The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes: A Growth Mindset Book for Kids to Promote Self Esteem
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes: A Growth Mindset Book for Kids to Promote Self Esteem book cover

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes: A Growth Mindset Book for Kids to Promote Self Esteem

Hardcover – Picture Book, October 1, 2011

Price
$14.99
Format
Hardcover
Pages
32
Publisher
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1402255441
Dimensions
11.25 x 0.33 x 8.75 inches
Weight
15.4 ounces

Description

"this book might be one way to help them see that trying to be perfect can get in the way of having fun and being creative, and that absolutely no one is perfect. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes is a fun book with an important message that never gets in the way of the good story. Elementary age children are sure to both enjoy and benefit from this delightful book." ― Wrapped in Foil "I hope that there are more Beatrice Bottomwell stories on the way because my girls will enjoy them tremendously! Thank you Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein for teaching the kids that you don’t have to be perfect all the time! We love this book! " ― Supermom Reviews "This book has become one of our favorite books to read together my girls and me. I would love to thank Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein for such an inspiring story. I love this book... I feel it really helps to teach children, and maybe even remind adults that no matter how perfect someone may seem, that really every one makes mistakes." ― Real Adventures from a Mom of 3 "The best part of this book was the message sent. That you don't have to be perfect, that making mistakes is okay and you sure can have a lot more fun if you allow yourself not to worry so much about messing up. Overall this is a great book that I'm sure my children will enjoy for the next several years." ― Candace’s Book Blog "There are about a hundred ways the story of a perfect child could go wrong. Fortunately, Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein don't fall into any of the traps. Instead, they offer a delightful picture book about a girl who has perfected perfectionism. Flawless." ― Argus-Leader "I have to say, I was really impressed by this book. The story is cute and the illustrations are beautiful. Most importantly, it was a hit with the kids." ― The Suburban Princess Diaries "If there is one book you read to your little ones this year - this is it!!! And this book is perfect for showing them how mistakes can be normal AND even funny!! Pett's illustrations are wonderful at capturing the feelings of the kids in the book - they are simple and yet full of emotion. Thank you, Pett and Rubinstein, for showing us perfectionists that it's ok to NOT be perfect all the time!! Where was this book when I was a kid anyway!?!?!?" ― In The Pages "It’s fun and instructive without feeling overly didactic and the illustrations are darling. Look for it in a book store or library near you. " ― Parenting "this book was not only a great fit for my children to learn from, but me too. Let’s face it we all make mistakes and we all need to learn how to deal with that. I make plenty…daily. My kids are young and I want them to learn it’s ok." ― Giveaway Blogdom "I love the latest picture book, THE GIRL WHO NEVER MADE MISTAKES by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein. This is a great book to remind us that we all make mistakes and when we do, we need to just sit back and laugh. After all, perfect is boring!" ― Lori Calabrese "The lively wash drawings carry the story along briskly while the cartoon-like inner panels add depth and a side story." ― Deseret News "The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein and Mark Pett is cute and simple book. This book is cute for boys and girls alike." ― Frugal Family Tree "The book’s message is unmistakable (so to speak), paired with a subtler reminder of how easy it is to have one’s confidence shaken." ― Publiishers Weekly "Suffice to say, this is an excellent tale on how having a fear of failure leads very quickly to a very boring life - Feel the Fear and DO IT ANYWAY as I tell my kiddos. Making mistakes is NOT the end of the world, but a way to learn. Excellent book - I highly recommend it." ― Did you see that? by CPA Mom " In an age when parents berate teachers who dare to give out B's and children receive blue ribbons just for entering an art show, Gary Rubinstein's tale of a 9-year-old perfectionist is a refreshing fable that assures kids it's OK to mess up once in a while -- but doesn't beat them over the head with the moral. Mark Pett's gentle cartoon illustrations liven up even more the story of an ordinary-looking girl who clings to her image of being anything but ordinary." ― OregonLive.com "This funny and heartfelt book conveys a powerful message about how putting too much pressure on yourself to be perfect can suck the joy out of everything. Beatrice’s discovery that you can laugh off even a very public mistake shows the importance of resiliency and help perfectionist kids keep things in perspective. Most importantly, Beatrice reminds the reader that it’s more important to enjoy the things that you do than worry about doing them perfectly." ― A Mighty Girl "A refreshing fable that assures kids it's OK to mess up once in a while ― but doesn't beat them over the head with the moral. The mom's take: Gary Rubinstein's tale of a 9-year-old perfectionist is a refreshing fable that assures kids it's OK to mess up once in a while ― but doesn't beat them over the head with the moral. Mark Pett's gentle cartoon illustrations liven up even more the story of an ordinary-looking girl who clings to her image of being anything but ordinary. The kid's take: When my 7-year-old son...finished, he sat with a thoughtful look on his face for a moment -- then reopened the book to read it through again. If that's not a recommendation, I don't know what is." ― The Oregonian Parenting Blog Writer and illustrator Mark Pett lives in Nevada with his wife and children. Every February, the family draws five random digits from a hat and travels to whatever zip code it makes. He has illustrated several books and is the creator of the syndicated comic strips Mr. Lowe and Lucky Cow. Gary Rubinstein teaches high school math by day and is occasionally a comedian by night. In addition to co-authoring this book, he has written two guidebooks for new teachers. He lives in New York City with his wife, Erica, and his daughter, Sarah. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. For Beatrice Bottomwell, Friday began like any other day. She matched her socks. And, of course, she put her shoes on their proper feet. She remembered to feed her hamster, Humbert, his favorite food, broccoli. And when she made a sandwich for her brother Carl's lunch, she used exactly the same amount of peanut butter as jelly. When she stepped outside to greet her fans, she didn't forget to say "good morning" and "thank you." They asked if she made her bed. She had. They asked if she forgot to do her math homework. Nope. "What about tonight's talent show?" they asked. "I'm ready!" said Beatrice with a smile. After all, her juggling act had won three years in a row. Most people in town didn't even know Beatrice's name. They just called her "the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes," because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • Every student, teacher, and perfectionist needs to read this book about learning and growing from your mistakes! The perfect introduction to growth mindset,
  • The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
  • is:
  • A growth mindset book for kids
  • A growth mindset book for kids
  • A teacher must-have for classrooms
  • A teacher must-have for classrooms
  • An educational book for ages 4-8 (and for everyone learning growth mindset!)
  • An educational book for ages 4-8 (and for everyone learning growth mindset!)
  • Beatrice Bottomwell has NEVER (not once!) made a mistake. She never forgets her math homework, she never wears mismatched socks, and she ALWAYS wins the yearly talent show at school. In fact, the entire town calls her The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes!
  • One day, the inevitable happens: Beatrice makes a huge mistake in front of everyone!
  • But in the end, readers (and perfectionists) will realize that life is more fun when you enjoy everything—even the mistakes.
  • Additional praise for
  • The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
  • :
  • "Beatrice offers a lesson we could all benefit from: learn from your mistakes, let go, laugh, and enjoy the ride."—JENNIFER FOSBERRY,
  • New York Times
  • bestselling author of
  • My Name Is Not Isabella
  • "Beatrice's discovery that you can laugh off even a very public mistake shows the importance of resiliency and helps perfectionist kids keep things in perspective. Most importantly, Beatrice reminds the reader that it's more important to enjoy the things that you do than worry about doing them perfectly."—A Mighty Girl"The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes is a must-read for any young (or old!) perfectionist. Beatrice Bottomwell is perfectly imperfect!"—Stephanie Oppenheim, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio"It's fun and instructive without feeling overly didactic and the illustrations are darling."—Parenting"This book will help little perfectionists see that making mistakes is okay, and it can be a lot of fun too!"—Kids Book Blog

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(1.8K)
★★★★
25%
(732)
★★★
15%
(439)
★★
7%
(205)
-7%
(-205)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

it's ok to make a mistake, but if you don't make a mistake you will be famous. odd message for kids.

I wanted a book for my daughter to think about the value of making mistakes and how to learn from them. This story is not as developed on the "it's ok to make a mistake" as I hoped. Yes, the girl manages to laugh when she finally makes a mistake. But I think my main problem with the book is how celebrated the girl was for NOT making a mistake. So much so that there were paparazzi outside her house everyday and everyone knew who she was because she was "the girl who never made mistakes." I think it sends a mixed message when the book starts off describing how famous the girl is because she never made a mistake.
235 people found this helpful
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i can see the sentiment behind why people like the book

i bought this book for my 6 year old based on the reviews. i dont want to tear the book apart, because i know how much work goes into writing/illustrating a book, not to mention get it published. i can see the sentiment behind why people like the book. but it's not well written. to end the book with the little girl just making a her first mistake (spoiler alert!) and laughing about it is unrealistic and seems out of touch with how children are. theres little character development in the story and you dont really connect with the character.
anyway, i guess my gripe is that the reviews made it seem like it was some sort of best seller, and i bought it based on that. otherwise, its an OK book.
109 people found this helpful
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Great lesson tucked into a fun book

Beatrice Bottomwell is famous in her town, though most people don't have any idea of her real name. She is known simply as "the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes." Beatrice is ultra careful and methodical and quite enjoys her error free life. Still, solid perfection must be a lot of pressure for a little girl.

When Beatrice arrives at school each morning, she is perfectly put together, with her homework ready to turn in. She has won the Graysville talent show three years in a row with her juggling act, and feels quite confident about adding a fourth year to her name. Beatrice's little brother Carl is not famous, as his typical day includes a whole raft of mistakes. He eats his crayons (non-toxic!) and draws with his green beans.
On the morning of the talent show, something very unusual happens. Beatrice almost makes a mistake. While carrying four eggs from the refrigerator to the counter, she slips on a stray piece of rhubarb and .... airborne eggs! Scrambling, reaching, and grabbing - Beatrice manages to nab all four eggs safely to retain her title of the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes. No shells were cracked, no yolks were spilled, and yet Beatrice can't help thinking of her close call. Could she make a mistake?

That night at the talent show, Beatrice performs her usual juggling routine. Everyone expects her usual perfection. Instead, there is a mishap that results in the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes standing on stage, soaking wet, covered in pepper, with a hamster flat on her head. This was her first mistake and it was a big one. Beatrice is shocked, the crowd is stunned.Then Beatrice starts to laugh - a mistake is not the end of the world.

I don't think any real attempt was made to disguise the obvious lesson, which is fine by me. Children need to learn to deal with failure. If they cannot grasp that concept, they will become paralyzed by fear, which will keeping them from trying new activities. After Beatrice's mistake, she starts living more carefree. Taking a page from Carl's book, she acts sillier and consequently has a lot more fun. Of course that is am important lesson for kids to learn. Who better to teach it than Beatrice Bottomwell and her hamster?
80 people found this helpful
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Just ok

The book is about a girl perfectionist who never makes mistakes. I was hoping for more in depth storyline about the importance of “everybody makes mistakes” but it didn’t quite deliver. The ending seemed rather thin as well. I read this book with my 7 y/o who in many ways is perfectionist herself and she hasn’t asked about it once again. I think that this book is just ok as it fell short on teaching aspect of that we all learn actually from our mistakes.
31 people found this helpful
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from an art teacher's perspective

I was looking for a book for a friend of mine's daughter in the book store and luckily stumbled upon this wonderful book! I teach elementary art and I read a lot of wonderful children's stories, this has been one of my favorites. As an art teacher, I notice that many students are concerned with their art being perfect or "just right." This book was delightful on so many levels! I immediately shared it with our school librarian and she selected it for our school-wide literacy study for the students. This has helped students realize that it is okay to mess up, and that we ALL make mistakes. I highly recommend this book for children and adults!
31 people found this helpful
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Great Lesson

My 5.5 year old is a perfectionist. She gets so upset when she can’t get something right on the first try or if she loses at a game. I bought this nook hoping it’ll help her realize you don’t have to be perfect. This book prompted great discussion about being anxious and how it’s ok to make mistakes. It has a great lesson. I took off one star because of the girl juggling a hamster. We have a gerbil and I don’t want my kids getting any ideas that throwing the animal is ok.
28 people found this helpful
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Book sends a message that is opposite of what it sets out to achieve

I am quite surprised at how many good reviews this book has. I really wanted to like this book for my perfectionist daughter and the message it was trying to achieve. But not only did I feel this book feel short of trying to promote the message that "mistakes are OK", it ends up doing the opposite. The MAJORITY of the book glorifies a girl who never makes mistakes and shows why it's so great to be a person who never makes mistakes and the attention you'll get from it. She even has "fans". Only towards the end of the book, is there a shift - where she makes a mistake, decides to laugh, then...the end. She even loses her fans after her one mistake. Like, what?? The message of the book is essentially, that, while it's okay if you make a mistake, people will respect you much more if you don't. It also confuses the idea of not making mistakes with ideas more related to responsibility, being unconventional, manners, etc.
22 people found this helpful
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GREAT author visit!!!

I think all of these reviews of The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes are "spot on." I attended the book signing by Mark Pett at Hicklebee's in San Jose, CA yesterday. It was AWESOME! Mark did a mini drawing lesson with the children who were present and then he signed his books in a very personal and creative way. The book and "lesson" are wonderful but watching Mark in action was superb. Kudos to this outstanding author/illustrator!!!
17 people found this helpful
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Animal Cruelty + Odd Plot

Animal mismanagement/cruelty in this book as main character roughly removes hamster from cage by the neck and proceeds to juggle him then even drops him!

Not a good book for kids who love animals or for parents who are trying to teach gentle hands.

Also, odd things happen in the book to the main character that make it hard for young readers to relate, such as paparazzi following the child around each morning.
16 people found this helpful
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What were these authors and publishers thinking??

I ordered this book to use with kindergarteners to whom I teach social /emotional skills. I was excited to have an age-appropriate picture book for them that featured a child who learned that making mistakes is an acceptable part of living and learning. HOWEVER, why the authors found it necessary to include juggling her pet as a part of her BIG MISTAKE in the talent show is beyond me! I am sure that the message of Beatrice's ultimate self-acceptance and moving on to enjoy a richer life taking new age-appropriate risks would be lost on my students as they grappled with the visual presentation of an animal being thrown into the air as a part of a juggling act in a talent show. Yikes!! Clearly I am not able to use this story in my lesson, which is too bad since it has promise for helping children identify with and learn from a character who "survived" her big mistake, after living a "safe" perfect little life. Animal cruelty is certainly not a mistake I wish to teach children!
15 people found this helpful