The girl who never made mistakes

Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

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. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by School Library Journal Review

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 (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

(Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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For Beatrice Bottomwell, Friday began like any other day.

She matched her socks. And, of course, she put her shoes on their proper feet.

She remembered to feed her hamster, Humbert, his favorite food, broccoli. And when she made a sandwich for her brother Carl's lunch, she used exactly the same amount of peanut butter as jelly.

When she stepped outside to greet her fans, she didn't forget to say "good morning" and "thank you."

They asked if she made her bed. She had.
They asked if she forgot to do her math homework. Nope.
"What about tonight's talent show?" they asked. "I'm ready!" said Beatrice with a smile. After all, her juggling act had won three years in a row.

Most people in town didn't even know Beatrice's name.

They just called her "the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes," because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did.

Excerpted from The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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