Recommended Resources
Below are some of my favorite resources for parents who want to help their children better understand their thoughts, emotions, and choices.
These are books, tools, and products that support the kinds of skills we focus on at Junior Mind Masters—emotional awareness, thoughtful decision-making, resilience, and confidence.
Books for Parents
Book Recommendations
Over the years, I’ve read so many books that have shaped the way I think about parenting, personal growth, and the power of the mind. These are the ones that stood out—the books that made me pause, reflect, and see things differently.
Each one has contributed in some way to the ideas behind Junior Mind Masters, and I’m excited to share them with you.
My hope is that these books inspire you to think more deeply about how our thoughts shape our experiences and how we can help our children learn this powerful skill early in life.
Parenting and Child Development
📗The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
Why I love it: A practical guide that helps parents understand the growing mind — and how to nurture emotional balance and connection through everyday moments.
Read it on Amazon »
📘How Children Succeed by Paul Tough
Why I love it: Paul Tough explores what truly drives success — and it’s not IQ or test scores. It’s character, curiosity, perseverance, and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. This book demonstrates that helping kids build grit and emotional strength is just as important as teaching them facts and formulas. Read it on Amazon »
📘Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky
Why I love it: Galinsky uncovers the seven essential life skills — from focus and self-control to perspective-taking and critical thinking — that help children thrive. It’s a practical guide for raising thoughtful, capable, and emotionally intelligent kids.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 Living the Confidence Codeby Katty Kay, Claire Shipman, and JillEllyn Riley
Why I love it: Written especially for girls, this book explores what real confidence looks like — not perfection, but courage in action. Through stories of inspiring young women, it shows how confidence is built through trying, failing, and trying again.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 Lighting Their Fires: Raising Extraordinary Kids in a Mixed-Up, Muddled-Up, Shook-Up World by Rafe Esquith
Why I love it: Veteran teacher Rafe Esquith shares powerful lessons on helping kids discover passion, purpose, and perseverance. His real-world classroom stories inspire parents to nurture curiosity and character — not just achievement.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings of Authenticity, Connection, and Courage by Brené Brown
Why I love it: Brené Brown reminds us that vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s courage, creativity, and connection are born. Through her warmth and storytelling, she shows how embracing imperfection opens the door to deeper relationships and true self-worth.
Read it on Amazon »
📘The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
Why I love it: This book beautifully explains that what children need most isn’t perfection — it’s presence. Siegel and Bryson show how being emotionally available helps kids feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure, four essentials that shape healthy brain development and lasting confidence. Read it on Amazon »
📘Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World by Michele Borba
Why I love it: Michele Borba makes a powerful case for empathy as the missing piece in raising happy, successful kids. Through research and real-life stories, she shows how empathy fuels kindness, confidence, and resilience — qualities that matter far more than test scores.
Read it on Amazon »
📘Kid Confidence: Help Your Child Make Friends, Build Resilience, and Develop Real Self-Esteem by Eileen Kennedy-Moore
Why I love it: Dr. Kennedy-Moore offers research-backed tools to help kids build genuine self-worth, the kind that comes from courage, effort, and connection, not praise or perfection. It’s an empowering guide for raising confident, compassionate kids.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine by Michele Borba
Why I love it: Michele Borba uncovers what truly helps children thrive — not grades or talent, but character strengths like empathy, self-control, and curiosity.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, Ph.D.
Why I love it: Marc Brackett, founder of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, shows why emotions aren’t weaknesses — they’re information. He offers a framework for understanding, labeling, and managing feelings — a must-read for parents and teachers raising emotionally aware kids.
Read it on Amazon »
Mindset and Habits
📘 Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
Why I love it: Big changes start small — Fogg’s method turns habit-building into a celebration of small wins and brain rewiring.
Read it on Amazon »
📘Personality Isn’t Permanent by Dr. Benjamin Hardy
Why I love it: Hardy shows that personality isn’t fixed — it’s flexible, shaped by your choices, habits, and vision for the future. It’s a powerful reminder that kids (and adults) can design who they want to become, one intentional decision at a time.
Read it on Amazon »
📘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
Why I love it: Carol Dweck’s research on fixed vs. growth mindset has changed the way we understand learning and motivation. She shows that success isn’t about talent — it’s about believing we can grow through effort, curiosity, and resilience.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
Why I love it: This is the grown-up counterpart to Living the Confidence Code. Kay and Shipman blend research and real-life stories to show that confidence isn’t about being fearless — it’s about acting despite fear. A must-read for moms modeling courage for their kids.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 Be Your Future Self Now by Benjamin Hardy
Why I love it: Benjamin Hardy expands on the idea of identity-based living, showing how to align today’s actions with your future self’s vision.
Read it on Amazon »
📘Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today by Hal Hershfield
Why I love it: Hal Hershfield explores our relationship with the “future version” of ourselves. He shows how connecting emotionally with that future self helps us make wiser choices, build better habits, and create lasting change.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 Atomic Habits by James Clear
Why I love it: With simple, actionable steps, James Clear shows how tiny improvements, repeated consistently, lead to massive transformation.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff
Why I love it: Jon Acuff tackles perfectionism with humor and heart. He reveals that most dreams don’t fail because we lack motivation — they fail because we expect perfection. His witty, practical advice helps readers actually finish what they start and find joy in progress, not flawlessness.
Read it on Amazon »
📘The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Why I love it: Hardy captures the magic of momentum — how small, consistent actions, repeated over time, create extraordinary results.
Read it on Amazon »
Resilience and Growth
📘Supersurvivors: The Surprising Link Between Suffering and Success by David B. Feldman and Lee Daniel Kravetz
Why I love it: This book challenges the idea that resilience means simply “bouncing back.” Through powerful real-life stories, Feldman and Kravetz show how adversity can become the foundation for transformation and purpose.
Read it on Amazon »
📘The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday
Why I love it: This book is a modern guide to ancient wisdom. Drawing on Stoic philosophy, Ryan Holiday shows how every challenge carries the seed of opportunity. It’s a good reminder that when we change how we see obstacles, we turn setbacks into stepping stones.
Read it on Amazon »
📘Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Why I love it: Taleb shows that the goal isn’t just to survive chaos but to grow stronger because of it. His concept of becoming antifragile is about learning to adapt, learn, and thrive through life’s challenges.
Read it on Amazon »
📘What Doesn’t Kill Us: The New Psychology of Posttraumatic Growth by Stephen Joseph
Why I love it: This book reframes how we think about struggle and recovery. Joseph explores the science of posttraumatic growth — showing that adversity doesn’t just test us, it can transform us. It’s a powerful reminder that even in life’s hardest moments, growth, meaning, and strength can emerge. Read it on Amazon »
📘Upside: The New Science of Post-Traumatic Growth by Jim Rendon
Why I love it: Jim Rendon dives into the fascinating research on how adversity can spark profound personal growth. Through science and storytelling, he reveals how people don’t just recover from hardship, they often become stronger, more compassionate, and more purposeful because of it.
Read it on Amazon »
📘Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Why I love it: This book reminds us that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s the willingness to show up anyway. Brené Brown’s research on vulnerability and shame teaches us that true strength comes from authenticity and connection.
Read it on Amazon »
📘Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance by Jonathan Fields
Why I love it: Jonathan Fields reminds us that fear isn’t a stop sign — it’s proof that we’re doing something meaningful. Through stories and science, he shows how to use uncertainty as creative fuel instead of letting it hold us back. It’s an inspiring guide for anyone (kids included!) learning to lean into the unknown with courage and curiosity.
Read it on Amazon »
Mind Power and Transformation
📘Becoming Supernatural: How Common People Are Doing the Uncommon by Dr. Joe Dispenza
Why I love it: Dr. Joe blends neuroscience, quantum physics, and the power of belief to show how our thoughts can literally change our reality. It’s a fascinating look at how the mind and body work together to create transformation, reminding us that the extraordinary starts with mastering the inner world.
Read it on Amazon »
📘You Are the Placebo: Making Your Mind Matter by Dr. Joe Dispenza
Why I love it: Dr. Joe shows that our thoughts are more powerful than we realize, capable of triggering real, measurable changes in the body. Through science and inspiring stories, he reveals how belief, focus, and emotion can activate the body’s healing potential.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning and End of Sufferingby Joseph Nguyen
Why I love it: This simple yet profound book teaches how freedom begins in the mind. Nguyen explains how overthinking and self-judgment create suffering — and how awareness and thought management lead to peace.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain by Dr. Tara Swart
Why I love it: Neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart blends brain science with the law of attraction, showing how visualization, intention, and focus reshape neural pathways. It’s a scientific guide to manifesting.
Read it on Amazon »
📘Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One by Dr. Joe Dispenza
Why I love it: This book is a deep dive into the science of thought and transformation. Dr. Joe explains how our repeated thoughts and emotions shape who we become and how we can rewire our brains to create a new, empowered version of ourselves. It’s thought mastery at its finest. I love all of Dr. Joe’s books but this one is my favorite.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 The Higher Self by Deepak Chopra
Why I love it: Deepak Chopra guides readers toward living from their highest state of awareness — a place of peace, purpose, and connection. It’s a spiritual yet practical journey into self-realization and the power of consciousness. (I like to listen to audio books by Deepak because his voice is so soothing)
Read it on Amazon »
The Magic of Believing by Claude M. Bristol
Why I love it: This book explores one of the most powerful forces we have — belief. Claude Bristol reveals how our thoughts and expectations shape reality.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett
Why I love it: This groundbreaking book flips everything we thought we knew about emotions. Lisa Feldman Barrett reveals that emotions aren’t hardwired — they’re constructed by our brains, based on experience and interpretation. It’s a powerful reminder that emotional intelligence starts with understanding how feelings are formed — and that we can reshape them through awareness and thought. Read it on Amazon »
📘 How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self by Dr. Nicole LePera
Why I love it: Dr. LePera guides readers through the inner work of self-awareness and healing. She blends psychology, neuroscience, and practical exercises to help break old patterns and create a life aligned with your highest self.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 The Brain: The Story of You by David Eagleman
Why I love it: Neuroscientist David Eagleman takes readers on a fascinating tour of the brain — exploring how we perceive, decide, and become who we are.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 Shift: Managing Your Emotions—So They Don’t Manage You by Dr. Ethan Kross (likely referring to Chatter or similar themes)
Why I love it: Dr. Kross explores how to gain control over the inner voice that can so easily derail our peace. He offers tools to create emotional distance, reframe self-talk, and harness our thoughts instead of being ruled by them.
Read it on Amazon »
📘 The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton
Read it on Amazon »
Books for Children
Stories have a powerful way of helping children understand themselves and the world around them.
The books below offer meaningful messages about courage, perseverance, kindness, self-belief, and emotional growth. Through characters and stories, children can begin to see that challenges are part of life—and that they have the ability to face them with strength and confidence.
Reading stories like these together can open the door to wonderful conversations about feelings, choices, and the way we think about ourselves.
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
This was my daughter’s favorite book from 4th - 7th grade. It is a beautiful story about a girl learning to understand and embrace what makes her different, and how that difference can become a strength.
Journals & Reflection Tools
Journaling can be a powerful practice for both adults and children.
Giving children the opportunity to write—or even draw—about their thoughts and experiences helps them become more aware of their inner world.
Even young children who are not yet writing can benefit from expressing themselves through drawings and simple reflections.
Whether it’s a blank journal or one filled with thoughtful prompts, journaling encourages children to slow down, notice their thoughts and feelings, and begin developing self-awareness.
There’s something powerful about a simple, blank notebook. It gives kids a place to write, draw, and get their thoughts out of their head and onto paper. We use these for journaling, doodling, and even alongside some of the tools on this site. No pressure, just a space to think.
A Back and Forth Journal Memory Book
This is a really special way to connect with your child through writing. The prompts go back and forth between parent and child, creating a simple and meaningful way to communicate, share thoughts, and build connection over time.
Happy Confident ME Daily Journal
This is a great little journal for helping kids slow down and reflect on their day. The prompts focus on gratitude, positive thinking, and self-awareness, which are all key pieces of building confidence from the inside out.
This daily journal for kids allows them to express their emotions and teaches a growth mindset. As a bonus, this life journal can turn into a great keepsake.
Parenting Tools & Products
Parenting is one of the most meaningful—and sometimes most challenging—roles we take on.
Along the way, helpful tools can make a difference. The products below are ones I’ve discovered that support emotional awareness, communication, reflection, and positive habit-building for children and families.
My hope is that these resources make the journey of raising thoughtful, resilient children just a little easier.
Big Life Journal – Sharing Joy Conversation Cards.
I love tools that help spark meaningful conversations without it feeling forced, and these cards do exactly that. They’re a simple way to connect with your child, especially during everyday moments like dinner, car rides, or before bed.
Sticky Notes (simple but powerful)
These might seem basic, but we use sticky notes all the time. They’re a great way to get thoughts out of your child’s head and into the open. You can use them for worries, positive self-talk, and even problem-solving. Sometimes the simplest tools are the most powerful.
This is a great tool for helping kids manage transitions and big feelings. Instead of just hearing “5 more minutes,” they can actually see time moving. It helps reduce resistance and gives kids a sense of control.
We use this for quick thought sorting and problem-solving. Perfect for the Worry Wipers (all of those “out of my hands” worries get wiped away!
Helping children develop strong minds is a journey.
The right ideas, tools, and stories can make that journey easier and more meaningful, for both parents and children.
I’ll continue adding new resources here as I discover books, tools, and products that support children in developing confidence, resilience, and emotional awareness.