The following books, written by Robin Cox, have been published between 2004 and 2008:

Double-click on the pictures on the right to see the front cover of the books.

Letter 2 a Teen - Becoming the Best I can Be

This is a book written for young people, aged 13 - 19. It contains heaps of ideas and tips on how they can take charge of their lives and reach their potential. It has taken 13 years to write and various drafts have been commented on by teachers, parents, teenagers, school principals, youth workers, social workers and psychologists. The result of years of mentoring and tutoring experience by the author and considerable research, this is a user-friendly book written for those who complete the mentoring journey and then need to continue their life journey, as well as for any adolescent looking for ideas and thoughts about maximising his or her potential. Parents and teachers trying to understand today's Generation Y will find plenty of useful tips and ideas to encourage their students or children to reach their potential. This book can be purchased directly from the author through this website. For more details and some sample pages,click here 

Expanding the Spirit of Mentoring (2006)

'Accessible, useful, fun and effective as learning tools .... the materials in 'Expanding the Spirit of Mentoring' will inspire you and support you in setting up a peer mentor or peer support programme or in running a leadership or life skills programme for young people of any culture. These resources are based on many years of research on peer mentor programmes internationally, as well as on personal experience of setting up such programmes in schools.

In encouraging young people to reach their potential, the 40 activities focus on the three key skills of teambuilding, communication and building resilience. Designed to be non-threatening and fun, they can be adapted easily to suit any number of students in any setting (eg, a school or youth group). The physical element involved in most activities is likely to attract those who prefer to learn by doing (many of whom are boys); the great variety of activities will maintain everyone's enthusiasm and attention."

This book can be purchased through Essential Resources in New Zealand. Make a note of the title and find details on their website.

Click here for more information


The Spirit of Mentoring - a manual for adult volunteers (2005)

Written and updated 1999 - 2005, this book is the resource for the YES Mentor Training Program, though can be purchased as a stand-alone book. Written in a user-friendly style, with helpful diagrams throughout, this resource has proven to be especially valuable for mentors once they embark on the mentoring journey, as it contains heaps of advice, tips etc. Over 800 volunteer adult mentors have been trained using this book as the training resource.

For more information and to purchase directly from the author click here

To read what readers have said about this book click here

The Mentoring Spirit of the Teacher - Inspiration, support and guidance for aspiring and practising teacher-mentors (2004)

The Mentoring Spirit of the Teacher aims to encourage the committed and dedicated teacher who is passionate about working with young people and wants to encourage them to reach their potential.

Research points to the positive impact that a significant adult has on the lives of numerous adolescents. Given the high proportion of time that young people spend at school, it stands to reason that a teacher can be this significant adult, impacting on their lives powerfully and positively.

This book is packed with practical suggestions and inspirational principles for any teacher who has experienced or would like to take on mentoring. It shows teachers how they can help students connect to their school, develop high self-esteem, have a sense of purpose and transform their future.

The spirit of the teacher-mentor should be present in every classroom, on every sports field, and in every school-related activity throughout the world.

To view a sample in PDF format, make a note of the title and go to the Essential Resources website (New Zealand) click here This book is purchased through Essential Resources.

Encouraging the Spirit of Mentoring - 50 fun activities for the ongoing training of teacher-mentors, volunteer mentors and youth workers (2004)

Encouraging the Spirit of Mentoring complements the ideas presented in The Mentoring Spirit of the Teacher. It extends the concept of mentoring to the notion of supporting others who, in turn, will become mentors themselves.

This resource provides practical, well-tested activities for facilitators who are involved in ongoing training for mentors of any background and profession. The material has been gathered over many years, and adapted or rewritten where relevant to promote the spirit of mentoring. The book is packed with 50 photocopiable activities set in 88 spiral-bound pages for easier photocoping.

Mentor training involves encouraging mentors to identify and practise key mentoring skills and to focus on important issues facing young people in the 21st Century. At the same time, the experiential nature of the training involves mentors in the experience of personal growth and development. The activities in Encouraging the Spirit of Mentoring are designed to keep the spirit of mentoring alive by making mentor training user-friendly, fun and appealing, despite the busy life that is typical of virtually everyone involved with mentoring.

To view a sample in PDF format go to the Essential Resources website (New Zealand) click here  This book is purchased through Essential Resources.

Nurturing the Spirit of Mentoring - 50 fun activities for young people (2005)

Nurturing the Spirit of Mentoring is aimed at encouraging anyone who interacts with young people to sow the seeds of mentoring. It provides practical, well-tested resources for facilitators who are looking for quick, fun, easy-to-prepare activities designed to guide young people towards their full potential.

A 10- to 20-minute activity from this book will remind young people that, in your eyes, their lives are worth living, their opinions matter and they have the choice of many positive pathways to take in order to reach their potential.

To view a sample in PDF format, make a note of the title and go to the Essential Resources website (New Zealand) click here The book can be purchased through the Essential Resources website.