CONFIDENCE & BEING YOURSELF
Taking on Trouble: Being Me Is My Power
A reminder that being yourself is a source of Personal Power. Explore what it means to value who you are, respect others, and make choices that feel true to you.
Find a coloring book for the moments that matter.
Starts muted. Use the button to hear the introduction.
What would you like to explore?
Search for a book, a feeling, or a skill you want to talk about.
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Free download · 30 pages · PDF, 12.2 MB. Print using “Fit to page.”
FREE COLORING BOOK
Tumwine’s Journey: Growing the Power to Change Tomorrow
Explore Personal Power, education, conservation, and hope through Tumwine’s story. Color together and talk about caring for nature, helping your community, and taking steps toward a better tomorrow.
The book is free. If you’re able, please consider a donation to support Family Success Northwest. Part of your donation will support Tumwine’s work in Uganda. When you donate, please let Family Success Northwest know how much you would like to suggest goes toward Tumwine’s work. Donating is optional and is not required to download.
Mike’s bookshelf
Find your next conversation starter
Read together, color together, and talk about the challenges that matter in your family. Explore Mike Canfield’s books on Amazon for available editions.
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Try a broader word like “family” or “friendship,” or show all books to explore the collection.
UNDERSTANDING TROUBLE
Deflating Trouble: An Allegory
Meet Trouble through a story about Personal Power. Read together and explore how kindness, courage, and connection can help make Trouble smaller.
FAMILIES & COMMUNITY
Trouble Comes to Town
What happens when Trouble arrives in a community? This coloring book invites children and caring adults to notice challenges, talk about helpful choices, and discover the strength of standing together.
COURAGE & FRIENDSHIP
The Trouble Monsters: Lilly & Mia Stand Up to Trouble
Join Lilly and Mia as they stand up to Trouble together. Their story opens conversations about friendship, courage, and using Personal Power with support from others.
HOPE & COMMUNITY
Ambrose’s Journey
A story of hope, courage, and community set in Uganda. Follow Ambrose’s journey and use coloring time to talk about challenges, dreams for the future, and the people who help us move forward.
STRONGER TOGETHER
Strong Families / Familia Imara
Explore family strength and taking on Trouble together in English and Kiswahili. A shared reading and coloring experience that invites families to talk about connection, support, and Personal Power.
View this book on Amazon: Strong Families / Familia Imara
SPANISH EDITION
Los problemas llegan al pueblo
Explore Trouble and Personal Power through a Spanish-language coloring book. Read, color, and start conversations about helpful choices and the strength of a community working together.
View this book on Amazon: Los problemas llegan al puebloEXPLORE YOUR FUTURE
The Trades, Occupations & Trouble Monsters!
Discover trades and occupations through coloring, real-world work, and Personal Power. Meet the Trouble Monsters that can get in the way, explore helpful skills, and imagine what you could do in the future.
PATIENCE & PERSISTENCE
The Frustration Monster and the Video Game Challenge
When a video game becomes frustrating, Ethan faces a challenge beyond the screen. Explore taking a pause, practicing calming skills, and accepting support from family through a story about frustration and Personal Power.
View this book on Amazon: The Frustration Monster and the Video Game ChallengeFRIENDSHIP & UNDERSTANDING
Listening With Our Eyes
Explore Deaf culture with Emma and Sophia through a coloring story about friendship and understanding. Read and color together as you talk about different ways to communicate, connect, and include others.
View this book on Amazon: Listening With Our Eyes
Free printable posters
Trouble Monsters & Personal Power Pals
Give a name to everyday challenges and practice helpful skills together. Explore all 19 posters, including Distraction and Focus, with free color posters and black-line coloring pages to print at home or in the classroom.
Explore the posters →
Personal Power videos
Little stories. Lasting skills.
Find a story for the moment you’re in. Watch together, get curious, and bring a little Personal Power into your day.
Featured story · Wisdom
Stop. Think.
Choose. Grow.
Meet Wisdom, a Personal Power Pal who helps us ask questions and make kind choices.
Explore by topic
Explore twenty-five videos now, with more stories coming soon.
Think & Choose
7 availableFeelings & Calm
6 availableKindness & Connection
3 available · 2 coming soonComing soon
Story 14
A new Personal Power story
Coming soon
Story 15
A new Personal Power story
Courage & Confidence
5 availableFamily & Everyday Moments
4 available · 1 coming soonComing soon
Story 25
A new Personal Power story
A little time together matters
Make the story your own
You can choose any page that fits what your child or family needs in the moment. Let coloring create room for connection without pressure to have every answer.
- Choose a page together. What catches your child’s attention today?
- Get curious. “What do you think is happening in this picture?”
- Notice the Trouble. “What might the Trouble Monster be whispering?”
- Find a helpful choice. “Who could help? What small step could the character try?”
A conversation starter: “I can feel mad and still be safe.” Feelings don’t have to disappear before we can accept support and choose what to do next.
Meet the author
Hi, I’m Mike Canfield.
I’m an author, trainer, and Executive Director of Family Success Northwest. Beth and I began our work as house parents in 1983 and were foster parents from 1983 to 2017.
My work brings together storytelling, practical skills, and decades of experience supporting children and families. These books offer another way to talk, learn, and build Personal Power together.
Strong parents build strong communities.
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