What does self-development mean to you? Take a moment with that question. Maybe even jot down a quick answer. Consider how important growth is in your life. Whether it’s in your job, family, relationships, or children’s book journey, growth isn’t just something we stumble upon—it’s something we actively nurture.
At its very core, self-development is about cultivating a growth mindset—staying open to new ideas, unlearning old ways, and exploring fresh ways of doing things. It’s part of our nature to evolve and there are countless books to help you believe in your growth mindset.
Now, think about your picture book.
Do you hope to inspire children? Do you want to teach them that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to? Though these ideas might be made age-appropriate in children’s books, the core of the message is the same: growth is always possible.
You see, children’s books and self-development books aren’t all that different. They’re both about transformation—just adapted for different audiences. As authors, our own growth and transformation directly impacts how we tell meaningful, authentic stories. And at the end of the day, writing a great children’s book starts with you nurturing your own growth so you can pour that inspiration and determination back into your work.
Strong stories start with strong foundations, and that foundation begins with you. In this blog, I’m giving you four of my favorite self-help books that have been incredibly impactful and empowering in my own life and children’s authorship journey.
Personal Growth Books for Aspiring Children’s Authors
While these self-development books won’t lay out a step-by-step guide on how to write your children’s book, I do believe they’ll encourage you to keep going when the path feels uncertain. Because at the heart of it all, growth is what gives us the courage to continue moving forward.
1. The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield
The Big Takeaways: If you are looking to achieve success in all areas of life, this book is filled with practical tips and real-life examples. In this book, Jack will take you through 64 fundamental principles to help you towards success. Some of these principles include:
- Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life
- Be Clear Why You’re Here
- Decide What You Want
- Believe It’s Possible
- Unleash the Power of Goal-Setting
- See What You Want, Get What You See
- Keep Score for Success
Why I Recommend It:
This book completely transformed the way I think about myself and my goals. It taught me to shift my mindset toward positivity, believe in my own abilities, ask for feedback, and take full responsibility for my life. I learned that if something was going to happen, then it’s really up to me to make it so. That belief inspired me to write I Can Believe in Myself. I also learned our negative thoughts can limit us, which led me to write The Big Bad Bully, a story about confronting the inner bully that lives in our minds.
When it comes to writing, one principle from the book that stood out was “Use feedback to your advantage.” I still remember the first time I received editorial feedback on a manuscript—I won’t lie, it was tough to hear. But once I shifted my perspective, I saw the feedback as an opportunity to strengthen my story rather than think I was being personally criticised. That mindset shift made all the difference, and I was able to use it to my advantage and make my story stronger.
2. Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
The Big Takeaways: Marie Forleo shows you how to become the creative force in your own story by retraining your brain to embrace the idea that, yes, everything is figureoutable. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of how to move forward, this book is for you. Inside, you’ll learn:
- A habit to make your goals 42% more achievable
- Ways to overcome time and money obstacles
- Tips for handling criticism and imposter syndrome
Why I Recommend It: As the title promises, this book taught me that no matter what obstacle I’m facing, I have the power and resources to figure it out. It helped me shift from feeling stuck to focusing on how to solve a problem.
I read this book a few years ago while growing my business, and it completely changed the way I approached challenges. Instead of getting overwhelmed by the unknown, I started asking myself, “What’s the next step I can take to figure this out?” That mindset didn’t just help me; it’s now something I try to instill in every aspiring author I work with.
3. 1001 Ways to Market Your Books by John Kremer
The Big Takeaways: Not just one, 10, or even 100—this book offers 1001 ideas to market your book. If you want to learn the marketing aspect of the book business, plan a successful marketing plan, or learn from other authors' success stories, this is a must-read. At over 700 pages, it’s not necessarily a cover-to-cover read but more of a reference guide you can turn to whenever you need fresh ideas.
Why I Recommend It: This book doesn’t just give you a to-do list—it shows you how to make book marketing feel manageable. Whether you have no background in marketing, or you’re on your third book, you’ll find there is always a new idea that you can implement when it comes to the ever-evolving world of marketing.
4. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza
The Big Takeaways: Combining insights from quantum physics, neuroscience, brain chemistry, and biology, Dr. Joe Dispenza's book teaches you how to reprogram your mind and body to create lasting changes. With a step-by-step process, you’ll move from simply thinking about change to actively being the new version of yourself. This book is broken down into three parts:
- PART I: The Science of You
- PART II: Your Brain and Meditation
- PART III: Stepping Toward Your New Destiny (This part is divided into four weeks)
Why I Recommend It: This book taught me how to calm my nervous system and meditate in a way that actually works for me. It’s amazing how powerful your mind can be when you believe in something strongly and take the time to reset and recharge. This book showed me how to tap into that, which has, over time, improved my focus and reduced my stress.
“Your growth matters just as much as the stories you dream of sharing.”
As you evolve as a person, you may just find the more authentic, relatable, and impactful your writing becomes. Just remember, growth doesn’t happen in our comfort zone. To get to where we want to be, we must embrace challenges, let go of limiting beliefs, and be willing to evolve.
Once you believe in yourself, you’ll be unstoppable.
Looking for more ways to connect with fellow authors and grow as a writer? Join our free training for aspiring children's authors and become part of a supportive community where you can share ideas, get feedback, and find inspiration!