Publishers Weekly
03/19/2018
“No reason to fret if you make a mistake!” consoles Grammy Award–winning kids’ musician Kubart in this debut with a downloadable song, “Just Say Oopsie-Do!” Kubart’s comforting message of acceptance is accompanied by sunny illustrations by Richmond (Bunny’s Staycation) that feature a girl as she makes a series of “flub-ups” over the course of the day. The resilient protagonist spills the fish food at school, trips while running for a ball, buttons her coat incorrectly, tracks mud into the house, squirts toothpaste on her pajamas, and more. A page turn after each “oopsie” (often emphasized by the girl’s deepening blush) shows her cheerfully cleaning up, brushing herself off, and moving on. In a style reminiscent of board book author Karen Katz’s work, Richmond’s pen-and-ink, watercolor, and marker illustrations, featuring a multicultural cast of kids and parents, feel loose and airy. Kubart’s roots as a songwriter come through in his rhythmic, playful rhymes, which make mistakes seem like fun. The book ends on a sweet, just-right note: “Now you’ve learned what to do. Just one thing left to say.... Nighty-night! I love you!” Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Kilkelly, Rodeen Literary Management. (May)
From the Publisher
Cheery and affirming.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Kubart’s roots as a songwriter come through in his rhythmic, playful rhymes . . . The book ends on a sweet, just-right note.” — Publishers Weekly
“Recommended for most picture book collections.” — School Library Journal
School Library Journal
04/01/2018
PreS—Mistakes happen to everyone and in Kubart's tale a preschooler makes many over the course of her day. The text encourages her, "Forget all the flub-ups and mess-ups you make. No reason to fret if you make a mistake! Just say Oopsie-Do!" While the story addresses the mistakes (spilling snacks, buttoning a coat wrong), it's Richmond's bright and appealing illustrations that hold the most significance. The girl receives help from her friends and teacher and father, though some errors she embraces fully on her own. One particularly good page shows her accepting a mishap in art class to make her painting even more wild and splattered than it was before. Mistakes also happen from other people, such as her younger sibling getting spaghetti on a beloved stuffed animal, but the same rules of forgiveness and understanding apply to everyone. The refrain of "Oopsie-Do" is repeated after every slip-up and does get a bit tiresome by the end of the book. An original song from Kubart is promoted on the cover, making this a potential sing-along. VERDICT A recommended purchase for most picture book collections.—Gretchen Hardin, Sterling Municipal Library, Baytown, TX
Kirkus Reviews
2018-02-13
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. (Picture book. 1-4)
