Zog: questions to ask and activities to try
Zog tries harder than anyone at dragon school, and keeps crashing anyway. It's a funny, kind way to talk about mistakes, effort and finding the thing you're good at.
What age is it for? Zog is best for ages 3–6. Good for: Keeping going after mistakes, and finding what you are good at.
Zog (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Age
- 3-6
- Best for
- Keeping going after mistakes, and finding what you are good at
Children often feel a mistake means they're bad at something. Zog shows a character who gets it wrong again and again and keeps going. Ask what helped him keep trying, and praise trying, not only getting it right.
Why I like this one
Zog is the book I'd pick for a child who gets cross with themselves when something doesn't work first time. He crashes every single year, and nobody in the story treats that as a disaster.
What I'd point out is Princess Pearl. She doesn't fix Zog's problem for him, she just helps him get back up. That's a useful picture for children, and honestly for grown-ups too, of what support can look like. You might ask, “Who helps you when you try again?”
Apoorva, Growing Wise
What it helps with
- Seeing mistakes as part of learning
- Keeping going when something is hard
- Effort, not only winning or getting it right
- Finding the thing you are good at, which may surprise you
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.
- “Zog kept getting hurt. Why do you think he kept trying?”
- “How did the princess help him?”
- “What is something you are still learning to do?”
- “Do you need a gold star to have done well?”
- “What did Zog turn out to be good at?”
- “What could you say to yourself when something goes wrong?”
5-minute activities to try together
Try another way
Pick a small tricky task, like stacking cups or throwing a beanbag into a box. Each time it doesn't work, think of one different way to try.
A gold star for trying
For one week, give a star for having a go and for learning from a mistake, not for getting it right. Talk about each one at bedtime.
Free printables: Zog 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
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes (Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein)
- Best for
- Fear of mistakes, perfectionism and trying new things
- Age
- 5-8
The Most Magnificent Thing (Ashley Spires)
- Best for
- Frustration, persistence, making mistakes and trying again
- Age
- 4-8
The Snail and the Whale (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Children who feel small, or too little to make a difference
- 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.