset? A growth mindset is a belief that you can develop and change over time. People with a growth mindset know that even if they struggle, they can grow their abilities over time with work. They are open to reflecting on challenges and learning from them, taking feedback as a learning opportunity.
Books featured in this list will embrace failure, switch up ways of thinking, accept and reflect on feedback, think carefully about word usage, and more. I love this list because though the characters face trials, there is usually an excellent takeaway that helps boost and inspire readers. As you share these books with the readers in your life, reflect on how the characters showed their growth mindsets and maybe some takeaways you found!
As always, books grow more complex and lengthy as the list goes on. So if you are looking for a shorter and simpler read, choose books towards the top of the list, or if you're looking for a more complex read to share, scroll towards the bottom of the list.
Board Books
Flight School
by Lita Judge
When Penguin arrives at Flight School, he is determined to fly with his soul of an eagle, even if his body wasn't built to fly. With perseverance and a little help from his teachers, will Penguin succeed in following his dream to soar?
Picture Books
It’s Okay to Make Mistakes
by Todd Parr
Big, bold splashes of color, combined with some silliness and easily relatable situations, make this book a win for everyone. This book perfectly fits its title. Each page spread features a mistake on one side and why the mistake was okay to make on the other side. Spills are okay because you can clean them up. Testing out a new direction could lead to a new discovery. If you get mixed up, you can ask for help. The book ends with the message that mistakes are okay because that's how you grow!
Beautiful Oops!
by Barney Saltzberg
"When you think you have made a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful!" I love this message; so important for children, and everyone, to hear. We all make mistakes, and it's okay, learn and grow from them! Interactive artwork shows how a mistake was made but changed into something creative, funny, and beautiful.
Jabari Jumps
by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari has passed his swimming tests and spends the day at the pool with his dad and little sister. He feels almost ready and not at all scared to jump off the diving board for the first time. He just needs to figure out his special jump, do some stretches, and talk with his dad first. This story is about working up the courage to do something that may seem a little scary the first time. If your little one is ready to take that first leap off the diving board this summer, or maybe they are about to do something for the first time, school, a night away from mom and dad, whatever the reason, this would be an excellent book to share.
Jabari Tries
by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari has decided to build a flying machine. He tells his dad and little sister, Nika. After gathering supplies and creating, he's ready for the first test—the machine crashes. Jabari tries to brainstorm how he could improve it. After the second failed attempt, his dad suggests Nika could be his partner. There are some feelings of frustration when it fails again. This time Jabari's dad comes to help him work through his big feelings. Great read to share about persevering when encountering difficulties and working through frustration.
The Magical Yet
by Angela DiTerlizzi, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez
When having difficulty riding a bike, a child feels like they can't do it, not now, not ever. It's after these negative thoughts that the Magical Yet pops up. The Yet's magic helps the child look beyond the failing point and remember all it has helped with so far in life. Yet doesn't mind stumbles, redos, practicing, or the time it takes to do something. Yet is there to cheer you on till you get to the point you want to be. Lovely share when the time comes for encouragement to keep striving towards that goal and remember the power of adding your own magical "Yet."
The Dot
by Peter H. Reynolds
When Vashti has difficulty creating art, her teacher encourages her to make a mark and see where it takes her. Vashti insists she is not an artist and jabs a mark in the middle of her paper. The dot starts a change in Vashti's perspective on her creative spirit.
A Perfectly Messed-Up Story
by Patrick McDonnell
Little Louie is enjoying a wonderful day and ready to share his perfect story with the world when a jelly glob appears right in the middle of his story! After peanut butter, fingerprints, and more, little Louie becomes upset and no longer cares what happens. After the story text finally continues, little Louie feels encouraged at how his story actually turned out. Little Louie is an adorable character that will engage readers with his theatrics and the silly mess-ups that happen along the way. In the end, messes and all, little Louie and his story end up just fine. A reminder to make the best of life, regardless of the mess.
The Thing Lou Couldn't Do
by Ashley Spires
Lou loves to play and imagine with her friends. When Lou's friends decide to have a pirate adventure up in the tree, Lou is uneasy. Climbing and being up is new, and there are many reasons not to try. Her friends offer to help teach her, but Lou wants to be left alone. That is until she hears the fun. After a pout, brainstorming ideas, and a call for help, Lou changes her words and thinking. I love her shift in mindset in this read, and also, it is a storyline that kids can relate to, playing with their friends and trying something new.
The Most Magnificient Thing
by Ashley Spires
One day a girl gets an idea to create the most magnificent thing. She thinks about how it will look and work and hires her best friend puppy, as an assistant to help her create it. After gathering supplies, they set to work, only to finish and discover that the thing is not good and is all wrong. No big deal, she starts over, only to have the next and the next, and the next creations all come up short. She becomes angry after many failed attempts and not meeting her expectations of making something magnificent. After the anger boils to exploding, she quits with her assistant suggesting a walk. Will she finally be able to create her magnificent thing? I love the repeated tries, learning from failures, taking a break to process emotions, and fresh perspective.
The School of Failure: A Story About Success
by Rosie J. Pova, illustrated by Monika Filipina
"You are failing your way to fabulous."
When a group of fairy-tale characters is rejected from Fairy Tale Auditions, they struggle with the disappointment of failing. When they feel down about not making the cut, a dragon fairy godmother whisks them all away to The School of Failure to find what they need. The Non-Evil Queen cat attempts baking to show how she can be perfect. Wolfred attempts poetry to be likable. And Zinderella tries a variety of classes to become famous. Eventually, the trio gains new skills and perspectives through failure after failure—a charming tale of being rejected and failing but finding your true self along the way.
The Bad Seed
by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald
The Bad Seed has been bad as far back as he can remember. Is he able to change? Kids will love this funny tale about positive change, acceptance, and being yourself.
The Book of Mistakes
by Corinna Luyken
The reader is taken on a journey, learning about Corinna's process of creating this book. A mistake drawing an eye leads to another mistake drawing another eye, but because of those two mistakes, a good idea came about to add glasses. The reader sees Corinna's various mistakes while drawing characters and the background and the great additions made because of those mistakes. A great one for talking about the ability to grow from our mistakes!
After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again
by Dan Santat
Humpty Dumpty tells the tale of what happened to him after "The Great Fall" and how he "got back up again." He loved sitting high up on the wall, close to the birds, but the fall changed him. They mended his body but not his mind; he developed a fear of heights. That fear kept him from doing some of the things he most loved. He found a way to connect to the birds by working hard to build a paper airplane. When his airplane gets stuck in his favorite spot, high up on the wall, Humpty Dumpty is left with a decision. Will he face his fear of heights, his fear of accidents? If he does, what will happen? I love the surprise ending here, the keep-trying message presented engagingly, they get back up in the face of hardship, and the appealing illustrations.
What Do You Do With An Idea?
by Kobi Yamada, Illustrated by Mae Besom
I love this one for its encouraging message telling readers to welcome their ideas. A child is worried and shy about the idea that pops up. The idea grows as the child's confidence grows. Finally, one day something amazing happens.
Rosie Revere, Engineer
by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts
Rosie gives up on her tinkering dreams after one invention is laughed at until her great-great-aunt Rose arrives for a visit and leaves Rosie with a nagging question. I love the perspective of failing in this one!
Hana Hasimoto, Sixth Violin
by Chieri Uegaki and Qin Leng
When Hana told her brothers she signed up for the talent show and would be playing her violin, her brothers laughed at her and told her there was no way a beginning like her would win! Hana thinks about her violin playing Ojiichan in Japan, remembers their time together, and becomes determined. After a lot of work with lots of doubting commentary from her brothers, Hana pushes forward and gives a wonderful performance!
How do you keep going even when something is difficult? This story highlights the resilience and that you are stronger than you think. Against weariness, skinned knees, and self-doubt, a girl eventually pushes forward to finish the cross-country run.
Failure Friday
by Andrea Burns, illustrated by Barbara Bongini
Emma is not sure about discovering her "inner runner" after she's convinced to try out for the school-run club. When continuing to come in last place, Emma wants to quit. She sticks with it and gets selected for the baton pass in the Lucky Runners Race. Slowly, she gets better and even makes a new friend, although she continues to have slip-ups with passing the baton. Emma feels terrible when she messes up the baton pass and loses the race for her team. Her coach and her mom decide to help Emma navigate her challenging feelings of failure with a surprise celebration about failure at school. I love the fun PIE strategy to help readers remember how to keep trying after failing. I also love having a failure celebration to help kids see the positive connections to failing--great idea for home or at school!
Drum Girl Dream: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music
by Margarita Engle, Rafael López
Inspiring, this picture book biography is about Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke the Cuban taboo that girls can't be drummers. Millo practiced in secret until her music was finally heard, which convinced people to change their minds to allow everyone to play drums.
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
by Laurie Ann Thompson, Sean Qualls
When Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah was born with one leg, most people thought he would not amount to much. Emmanuel proved everyone wrong as he worked hard, hopping to school over two miles each way, playing soccer, and becoming a cyclist. He rode four hundred miles across Ghana to share his message that disability is not inability. A powerful picture book biography!
Bonus Ideas
This journal has ten chapters, each divided into two parts. The first part of each chapter features a short intro, reflection, inspirational quote, and story. The second part of each chapter features more ways to apply that chapter's specific growth mindset concept, an inspirational quote to read and one to color, and a fun writing idea page. When you complete the journal, all the colored quotes, which are affirmations, can be cut out and made into a poster, such a great takeaway! I agree with the recommendation to have an adult, "Journal Buddy," work side-by-side with kids on this one; self-reflection can be tricky for kids.
This one is more what you would typically think of for a journal, but with a few key differences. The journal's beginning and ending pages highlight things like what makes me unique, why failure is important, ideas for what to do when upset, and more. The main chunk of the journal features writing prompt pages to fill in, reflecting on the day. There are three sections on each page, one, a prompt with a small section for writing a response, emoji faces to circle to describe how you felt that day, and the bottom section is either a little cartoon highlighting a growth mindset concept or another prompt area to reflect on.
Growth Mindset Activities for Kids
by Esther Pia Cordova, illustrations by Ellen Korbonski
Fifty-five activities are divided into nine chapters. Chapters highlight growth mindset concepts like "I Can Do It!" and "My Mistakes Can Be Great!" Each chapter features a short kid story tie-in. There are around six activities to match each chapter that further describe terms that help with growth mindset, like an inner voice. The activities have readers sorting through statements, thinking about how they relate to different messages, and more. The short activities are manageable, and worth it to carve out a few minutes a day to work on developing that growth mindset!
I Am Powerful: Affirmations to Inspire Boldness, Kindness, and Joy
by Holly Hatam, Sounds True Kids
My feelings are valid.
Good things are happening to me.
I can create change.
Although not a book, the words in this affirmation card deck set are meant to be read to uplift readers and help create positive shifts in thinking. Each of the 46 affirmation cards features an affirmation and cute illustration pairing on one side and ideas on the other side to help put the affirmations into practice. There's a how-to-use idea card provided in this set. Change negative thinking patterns, boost confidence, and get motivated by sharing these powerful affirmation cards! Words you tell yourself and others matter. A better day is a card away!
