The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes: questions to ask and activities to try
Beatrice Bottomwell has never made a mistake, and everyone knows it. When she finally does, something surprising happens. A gentle book for children who are afraid of getting things wrong.
What age is it for? The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes is best for ages 5–8. Good for: Fear of mistakes, perfectionism and trying new things.
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes (Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein)
- Age
- 5-8
- Best for
- Fear of mistakes, perfectionism and trying new things
Ask how Beatrice feels about never making mistakes: it sounds great, but it means she never tries anything new. Then talk about what happens after her mistake, and what she gets to enjoy afterwards.
What it helps with
- Fear of making mistakes
- Perfectionism getting in the way of fun
- Trying new things
- Laughing at mistakes instead of fearing them
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What would you try if making a mistake was completely OK?”
- “How do you think Beatrice felt about never making mistakes?”
- “What happened when she did make one?”
- “What did people do after her mistake?”
- “What's a mistake you made that turned out OK?”
- “What can you learn from a mistake?”
5-minute activities to try together
Mistake of the week
Each share one mistake you made this week and one thing it taught you.
Deliberately wobbly
Draw a picture with your other hand, or build a tower that's meant to be wonky, and laugh together at how it turns out.
Free printables: The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
Zog (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Keeping going after mistakes, and finding what you are good at
- Age
- 3-6
The Most Magnificent Thing (Ashley Spires)
- Best for
- Frustration, persistence, making mistakes and trying again
- Age
- 4-8
The Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Feeling scared, and using your wits
- Age
- 3-6
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 1 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.