Blog Archives
The Science of Positive Psychology
Positives follows three children as they discover how practicing gratitude can transform their outlook, improve their emotions, and help them build meaningful new friendships. What inspired you to create this story for young readers?
Our troubled world. We’re having so many problems, and there’s so much tension and anxiety and people bickering and division going on in our world right now. I saw this, and I found myself very concerned about the next generation. Initially, I felt really hopeless and depressed. I thought, “What can I do?” I can’t change the political landscape, but I’ve been teaching a class on positive psychology for the last 16 years. Surely, I have something to offer. So I chose to write a children’s book that infuses positive psychology into the lives of these young people right at the time that they’re really going to need it. So, on the surface, the book seems to be about helping to improve happiness, but the real driving force behind it is helping them to become more optimistic and resilient.
Another strong motivator for the book is how happiness spreads. The science of positive psychology has proven that when one person becomes happier, it has the same spread as a virus. If you want to look it up, it’s Nicholas Christakis, and he has a book called Connected. So when one person becomes happier, it spreads to a thousand people per person! So if we get these books into even one classroom, it has the potential to help 30,000 people! So I’m hoping at a time in our history when we really, really need it, that this very small little book can help to make a big difference in our troubled world.
Dan begins the story feeling discouraged, while Annie and Zeke help him discover a new perspective. What did you want young readers to understand about changing difficult emotions?
I’ve been a therapist for nearly 20 years now, and I found that some people view difficult emotions like the weather. They believe the best they can do is get out their little umbrella and hope that it passes quickly. By teaching these positive psychology techniques, I’ve helped my students and my clients for years to realize that with a little bit of effort, they can improve their mood. It is incredibly empowering when you realize that there’s something that you can do to help yourself feel better. I felt like it was very important to instill this into our young people. Hopefully they take this skill home and teach it to their families. The next thing you know, happiness and optimism and resiliency are spreading throughout the country.
Annie shares a practice she learned from her grandfather. How did family wisdom and intergenerational connections influence the message of the book?
Well, I have to admit: in my personal family we’re a little short on intergenerational wisdom. So I’ll talk about my adopted family of positive psychology. In my class, Happiness 101, I often refer to Aunt Sonja, Aunt Barbara, and Uncle Dan. These are actually the giants of positive psychology: Sonja Lyubomirsky, Barbara Fredrickson, and Dan Gilbert. And in Positives, when Annie refers to Grandpa Marty, she’s alluding to Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology. There’s a ton of intergenerational wisdom there!
One of the things that I absolutely love about positive psychology is how it is supported by science. In fact, I think the scientific rigor for us to support what we’re saying is even more stringent. We want to prove the positive psychology interventions actually work. So, yeah, there’s tons and tons of research out there. If you want to read some books, I would highly recommend Martin Seligman’s book Flourish and, of course, Sonja Lybomirsky’s book, The How of Happiness, Barbara Frederickson’s Positivity, and Dan Gilbert’s book called Stumbling on Happiness.
What message do you hope young readers take away when they see Dan, Zeke, and Annie work through their feelings together?
My real hope for young readers is that they know they can improve their happiness – and that it is even better when you have other people to help support you. I want them to understand that they do not have to just be subject to whatever mood they are in – that they always have a choice!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Amazon
Positives is a heartwarming children’s book that teaches kids the proven “Three Good Things” exercise from positive psychology. Through a fun and relatable story, children learn how noticing good things in their lives can lift their mood, build resilience, and strengthen friendships.
Follow Dan, Zeke, and Annie—three kids who each struggle with their own challenges—as they discover the power of sharing “positives” together. With the help of Annie’s imaginary emotional support cat, Mr. Face, they learn that even small moments of gratitude can make a big difference.
This engaging story is based on the science of Dr. Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, and is designed to help children:
Feel happier and more hopeful
Build emotional resilience
Strengthen social connections
Practice gratitude in a fun, simple way
Positives is perfect for bedtime reading, classroom activities, or starting a new family tradition.
Give your child the tools to feel happier—one positive at a time.
Self-Confidence and Resilience
Jaimie’s Magical Words follows a young girl who begins her day with a series of uplifting affirmations, setting a positive tone as she embarks on her daily adventures. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
In Jaimie’s Magical Words, I wanted to emphasize the power of self-belief, positivity, and the importance of representation. It was important for me to share that words can shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions—especially for young children. I wanted children of all backgrounds, especially girls of color, to see themselves reflected in a story that encourages them to love who they are and to speak kindly to themselves. The affirmations in the book serve as a tool to help build self-confidence and resilience, which are crucial for navigating life’s challenges.
The art in this book is fantastic and brings your story to life. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Katerina Voytes?
Collaborating with Katerina Voytes was a wonderful experience. We were both passionate about ensuring that Jaimie’s world was vibrant, joyful, and reflective of her spirit. Katerina has a gift for capturing emotions and expressions, and that was incredibly important to convey my message in a way that felt authentic and relatable to children. We worked closely on each illustration to make sure it aligned with the vision of the story and would resonate with my younger readers. I am so grateful for Katrina’s attention to detail, talent, and dedication to this project.
Will there be a follow-up book to this story, maybe a book of child-friendly affirmations? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Yes, there will definitely be a follow-up book, but it won’t be focused solely on affirmations. While I don’t want to reveal too much just yet, I can share that the next project will continue to inspire and encourage my young audience—especially girls—that they can do and be anything. The new book will continue to build on the themes of empowerment and positivity that are central to Jaimie’s Magical Words while exploring new and exciting adventures. I’m excited to continue this journey and share more when the time is right! My hope is to create a series where each book becomes a tool that parents, teachers, and caregivers can use to nurture self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and more in children. Stay tuned—there’s more magic on the way!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Say hello to Jaimie, a cheerful little girl who relies on the power of daily affirmations to navigate through all of life’s moments. Jaimie’s affirmations become her guiding light – instilling confidence, kindness, and self-love. Through colorful illustrations and heartwarming storytelling, ‘Jaimie’s Magical Words’ inspires young readers to embrace positivity and the magic that lies within.
Persistent Positivity
Penelope the Pesky Pelican follows a friendly pelican who sometimes does not have her cheerful disposition appreciated and needs encouragement from her best friend. What inspired your story?
It all started as a bit of an inside family joke about a Pelican statue we had at my late grandparents house on the coast. We named her Penelope and would always make up funny little stories and jokes about her. After years of erosion and rust, Penelope eventually succumbed to the elements, but my father wanted something to help her spirit live on in the family. One day he called me out of the blue to express his excitement about the short story he had written, starting off as just a casual way to pass the time and share with family. With my experience in both design and development and having previously worked with many publishers on their book promotions, I knew we had to bring this story to life.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Evelina Losich?
Collaborating with Evelina was fantastic. We knew exactly how we wanted the spreads laid out, and worked with her to develop the characters and styles, and provided direction on the layout to create what came to be a very vibrant experience our children love to just look at while being read to.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The core message of persistent positivity and the significant impact it can have in your life is a virtue my father has always instilled in us from a very young age. We wanted this book to really personify those values and provide a creative outlet for us to share them with the world.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
This book has really created a “domino effect” with my father and me on our journey into authoring the book, we don’t have anything concrete yet, but we have a number of other concepts in the works that we’re excited to share when the time comes!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Grumpy Grump
Grumpy Grump, by Ruthie Godfrey, is a captivating children’s book that tells the story of Gloria, a young girl who symbolically dons a “grumpy” blanket to express her discontent. Noticing her sour mood, her mother gently guides her on a neighborhood walk, exposing her to the joy and wonder of the outside world. This simple yet profound journey helps Gloria shed her irritable demeanor, illustrating the transformative power of a positive environment.
Ruthie Godfrey’s work stands out for its engaging narrative and moving underlying message. The book offers young readers a delightful blend of engaging dialogue, a compelling and accessible plot, and a deeper lesson about emotional management. Gloria’s character is a relatable figure for children, depicting the universal struggle with negative emotions and presenting a healthy strategy for overcoming them. The narrative conveys that indulging in crankiness is not only unproductive but also detracts from the beauty and excitement of the world. The high-quality, cleverly designed illustrations in the book are a visual treat, capturing children’s attention from the outset and maintaining their engagement throughout the story. These illustrations complement the text beautifully, enhancing the book’s educational value. The dialogue is crafted with young readers in mind, featuring clear, understandable language and a brisk pace that holds their interest without overwhelming them. This approach is particularly effective for an audience with a shorter attention span, making the book a perfect choice for elementary school reading or a soothing bedtime story.
Grumpy Grump is a valuable tool for teaching positivity and resilience. Its appeal lies not only in its narrative and artistic merits but also in its ability to impart an important life lesson to its young readers.
Pages: 39 | ASIN : B0C5CHB8N6
