Fall 2024

Starred Review The Mistakes That Made Us

Confessions from Twenty Poets

  • Interest Level: Grade 2 - Grade 5
  • Reading Level: Grade 3

Scoring a goal against your own team. Copying a classmate’s schoolwork. Accepting a dare to jump down the stairs . . . and getting hurt.

This engrossing poetry anthology explores making mistakes and learning from them. Twenty brave poets―Linda Sue Park, Margarita Engle, Allan Wolf, David Elliott, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Lacresha Berry, George Ella Lyon, Jaime Adoff, Vikram Madan, Kim Rogers, Douglas Florian, Tabatha Yeatts, Jorge Argueta, Jane Yolen, Charles Waters, JaNay Brown-Wood, Irene Latham, April Halprin Wayland, Darren Sardelli, and Naomi Shihab Nye―share real-life mistakes they made as young people . . . and what happened next. Edited by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, with brilliantly evocative illustrations by Mercè López, this is a book for all who are growing and discovering and still figuring out who we are. (Which is to say . . . all of us!)

Format Your Price Add
978-1-7284-9210-0
$14.24
979-8-7656-3024-2
$23.99
Available at all major wholesalers and distributors. Save 25% off list price on hardcovers and ebooks when you buy direct! Digital purchases will be accessed on Lerner Digital Bookshelf. An account will be created for you after purchase.
Interest Level Grade 2 - Grade 5
Reading Level Grade 3
Genre Picture Books
Category Reading/Language Arts, SEL: A Self-Awareness, SEL: B Self-Management, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning
Copyright 2024
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Carolrhoda Books ®
Language English
Number of Pages 40
Publication Date 2024-10-01
Text Type Poetry
BISACS JNF042000, JNF053200, JNF053050
Dewey 811/.608
Dimensions 9.25 x 11
Guided Reading Level TBD
Features Author/Illustrator biography, Awards, Original artwork, Reviewed, Starred Reviews, Teaching Guides, and eSource

Awards

  • Notable Award ALA Notable Children's Book, Winner, 2025
  • Notable Award NCTE Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels, Winner, 2024
  • CYBILS Award Nominee, Nominated, 2024

Reviews

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

“The collection is an excellent resource for teaching self-acceptance and discussing mistakes or perfectionism. Reviewer Rating: 5”—Children’s Literature

The Horn Book Magazine

“The poems themselves are narrative snapshots, sometimes rhyming, often in free verse, and rich in emotion and introspection. Illustrator López creates entire, emotive scenes with expressive faces, poses, and repeating motifs in the mixed-media art.”—Horn Book Magazine

Starred Review Booklist

“The strength of this collection comes from the authors admitting their mistakes and going on to explain the value of the resulting learning opportunities. A gentle reminder of the stepping stones making up the path to growth, discovery, and creativity.”—starred, Booklist

School Library Journal

“An engaging, emotionally honest collection of poetry that offers children a comforting glimpse of adults and their imperfections . . . This accessible, well-tuned collection of poetry will reassure and delight young readers in equal measure.”—School Library Journal

Starred Review Publishers Weekly

“Dynamic mixed-media artwork from López (Sylvie and the Wolf) offers energetic visual support for each poem in an anthology packed with a broad spectrum of human emotion and experience.”—starred, Publishers Weekly

Kirkus Reviews

“Comforting reminders that nobody’s perfect, infused with lessons large and small.”—Kirkus Reviews