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Books That Changed How I Show Up
22
items This list is full of the books that have shifted my thinking, softened my parenting, deepened my teaching, and expanded my compassion—for myself and others.
Whether you’re raising kids, teaching little humans, healing your inner child, or just tryin...
Sections
4
Understanding the Mind and Body
Healing, Growth, and Spirituality
Teaching with Heart, Leading with Soul
Because Kids Don’t Come With Manuals, but if they did these would be it
Understanding the Mind and Body
Titles that explore trauma, neurodivergence, and the deep connections between our emotions, experiences, and nervous systems.
For anyone healing, questioning, or just trying to breathe deeper.This book made me pause, reflect, and exhale. It reframes illness, trauma, and stress as natural responses to an unnatural culture—and that truth hit home. If you’ve ever felt like you...
The Myth of Normal
This book gave me so much clarity—not just about ADHD, but about myself, my students, and the kids I love. It reframes ADHD with so much compassion. Instead of “fixing” behavior, it’s about understanding where it comes from—and that hit home.
As a t...
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder
This book gave me language for things I had only felt. It explains how trauma lives in the body—and how healing has to involve more than just talk. It’s intense, but deeply validating and full of hope.
For anyone doing the work of healing, personall...
The Body Keeps the Score: Healing Trauma
When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress – Gabor Maté
This book flipped how I understand health—and it deepens the connection between the stress we don’t talk about and the sickness that shows up in our bodies. Dr. Maté walks you through st...
When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress
Healing, Growth, and Spirituality
Books that challenge your perspective, open your heart, and invite you into deeper healing or spiritual exploration.
For deep thinkers, old souls, and the spiritually curious.
This book stretched my mind and soothed something in my soul. Especially after loosing a friend last year. It dives deep into the spiritual experiences people describe during regression hy...
Journey of Souls: Life Between Lives
This book helped me understand why some messages land—and others totally miss. It’s all about framing your words around values, not just facts. A game-changer for anyone doing advocacy, teaching, or trying to be heard in hard conversations.
Affiliat...
Don't Think of an Elephant!: Know Values
https://amzn.to/4oqYfez
Daring Greatly: Courage to Be Vulnerable
Teaching with Heart, Leading with Soul
These are the books that reshaped how I show up in the classroom—especially on the hard days. They’re less about pedagogy and more about presence, empathy, and understanding the whole child (and the whole teacher too).
If you’ve ever cried after dis...
This book saved my voice and my sanity. It’s full of simple, respectful strategies that actually work with kids ages 2–7. Less yelling, more connection. A must-have for parents and teachers alike.
Favorite line: “Children will listen—if they feel he...
How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen
This one gave me a whole new lens on what’s happening behind a child's behavior. It breaks down brain development in a way that’s actually useful—so you can respond with intention instead of just reacting. It’s science, but make it practical.
Great ...
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Strategies
This book helped me trade power struggles for connection. It explains how a child’s brain works in the moment and offers real tools to respond with calm instead of chaos. It doesn’t mean giving in—but it does mean showing up differently.
Perfect for...
No-Drama Discipline: Whole-Brain Way to Calm Chaos
This workbook is full of creative, movement-based activities that help kids name and work through big emotions. It’s trauma-informed, playful, and honestly feels like SEL magic in workbook form.
Great for classrooms, therapy, or home.
Affiliate lin...
Mindful Monsters Therapeutic Workbook EMDR
This one reminded me that “perfect” isn’t the goal—connection is. Brené Brown brings her signature honesty and warmth to parenting, helping us lead with courage, model self-compassion, and raise wholehearted kids (without losing ourselves in the proc...
The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting: Raising Kids
No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame
No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame
Because Kids Don’t Come With Manuals, but if they did these would be it
This book gently reframed every toddler meltdown I’ve ever seen—or lived—as a signal. Instead of “just a phase,” each outburst is a step in brain growth. Amber lays out those age-related leaps with clarity and compassion: helpful strategies, growth m...
Misbehavior is Growth: Toddler Years Guide
Three is a lot. This book helped me see the wild swings, sass, and sudden clinginess not as problems—but as growth milestones. It breaks down each emotional storm and shows what new skill is trying to emerge underneath.
It’s practical, validating, a...
Misbehavior is Growth: Guide to Three Year Olds
Oh, four-year-olds—where big feelings, big ideas, and big tantrums collide with a dash of dramatics. This book helped me shift from reacting to redirecting, turning meltdowns into moments of meaning. It explains what’s really going on behind the tant...
Misbehavior is Growth: Four Year Olds Guide
This one made me rethink everything I thought I knew about parenting—and teaching. It dives into why kids today are more peer-oriented than ever, and how that shift is affecting their development, attachment, and resilience.
It’s a powerful reminder...
Hold on to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers|Paperback
This book helped me stop second-guessing myself during every fussy phase. It breaks down predictable developmental “leaps” that babies go through—and shows what’s actually happening behind the clinginess, sleep disruptions, or sudden mood shifts.
It...
The Wonder Weeks: Stress-Free Baby Guide
This book was a lifeline during those early newborn weeks. Dr. Karp explains how to soothe babies using the “5 S’s” (like swaddling and shushing) by tapping into what he calls the "fourth trimester." It made me feel more confident and less alone—and ...
The Happiest Baby on the Block, 2nd Ed.
This book helped me breathe easier when transitioning my little one to solid food. Baby-led weaning can feel intimidating, but this one breaks it down—how to introduce foods safely, portion by portion, and spot allergy signals early. It’s practical, ...
Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning Guide
This book is a collection of Janet’s most-read essays on infants and toddlers, all wrapped in gentle, wise reflections. It helped me see everyday moments—not just as routines, but as chances to connect deeply and respectfully with little humans. No g...
Elevating Child Care: Guide to Respectful Parenting
This book is like a parent-coach in paperback form. Eli lays out practical, research-backed strategies for choosing connection over control, healing from attachment wounds, and really showing up as the safe base our kids need to thrive. It’s hopeful,...
Raising Securely Attached Kids: Connection-Focused Parenting