Yes! No. May Be?
- Paola Dell Acqua
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
by Barbara A. Berger
I received a digital copy of this book to share my opinion
ABOUT THE BOOK
Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything
Written by Barbara A. Berger, PCC
Illustrated by Brent Pettit
Ages: 8+ | 86 Pages
Publisher: Live Your Genuine (2026) | ISBN: Hardcover: 979-8993098531 | Paperback: 979-8993098524
Publisher's Book Summary: Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything explores a deeper meaning behind the words we use every day. With a thread of faith woven throughout, Barbara A. Berger, PCC reframes Yes as foundation, No as protection of our inherent worth, and Maybe as the place where curiosity, growth, and expansion begin.
INTERVIEW Q&A
I am always curious about the inspiration behind the stories, so I prepared this interview. Thank you Barbara for your time!
-Any personal experience as a child inspired you to write the story?
I wouldn’t say a childhood experience inspired the story but there are experiences that informed it – the No section especially. I was a gangly skinny girl with crooked teeth and glasses. There were times, like most kids, I felt like I didn’t belong. Often, we can carry some of that perceived unworthiness into adulthood. Digging even deeper, I can say the Maybe section had roots in my mom’s positive outlook on life. Specifically, how doing something… anything but ruminating…. can change your outlook and outcome.
-What made you write a book that could help both children and adults?
Certainly not the marketing experts! “A book for everybody is a book for nobody.” And yet, there are classic keepsake books that reach both audiences artfully. While it’s not the advised path, it’s what wanted to be written. As a mom of two grown boys, I see how children can benefit from a simple approach to intrinsic worth, emotional regulation, boundary setting (especially with the mean voice in their heads), and how trying a Maybe can change their mood, their day, and their experience in life.
-How do you think children could benefit from the story?
To expand on what I stated above, children benefit because it gives them a simple, repeatable way to understand themselves. Yes helps them recognize what feels steady and solid inside. No shows them how to set boundaries and challenge negative self-talk. Maybe gives them permission to try, adjust, and learn. Maybe is also a bridge to help them back to their Yes when they’re stuck in a No kind of day. They get clear language to navigate feelings, decisions, other’s opinions, and challenges with more confidence and self-trust.
-What age is it best suitable for?
Reviewed by educators, the suggested age is eight and up. While it’s valuable for an adult to read with a child even earlier than that, around third grade is when kids start to reflect on their thoughts and feelings in a more structured way and can apply the framework on their own. That’s also a stage when many children begin to struggle with fitting in, feeling left out, or questioning where they belong, which makes the language especially useful. From there, it grows with them, working just as well for older students, teens, and even adults.
-How do you expect the book to be dealt with in class? and at home?
Given the gentle spiritual thread, I recognize it may not be appropriate for many school settings, but the core framework stands on its own and can be adapted for a range of environments Just yesterday, I had a teacher tell me that while they won’t be able to reference “Source” or “God” in class, they will take the framework and begin using it with students. I see the book being used more flexibly than formally to support discussions around self-awareness, decision-making, belonging, and managing inner dialogue and exploring with courage. The practical language works for counselors, social-emotional learning settings, and specialized schools where there’s space for deeper reflection and conversation.
At home, it’s a shared reference point and language that can begin early and can support the turbulent growing-up years. And, let’s face it, parents will benefit too!
-How can the story guide parents to help their children?
From reading it aloud early and talking through the illustrations to exploring the deeper meaning as the child grows, the story gives parents a simple guide for good days, hard days, and curious days. It can be read cover to cover or opened to the section a child needs in the moment. It’s three books in one, creating an easy entry point for conversations about emotions, decisions, kindness, and big feelings of all kinds. There is also a free downloadable PDF, a companion guide for children, on my website YesNoMaybeBook.com.
-You talk about God or the Divine, how can the book reach people -children / adults- who do not believe in God nor anything?
My foundation, my Yes, is rooted in spirituality so that’s that flavor that infused the book. However, if a reader’s foundation is not that, the goal is to help them discover what their Yes is. Where do they feel a sense of belonging and certainty? For example, in coaching we often ask clients to do a values assessment to help identify the core principles on which they make life decisions. For some it’s family, authenticity, financial stability, generosity, or any number of values. Being able to know what’s at your core and where you feel that sense of belonging and sure-footedness is critical for self-acceptance and as a starting point for self-worth.
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4m99k3p
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barbara A. Berger, PCC, is a career and executive coach and founder of Career Wellness Partners and Live Your Genuine Coaching. Her work helps people find their foundation, protect their inherent worth, and step into the expansion that begins with a "Maybe." She lives in South Carolina with her husband and is the proud mom of two grown sons.
Discover more about the book at www.yesnomaybebook.com.
Visit the author's coaching website at liveyourgenuine.com.
GIVEAWAY
Readers who join us on this virtual book tour have the chance to win one of four signed hardcover copies of Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything. by Barbara A. Berger, PCC. One lucky grand prize winner will also receive a virtual author visit!
Click here for the entry form:
TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, April 13, 2026The Children’s Book ReviewTour Kick-Off for Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Tuesday, April 14, 2026Deliciously SavvyBook Review of Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Thursday, April 16, 2026The Starlit PathInstagram Reel about Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Friday, April 17, 2026Crafty Moms ShareBook Review of Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Monday, April 20, 2026Country Mamas With KidsBook Review of Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Tuesday, April 21, 2026Q&As with Deborah KalbAuthor Interview with Barbara A. Berger, PCC |
Thursday, April 23, 2026icefairy’s Treasure ChestBook Review of Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Friday, April 24, 2026The Fairview ReviewBook Review of Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Monday, April 27, 2026@meghenslittlelibraryInstagram Post about Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Tuesday, April 28, 2026@bored_military_wifeInstagram Post about Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Thursday, April 30, 2026Life Skills 2 LearnBook Review of Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Friday, May 1, 2026@mysteryLFLInstagram Post about Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Monday, May 4, 2026@nissa_the.bookwormInstagram Post about Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Tuesday, May 5, 2026Un Viaje en LibroAuthor Interview with Barbara A. Berger, PCC |
Wednesday, May 6, 2026One More ExclamationBook Review of Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
Thursday, May 7, 2026@FroggyReadTeachInstagram Post about Yes! No. Maybe? Three Little Words That Change Everything |
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