It’s Okay To Make Mistakes

The Book of Mistakes
Written & Illustrated by Corinna Luyken
Age Level: 4-8 Years
Published April 18, 2017

It’s not how I pictured it…

In this incredibly creative story about how one drawing keeps going wrong, author-illustrator Corinna Luyken teaches young creatives that it’s okay to make mistakes.

Too much space between a pair of feet and the floor? Draw on some roller skates. A blob of ink falls on someone’s head? Transform it into a helmet. As we watch the illustration evolve page-by-page, readers learn that a continuous series of setbacks - and even more importantly, a series of clever solutions - are part of the creative process.

“Do you see --
how with each mistake
she is becoming?”

The narrator’s total lack of drama around the mistakes she makes is refreshing; her nonchalance makes the “oops” moments feel inevitable and normal - because they are! It’s such a positive way to model perseverance and the importance of a growth mindset. I also love the simplicity of the drawings in the first half of the book because they resemble art that young readers could make themselves, which makes the story relatable. Imaginative, inspiring, and beautifully illustrated, this is a perfect read for future makers.