Stickley Makes a Mistake!: A Frog's Guide to Trying Again

PreS-Gr 2—Stickley the frog is easily frustrated. When his wise grandpa explains that while it is easy to get discouraged, repeating words and phrases of encouragement will help motivate him to try again. ("Feel proud for trying—that's what to do! Hop up! Try again! Say 'oh well' to get through!") The text is written in straightforward prose, making this a good choice for kids who may miss the point otherwise. Mack delivers bright, action-filled illustrations that at times overshadow the text in their liveliness. Stickley is shown riding a wave, painting, playing the trumpet, and making pancakes. A rhyming text has a cadence that dips up and down, which can sound awkward when initially read aloud, but the message of the book is well conveyed. The story is followed by two pages of advice to parents and educators about the importance of teaching children the practice of trying again.