JAKE THE APE MAKES A LOT OF MISTAKES!

Davis’ charming picture book aims to teach children how errors can educate them.

Jake the Ape awakens with a positive attitude, ready to start his day, but as he passes a mirror, he notices that his shirt isn’t buttoned correctly. He fixes it, but other things go wrong over the course of the day: He scoops too much jam on a knife, which falls onto the kitchen table; while playing, he throws a ball too hard and then too softly; and he incorrectly adds numbers in front of the class, among other things. But, each time, Jake thinks positively and does something to change the outcome. Later, he tells his parents about his day. His father says: “I’m glad you made mistakes today….Because that’s how we learn!” Young readers will relate to the book’s message, which is straightforward without being preachy; when Jake does homework with his mother, for instance, the narration notes, “It was hard at first, but Jake kept trying and asked questions when he didn’t understand.” Children will understand and appreciate that Jake isn’t perfect, and they may, like him, find that pausing and examining one’s actions is helpful. Webb’s illustrations are winsome, and children will enjoy finding a small snail on every page that features Jake the Ape.

A pleasant tale about approaching tasks with a problem-solving mindset.