Greater Good Pick of 2024

I feel so honored!

Hello Friends,

Every year, GGSC's education team picks some of the most thought-provoking, practical, and inspirational education books of the year. Imagine my surprise when I returned from my daughter’s band concert last night, and I opened an email from Greater Good naming my workbook one of their favorite books of 2024 for educators! I feel so honored!!

Here’s what Margaret Golden from the Greater Good Science Center had to say about volume one of my workbook for kids:

Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: Workbook for Kids, Volume 1, by Jamie Lynn Tatera

Wholly Mindful, 2024, 154 pages. Read an essay adapted from Mindfulness and Self-Compassion.

Do your students need help managing their emotions through the inevitable ups and downs of life? Are you looking for ways to help them self-regulate, rebound, and try again as they grow academically and socially? If so, you’ll love this new workbook by elementary school educator and certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher Jamie Lynn Tatera, Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids, Volume 1, with a forward by self-compassion researcher Kristin Neff.

This book, created with a team of children who are quoted throughout, is alive with colorful drawings, comics, and activities that provide a fun and engaging way to teach mindfulness and self-compassion skills to a young audience. Children are introduced to resilience habit animals who join them on a quest through the lands of connection, freedom, mindfulness, acceptance, sensations, curiosity, friendship, and forgiveness. Along the way, they discover their “tricky” emotions and learn skills to navigate their inner terrain compassionately.

While this workbook is written with and for children, it is best completed with an adult guide, making it easy to adapt to a classroom or homeschool setting. Given that a growing body of research indicates that practicing self-compassion is a productive way of approaching distressing thoughts and emotions that engenders mental and physical well-being, the adults might even learn a little something themselves!

—Margaret Golden

I am so excited, I just had to share this great news with you all. I am hopeful that more educators and parents will discover this resource to share with kids.

Greater Good Science Center, based out of UC-Berkeley, is an amazing resource for science-based wellness practices, research-based articles in their free magazine, and the Science of Happiness podcast (really good stuff). You can view the full Greater Good article recommending 7 other fabulous books for educators here.

Touching Reviews

My heart is warmed by the stories that many of you have shared with me about your kids and loved ones using the workbook, including stories from therapists and parents. One of my favorite emails recently was from a mom who shared that her daughter slept with the workbook for a few nights after receiving it! This story touches my heart. Thank you to all of you who are helping me reach my dream of 50 reviews by Christmas (we’re almost there!). My next dream is 100 reviews by the the Summer solstice! If you haven’t yet had a chance to share your experience with the workbook in the form of an Amazon review, please share it here (your review helps others discover just how powerful the workbook is!).

Next Week’s Podcast Episode

I will be reaching out to you again next week with a podcast episode featuring the author of one of my favorite books. I don’t want to give away the title of the book yet, but I’ll give you a hint…it’s about a very quiet bunny :).

Wishing you wellness and joy!

Jamie Lynn

P.S. As a reminder, I’ll be doing an author visit with a free playful resilience workshop at Wonderland Bookshop on Sunday, January 5th. Those near Milwaukee can RSVP here. After my author visit, I will have a small, local bookstore where people can purchase my workbooks for kids (starting Jan. 5th!).