OOPSIE-DO!

A book to read—and sing—about making and then moving past mistakes.

Children’s musician Kubart offers advice akin to that found in the Sesame Street song “Everyone Makes Mistakes So Why Can’t You?” in this, his first picture-book text. Richmond’s bright and cheery multimedia illustrations interpret the text to follow a child through one day at home and school. Minor mishaps (or “oopsies”) punctuate the comings and goings, but the diverse cast around the child (who has brown skin and straight, dark hair) embodies the text’s encouraging tone in illustrations that depict their shows of support. “Oopsies can happen and get in your way, / but that doesn’t mean they should ruin your day,” reads the opening spread as the child arrives at school with parent and baby sibling. From there, the child spills fish food on the floor, among other mistakes, and after each incident, the text repeats the titular refrain, along with an accompanying picture showing the mishap resolved. The child’s roll-with-the-punches attitude, in turn, allows easy accommodation of muddy paw prints tracked through the house and spaghetti tossed by the baby all over a beloved teddy bear. A link to the song on the publisher’s website is promoted on the cover.

Cheery and affirming.