"A Growth Mindset Book "
A Story of Embracing Growth Mindset and Resilience

“Think BIG!” is a growth mindset book that tells the captivating story of Maria, a spirited girl on her first day of school. Through her journey, she begins to understand the difference between a growth vs fixed mindset, guided by the voices of Mr. Small (doubt) and Mr. Big (encouragement).

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As Maria faces challenges like the daunting firepole on the playground, she experiences the inner struggle between fear and courage. With encouragement from her friend Siana, she begins to embrace a growth mindset, learning that mistakes and challenges are part of learning and growth.

 

This growth mindset book for kids delivers a powerful message about resilience, confidence, and the limitless possibilities that unfold when children believe in themselves. Maria’s journey encourages young readers to face challenges, build emotional strength, and grow through the process.

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With relatable characters, meaningful storytelling, and engaging scenarios, Think BIG! is more than just a children’s story, it is a journey of self-discovery and a powerful introduction to the concept of growth mindset in early learning. This book serves as a valuable resource for parents, educators, and classrooms looking for growth mindset activities and lessons through storytelling.

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Did you notice a device on Maria’s arm?

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Maria, the protagonist of this growth mindset book, carries a discreet symbol of resilience, a type 1 diabetes pump on her arm. While not the focus of the story, it represents type 1 diabetes awareness and representation of invisible disabilities many children live with every day.

 

This part of the story is especially close to my heart. My own daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age, and through our journey, I realized how rarely children with type 1 diabetes are represented in a natural and positive way in children’s literature. That experience inspired me to gently include this representation in Think BIG!—not as the main storyline, but as an authentic part of who Maria is.

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Our aim is to create more inclusive picture books that reflect real lives while still focusing on courage, resilience, and a growth mindset journey. We want children to feel seen, and for all readers to develop empathy and understanding in a natural way.

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If you're looking to explore this further, you can also check out my speaking engagement for type 1 diabetes representation and my type 1 diabetes awareness bundle, created to support learning, awareness, and classroom conversations around invisible disabilities.

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How did I get the idea for this story?

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This growth mindset book was inspired by Carol Dweck’s Mindset work on growth vs fixed mindset. I realized how powerful and foundational this concept is, and how important it is to introduce it to children in a simple, fun, and relatable way from an early age.

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While reading and learning more about growth mindset, I wanted to create a story that children could connect with emotionally not just understand logically. I wanted them to see what a growth mindset looks like in real life. 

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That’s where Mr. Big and Mr. Small were created two characters that represent different ways of thinking:

• Mr. Big represents a growth mindset

• Mr. Small represents a fixed mindset

Through these characters, children can better understand their thoughts, emotions, and choices in a playful and meaningful way. This makes the idea of growth mindset easy to understand, memorable, and fun to apply in everyday life.