This research examined the prevalence of learning-related values in children’s storybooks in the United States, China, and Mexico. Storybooks ( N = 157) were randomly selected from government-recommended booklists in each country. Trained coders assessed the prevalence of learning-related beliefs (e.g., malleability of ability), motivated cognitions (e.g., achievement orientation), and behaviors (e.g., effort) in the storybooks. A set of MANOVAs revealed that Chinese (vs. American and Mexican) storybooks contained more instances of learning-related beliefs and behaviors. For example, Chinese storybooks included more instances of achievement-related goals and behaviors, relative to storybooks in the United States and Mexico. With the exception of achievement goals and helplessness, the prevalence of learning-related qualities was largely similar in the United States and Mexico.

This research examined the interplay between adolescents’ implicit theories about peer relationships and their academic adjustment; the mediating role of adolescents’ disclosure to parents and the moderating role of their victimization experience were evaluated. Five hundred and forty adolescents (253 girls; mean age = 13.5 years, SD = 0.67) reported on their incremental (vs. entity) views about peer relationships, disclosure to parents about their everyday activities, and their victimization experience in school. Grades were obtained from official school records. Adolescents who held heightened incremental views about peer relationships disclosed more to their parents—especially when they experienced victimization in school. Incremental views were associated with grades, regardless of victimization experience. The association between incremental views and grades was in part explained by adolescents’ disclosure to parents.