Dr. Mary Jo’s Books
Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski has written 42 books for teens, families, and educators on mental health, relationships, and life skills.
The Nonnie Series™ and Dr. Mary Jo’s other books make space for honest, age-appropriate conversations with grace, humor, sensitivity, and warmth. Dr. Mary Jo’s books are available for purchase on Amazon.
The Nonnie Series™ · Volume 12
The essence of the Nonnie Series™ is connection and communication. Talking about life's challenging topics isn't easy. This series offers trusted adults and children and young people a way to find common ground and talk about the “elephant in the room.” Mental health is vital to self-worth, and addressing it has been a foundation of all 12 books.
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The Nonnie Series™ · Volume 9
This book looks at the world of disability and creates a learning tool for adults and young people where open conversation can freely occur. In selecting 17-year-old Kendle Haught as consulting author, Dr. Podgurski partnered with someone who lives an authentic life as a disabled teen.
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The Nonnie Series™
The pandemic and quarantine are true teachable moments for young people. Adults must respond to their needs with honesty, openness, and a true listening ear. Written in ten days in March 2020, this interactive book opens doors to communication about tough topics with grace, humor, and courage.
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The Nonnie Series™ · Volume 11
This book explores the many relationships children and young people encounter every day—from family, teachers, and friends to romantic and sexual partnerships. It guides children and adults to vibrant discussion of healthy and unhealthy connections.
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Created with teen educators
Young people from Dr. Mary Jo’s youth programs created this book for elementary school students to enhance mental health. Original stories model everyday coping tools, including communication and empathy, and are illustrated by teens. The book also contains objectives, discussion questions, and resources.
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Your Body is Amazing Inside and Out and Belongs Only to You
An innovative, body-positive, affirming, and empowering approach to child-abuse prevention. The diverse children in this interactive coloring book teach seven important lessons to their peers, opening conversations about bodies, privacy, and personhood.
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A guide for trusted adults
Drawing on a lifetime of serving young people, Dr. Podgurski helps adults communicate about sex and other tough topics. This book is a guide to respecting young people, listening to them, and creating a safe environment where they can learn and thrive.
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For children ages 8–12 and trusted adults
A book of courage, love, choices, determination, integrity, reliability, decency, life, and death. Dr. Mary Jo honors the lessons her parents left her after more than five decades of modeling them.
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The Nonnie Series™ · Volume 4
Pregnancy and birth are important parts of life. This book approaches these vital topics with honesty and care, drawing on Dr. Podgurski’s lifetime of experience as a birth advocate and certified childbirth educator.
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The Nonnie Series™
How do caring, empathic adults discuss death with children? This book opens the door to adult-and-child communication with sensitivity and warmth. Dr. Podgurski connects her pediatric oncology and hospice nursing experience with a developmentally appropriate, inclusive approach.
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The Nonnie Series™
This book examines the real world young people inhabit, full of confusing messages and potentially frightening events. It helps adults begin conversations about trauma and help children heal with kindness.
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The Nonnie Series™
With illustrations by Alice Burroughs, this interactive book follows two best friends as their questions about race are answered by Nonnie and her friends. Brief chapters invite readers to pause and consider each lesson as the book acknowledges allyship and explores white privilege.
Buy on AmazonThese featured titles are part of Dr. Mary Jo’s larger body of work for young people, families, educators, and caring communities.