Oopsie-Do!

“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. [em]Illustrator’s agent: Lori Kilkelly, Rodeen Literary Management. (May) [/em]