The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes

October 17, 2011
In their children’s book debut, Rubinstein and cartoonist Pett (the Lucky Cow comic strip) introduce Beatrice, a guarded elementary schooler who has yet to make a mistake, earning her town-wide fame. Leaving the house for school, Beatrice is swarmed by fans: “They asked if she made her bed. She had. They asked if she forgot to do her math homework. Nope.” In cooking class, though, she almost drops some eggs, and this “Almost Mistake” troubles her, especially with the talent show that evening. Though the title might suggest a pompous, know-it-all heroine, Beatrice is anything but; she never set out to achieve perfection, instead falling into a role, the pressures of which clearly weigh on her. In Pett’s energetic ink-and-watercolor cartoons, which vary full-page scenes with inset panels, Beatrice comes across as introspective and lonely. Her comical on-stage juggling gaffe at the talent show is the tide-turning moment, after which Beatrice allows herself to mess up—and to have fun doing so. 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. Ages 4–up.

October 1, 2011
Can anyone be perfect? Beatrice Bottomwell always does everything right. "Most people in town didn't even know Beatrice's name. They just called her ‘The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes,' because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did." One Thursday though, she almost does something wrong (she drops some eggs while cooking at school but catches them just in time). Straightforward text describes Beatrice's predicament as, unnerved, she ponders her almost-error and begins to worry. What if she really does do something wrong? Brightly colored watercolors and gentle humor combine to portray Beatrice's eventful day, her growing fear and her sprightly pet hamster. During a school talent show, Beatrice finally makes a real mistake--in front of everyone. How will she cope? Learning how to relax enough to laugh and simply be herself just might do the trick. While the plot is predictable and the solution to the problem fairly pat, this is a well-intentioned story, full of acceptance and goodwill. It will be especially useful in a therapeutic setting; it may be a real comfort to a child who is afraid of making mistakes, while children dealing with similar issues will also find reassurance here. A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist. (Picture book. 3-6)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2012

K-Gr 3-Beatrice Bottomwell, as her many friends and admirers know, does everything just right, from making the perfect peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich to juggling. But when she almost drops an egg in cooking class, she can't stop thinking about her "Almost Mistake," worrying that it will happen again. And happen it does-right in the middle of her big salt-shaker-hamster-water-balloon juggling act in the school talent show, when Beatrice makes her first error in a huge, public way. After surviving that, she learns to take chances and risks making more mistakes. Pett's beady-eyed cartoon illustrations are expressive and winsome, a perfect complement to this story of a girl finding out that it's okay to be imperfect.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.