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Y Is for Yet: A Growth Mindset Alphabet
Kids learn how to adopt a growth mindset through the familiar structure of the ABCs.
Mistakes aren’t just mistakes. They’re growth spurts. Developing a growth mindset—a belief that learning is a process that requires dedication and hard work, not just talent—helps kids learn from their mistakes, build resilience, and strive to be a little better every day.
Not your typical alphabet book, Y Is for Yet uses the ABCs as an accessible framework to introduce growth mindset and all its possibilities. From A to Z, or A bility to Z any, kids learn new vocabulary that expands their view of themselves learners.
Readers can open to any page and find useful information. Younger children learn new vocabulary, while older kids can increase their knowledge of the brain’s neuroplasticity and the many ways growth mindset can be put into action. A section at the back of the book provides a kid-friendly glossary of terms and activities adults can use to help kids build resilience and foster a growth mindset.
With an uplifting and positive tone, Y Is for Yet empowers kids to persevere and encourages them to view learning as a journey with limitless possibilities.
Mistakes aren’t just mistakes. They’re growth spurts. Developing a growth mindset—a belief that learning is a process that requires dedication and hard work, not just talent—helps kids learn from their mistakes, build resilience, and strive to be a little better every day.
Not your typical alphabet book, Y Is for Yet uses the ABCs as an accessible framework to introduce growth mindset and all its possibilities. From A to Z, or A bility to Z any, kids learn new vocabulary that expands their view of themselves learners.
Readers can open to any page and find useful information. Younger children learn new vocabulary, while older kids can increase their knowledge of the brain’s neuroplasticity and the many ways growth mindset can be put into action. A section at the back of the book provides a kid-friendly glossary of terms and activities adults can use to help kids build resilience and foster a growth mindset.
With an uplifting and positive tone, Y Is for Yet empowers kids to persevere and encourages them to view learning as a journey with limitless possibilities.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published August 24, 2020
8 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Anderson
171 books58 followersShannon Anderson has taught for 25 years, from first grade through college level. Her career highlight was being named one of the Top 10 Teachers who inspired the Today Show.
She is an award-winning children's book author, TEDx speaker, certified brain coach, and frequent keynote speaker. She LOVES to do author visits and coach aspiring writers. You can visit her website at www.shannonisteaching.com to find out more!
She is an award-winning children's book author, TEDx speaker, certified brain coach, and frequent keynote speaker. She LOVES to do author visits and coach aspiring writers. You can visit her website at www.shannonisteaching.com to find out more!
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 23, 2020
The text and illustrations are a perfect match! Great for vocabulary building with our youngest learners.
February 2, 2023
Growth mindset explained using lots of recognizable, simpler words. This is also more complex than one word per letter of the alphabet. It has a description of how the word relates to growth mindset.
March 16, 2021
This book had two advantages starting out. I love picture books and I love alphabet books. During my twenty years of teaching fourth grade, many lessons in any subject started with or included a picture book. This book had one drawback starting out. I am very wary of books that aim to teach children about social science topics without much story. So, I would highly recommend this book for parents as a kind of checklist of what they should be teaching children to develop resilience and to better understand themselves. It does a great job of corralling the appropriate concepts. Also, at the end of the book there is excellent advice for parents. For children, the vocabulary would be very challenging. So if it is for a child, it should be read by an adult to the child. The book should be broken into small chunks, just a page or two at a time with plenty of discussion of the text, including the hard vocabulary, and the pictures. The pictures may be the best thing about the book. They're colorful, creative and positive. Children will likely find them entertaining. Encouraging them to make up a story about each picture can help to develop the concept. My only question about the pictures is whether there are examples of growth that show small achievements more than large achievements like being a wining Olympian. I can see there is an aim for balance between small and large achievements but what about growing to be a better friend, playmate or family member? What about being a better reader, math student, bicycle rider or wheelchair athlete? The book does an excellent job with racial and ethnic diversity, but how about children who are differently abled?
May 25, 2022
The concept of mindset is very important. But I’m not sure what age this book would be for. There is a very narrow window (and it’s younger than my kid’s age) that would enjoy an alphabet book (typically preschool) and understand the words and concepts of the book (older than preschool?)
We used the concept of “yet” from birth with the kiddo. But much of the wording is complicated.
If someone has a kid this they read this with (and not just an adult reading it) and they liked it, I would be interested to know their age.
We used the concept of “yet” from birth with the kiddo. But much of the wording is complicated.
If someone has a kid this they read this with (and not just an adult reading it) and they liked it, I would be interested to know their age.
December 3, 2020
While Y Is For Yet is a picture book, it’s not just for kids. Its empowering message of adopting a can-do and resilient attitude is an excellent one for all ages. Author Anderson has written a helpful book on a relevant topic in a fun, non-didactic way. Illustrator Souva’s energetic and diverse art brings that level of energy to the book that complements the text perfectly. (Extra points for showing someone correctly holding knitting needles!)
February 4, 2022
Another tough one to rate.
I personally adore the message in this book and for that reason alone I would advocate buying it. It basically takes everything in "Make it Stick: How we learn" and boils it down into an alphabetic and picture book form for children. I applaud. I liked it so much I wrote the author a congratulatory note.
We need books like this in the hands of children. My university students need books like this in their hands. Maybe then they would stop fretting over how bad they've done in the past and look to the future and start to overcome their setbacks and struggles.
On the other hand. It's preachy. It's an alphabet book. I think I've only read one alphabet book that I actually liked. I like the message, I don't like the medium, or the presentation. The one thing it ignores about how we learn is the power of the narrative structure. I imagine how much better this would have been if the truths were presented in a narrative format. At the very least they would be understood both implicitly and explicitly and would have given kids a chance to embody the truths in them.
So, yeah, don't know how to rate this one.
Story: Dictionary
Art: Abstract
Price: 15.99
I might still buy this...haven't decided yet.
I personally adore the message in this book and for that reason alone I would advocate buying it. It basically takes everything in "Make it Stick: How we learn" and boils it down into an alphabetic and picture book form for children. I applaud. I liked it so much I wrote the author a congratulatory note.
We need books like this in the hands of children. My university students need books like this in their hands. Maybe then they would stop fretting over how bad they've done in the past and look to the future and start to overcome their setbacks and struggles.
On the other hand. It's preachy. It's an alphabet book. I think I've only read one alphabet book that I actually liked. I like the message, I don't like the medium, or the presentation. The one thing it ignores about how we learn is the power of the narrative structure. I imagine how much better this would have been if the truths were presented in a narrative format. At the very least they would be understood both implicitly and explicitly and would have given kids a chance to embody the truths in them.
So, yeah, don't know how to rate this one.
Story: Dictionary
Art: Abstract
Price: 15.99
I might still buy this...haven't decided yet.
July 15, 2021
Kids learn how to adopt a growth mindset through the familiar structure of the ABCs.
Mistakes aren’t just mistakes. They’re growth spurts. Developing a growth mindset—a belief that learning is a process that requires dedication and hard work, not just talent—helps kids learn from their mistakes, build resilience, and strive to be a little better every day.
Not your typical alphabet book, Y Is for Yet uses the ABCs as an accessible framework to introduce growth mindset and all its possibilities. From A to Z, or Ability to Zany, kids learn new vocabulary that expands their view of themselves learners.
Readers can open to any page and find useful information. Younger children learn new vocabulary, while older kids can increase their knowledge of the brain’s neuroplasticity and the many ways growth mindset can be put into action. A section at the back of the book provides a kid-friendly glossary of terms and activities adults can use to help kids build resilience and foster a growth mindset.
With an uplifting and positive tone, Y Is for Yet empowers kids to persevere and encourages them to view learning as a journey with limitless possibilities.
Mistakes aren’t just mistakes. They’re growth spurts. Developing a growth mindset—a belief that learning is a process that requires dedication and hard work, not just talent—helps kids learn from their mistakes, build resilience, and strive to be a little better every day.
Not your typical alphabet book, Y Is for Yet uses the ABCs as an accessible framework to introduce growth mindset and all its possibilities. From A to Z, or Ability to Zany, kids learn new vocabulary that expands their view of themselves learners.
Readers can open to any page and find useful information. Younger children learn new vocabulary, while older kids can increase their knowledge of the brain’s neuroplasticity and the many ways growth mindset can be put into action. A section at the back of the book provides a kid-friendly glossary of terms and activities adults can use to help kids build resilience and foster a growth mindset.
With an uplifting and positive tone, Y Is for Yet empowers kids to persevere and encourages them to view learning as a journey with limitless possibilities.
November 24, 2021
Author Shannon Anderson gives us an alphabetical list of things we can do with a growth mindset, twenty-six to be exact, and one for each letter of the alphabet! This book serves as a great reminder never to give up and the power of positive thinking. The back matter is loaded with tools, strategies, and ways to help kids strengthen their growth mindset, perfect for the classroom. Jacob Souva does a great job layering colors, shapes, and lines making this a fun and attractive book for kids!
April 22, 2021
With a diverse set of characters and a rich growth mindset vocabulary, this book reminds readers to celebrate their strengths, learn from their mistakes, and shoot their dreams. The language helps adults to model a growth mindset and help the children in their lives excel.
August 31, 2022
With schools under pressure to introduce stories with social-emotional connections and applications, it’s not surprising to discover a trend in picture books portraying or teaching aspects of psychologist Carol Dweck’s “Mindset.” “Y is for Yet: A Growth Mindset Alphabet” is a picture book comprised of 26 “spreads;” each page features a letter, growth mindset-related term, contextual sentence, and accompanying illustration to introduce young listeners/readers to Dweck’s model. This is a terrific resource for families, educators, and counselors.
My only criticism is the lack of attribution to Carol Dweck’s research and her accompanying book, “Mindset.” Given that the final pages of text are devoted to a glossary and presenting accompanying activities, I think the acknowledgement of Dweck’s groundbreaking work is worthy of inclusion.
Publication Date: 2020
Format: Picture book
Elements: Alphabetized structure (not necessarily a “story”)
Connection/Topics: Application of growth mindset
My only criticism is the lack of attribution to Carol Dweck’s research and her accompanying book, “Mindset.” Given that the final pages of text are devoted to a glossary and presenting accompanying activities, I think the acknowledgement of Dweck’s groundbreaking work is worthy of inclusion.
Publication Date: 2020
Format: Picture book
Elements: Alphabetized structure (not necessarily a “story”)
Connection/Topics: Application of growth mindset
March 9, 2021
Author Shannon Anderson shows young readers and adults alike the importance of having a positive attitude and striving each day, one try at a time, for growth through effort, imagination, optimism, resiliency, goal setting, visualization, and other strategies, A-Z. Back matter provides fun and thoughtful games and activities to expand the learning, and Jacob Souva’s textured illustrations feature a diverse cast of children practicing growth-mindset tenets. A great addition for every library.
January 7, 2024
Great sentiment, wonderful artwork, clear examples for the target audience level. My only gripe is the activities in the back are weak, weak, weak. (Compare/contrast fixed/growth mindset statements? Track goals and celebrate success? Play 20 questions? The only fresh idea I found was drawing a "bumpy brain" to visualize how neuron paths fire+wire together)
3 stars. Good for youngsters to foster positive self-talk.
3 stars. Good for youngsters to foster positive self-talk.
October 1, 2024
Encouragement in the form of an alphabet book. Anderson takes readers through the many ways to have a growth mindset and believe in yourself. A great read aloud for classes or a read together for families to open dialogue on learning and growing.
July 21, 2025
encouraging, motivating, lovely. wish there was any extra notes here or there about the source of truth, and how and why we do things and can do things and should do things… but it’s still good. might make my own notes to go along with it.
Want to read
March 30, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Read
April 25, 2022Plenty of great words for a child (and an adult) to have in their vocabulary. The end section is also helpful to integrate what is shared in the book.
April 28, 2022
For everyone. We can learn and grow and do hard things.
April 7, 2023
4 stars for this book that helps children understand a growth mindset by relating it to an alphabet of attributes and related words
xx-dnf-skim-reference
September 26, 2025Too preachy, with art that's too busy, in a format that's too scatter-shot. Imo. I can't imagine how to share it with a child, whether or not they 'need' the advice.
September 2025
September 2025
July 26, 2021
There are so many way to encourage a growth mindset and this book makes it easy to highlight them one by one, or dip in and out as needed, to support kids where they are. The alphabet book structure is accessible and empowering. Inclusive illustrations with brightly colored thought bubbles really elevate the text. Highly recommend!
January 17, 2025
Adults need to read this book too. It is a book of focus, inspiration and belief in the possibilities.
"Yy If you feel there is something you cannot do, remember the word YET. "I can't solved this problem yet. but if I keep trying I know I can get there."
"Yy If you feel there is something you cannot do, remember the word YET. "I can't solved this problem yet. but if I keep trying I know I can get there."
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews