I am a child psychologist and an award-winning author of several books for children and teens related to emotions, behavior, and the science behind them. I believe children love to see themselves in books and to learn about others. Making complex information clear and watching children light up with understanding is my goal for every book I write.
I wrote...
What to Do When Mistakes Make You Quake: A Kid's Guide to Accepting Imperfection
By
Claire A. B. Freeland,
Jacqueline B. Toner,
Janet McDonnell
What is my book about?
Explorers investigate places they have never been before. These explorers might take a while to make their discoveries. They might have trouble understanding their maps. They might make wrong turns. They might need to start their expedition all over again! If explorers could not accept their mistakes and keep going, they might never make any discoveries! Does this sound like you? If you have trouble accepting mistakes, if you try to be right all the time, or if you worry about being less than the best, this book is for you!
What to Do When Mistakes Make You Quake guides children and their
parents through the emotions underlying a fear of making mistakes using
strategies and techniques based on cognitive-behavioral principles.
This interactive self-help book is the complete resource for educating,
motivating, and empowering children to cope with mistakes — so they can
explore new territory without fear!
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The Books I Picked & Why
Abracadabra!: The Magic of Trying
By
Maria Loretta Giraldo,
Nicoletta Bertelle
Why this book?
One aspect of accepting imperfection is to recognize that new skills take practice. In this sweet tale, Little Owl believes he should automatically possess the ability to fly. His woodland friends teach him that practice and effort are required. The abracadabra magic turns out to be persistence in the face of failure. Young readers will embrace the “try, try again” message. This charming story and delightful illustrations will resonate with young children. There is also a note to parents and caregivers by a psychologist that delves into raising kids to develop perseverance.
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The Book of Mistakes
By
Corinna Luyken
Why this book?
As an artist, Corinna Luyken knows that mistakes happen. But some children crumple their papers and toss them with each perceived error. The Book of Mistakes demonstrates how mistakes are part of learning and growing. The illustrator takes each mistake and incorporates it into an expanding drawing until, voila, there is a magnificent two-page spread. But, she doesn’t stop there. The ending will surprise and delight and leave young children with the confidence to go make their own mistakes.
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The Most Magnificent Thing
By
Ashley Spires
Why this book?
The Most Magnificent Thing captures the process of trying and failing and trying and failing until irritation mounts. The story demonstrates how to manage frustration in order to persist and pursue goals. Every reader will identify with the unnamed main character’s emotional journey. And all will want a sidekick like the main character’s spunky puppy. The illustrations are marvelously compelling. Don’t be surprised if your child charges off to create their own most magnificent thing.
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Beautiful Oops!
By
Barney Saltzberg
Why this book?
The imaginative Beautiful Oops! is a fun, artistic romp with an interactive design. There are many creative ways of engaging the child, such as lift-the-flap, look through the hole, and so forth. All are in the service of how to incorporate mistakes into your art, and presumably into your life. Wouldn’t it be lovely to be a family or a classroom that describes inconsequential mistakes as beautiful oopsies? I suspect that far fewer meltdowns would ensue.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
A Whale of a Mistake
By
Ioana Hobai
Why this book?
A Whale of a Mistake is written in the second person reaching into the hearts of the listener. With lyrical text and gorgeous, expansive illustrations, the author and illustrator address the feelings that accompany making mistakes and places that experience in a broader context. The aim is to help the reader gain perspective and self-acceptance, that the world isn’t perfect, and neither are you.
