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Beautiful Oops [Board book]
*Holiday Gifts that Give Back! Orders Feed & Care for Rescued Animals* Beautiful Oops! from Workman Publishing says "Hooray for mistakes!" This interactive book demonstrates how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. Unique in every respect, this book is full of pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and more, each demonstrating how blunders can become wonders. Celebrate all life's Beautiful Oops! and teach kids that it's perfectly fine, and sometimes fortuitous, to make a mistake. Hardcover, 28 pages.
28 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2010
28 people are currently reading
3034 people want to read
About the author
Barney Saltzberg
97 books144 followersBarney Saltzberg is the author and illustrator of close to 50 books for children, including Beautiful Oops!, Arlo Needs Glasses, Good Egg, Cornelius P. Mud , Crazy Hair Day and the bestselling Touch and Feel Kisses series with over 800,000 copies in print. He has two new releases, Tea With Grandpa and Chengdu Could Not Would Not Fall Asleep coming this spring.
Additionally, he’s recorded four CDs of music for children. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two dogs.
Additionally, he’s recorded four CDs of music for children. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 482 reviews
December 19, 2018
I LOVE LOVE this!!! Such a great pop up book for the kiddoes.. Basically it's okay to make a mistake! Look what a mistake can be... something learned and beautiful... I recommend to all those that have littles in the house.. it made me smile and happy.
June 11, 2016
How much different would my life have been, had I owned this "pop-up" book when I was a child? Not just for perfectionists, this book is for anyone who wants to be more creative, more open to possibilities. It's successful for me on both a metaphorical and literal level.
April 30, 2016
Beautiful Oops is a delightful read for both babies and adults. The unusual artistic format of doors, windows, and unfolding paper creations will surprise, entertain, and challenge readers to think differently about mistakes. Don't miss out on this simple yet important lesson; Beautiful Oops is a beautiful read.
September 11, 2018
“I like it, Maman! It’s fun!” This is what my almost-three-year-old toddler said about the book after asking me to read and read it again for about fives times in a row! And of course I had to continue re-reading it again at least for another 5 times!
It’s indeed a fun and interactive book for toddlers. The idea is that you can think of your mistakes as new possibilities. For example, a torn paper could be thought of the mouth of a crocodile. Or, a little drip of the paint could be imagined as wheels of a car. So you can think your oops as “beautiful oops” which brings beautiful new things to you.
It’s indeed a fun and interactive book for toddlers. The idea is that you can think of your mistakes as new possibilities. For example, a torn paper could be thought of the mouth of a crocodile. Or, a little drip of the paint could be imagined as wheels of a car. So you can think your oops as “beautiful oops” which brings beautiful new things to you.
January 1, 2016
A customer ordered this and I read it as I was doing the receiving which led me to immediately ask the owner if she had ordered some more. A great gift for anyone who loves creative serendipity or for those of us who need a little push to remember that there is often something wonderful in what others may call a mistake. Inspiring and charming to look at -- this little book made my day much brighter.
September 2, 2013
What a beautiful lesson to teach children... How to find creative solutions to what appears to be an "oops."
February 25, 2016
Loved it. Seeing the beauty.
February 13, 2019
A publishing triumph of cut-outs and lift-the-flaps; there's even a telescoping page. What a fun reminder that our "mistakes" fuel our creativity and imagination. Like this book's creator, we can all turn our oops into something beautiful. The perfect gift for a child, graduate, or a creative person of any age.
February 7, 2022
Such a great book it turns your frown upside down in art. This book taught me it's good to make mistakes because the smudge of paint that went on my painting turned out to be a better painting then before.
September 21, 2016
I loved reading this to my students, and they loved it too!
January 28, 2018
A vibrant and interactive reminder that it's okay to make mistakes. Full review here:
https://www.theproblemsite.com/book-s...
https://www.theproblemsite.com/book-s...
June 21, 2018
Cute but I unfolded the crumpled paper at the end and there was nothing inside so that was an oops.
June 19, 2019
I always appreciate books with the message that there can always be something salvaged and improved in any mistake.
December 26, 2024
Another Christmas gift! My mom has always taught me to look for “happy accidents” and that is the message of this book!
November 11, 2017
great way to celebrate artistic "mistakes". we loved the end exploring page.
September 25, 2017
I love this book so much! It takes "mistakes" and makes them into something beautiful and wonderful!
March 11, 2017
So much wonderfulness. I think I need to be reminded that mistakes aren't only bad things.
July 27, 2014
Category: Concept/ Informational
Publication date: 2010
Annotation is posted above via GoodReads
Themes: Acceptance of imperfection, avoiding self-criticism, creativity
Ways to Use Book:
* Barney Saltzberg's concept book Beautiful Oops is truly engaging for students. Here, a blob of paint with a few strokes becomes a frog, and a balled up piece of garbage becomes the fleece of a lamb! Collaborate with an art teacher when reading this book aloud. After reading it, have the art teacher demonstrate how she can turn an artwork "mistake" into something beautiful. Perhaps give the students discarded items (candy wrappers, old magazines, broken toys) to use to create found art!
* Have the art teacher hand out pieces of paper with blobs, streaks, or mistakes on them. Then, encourage the students to turn the blobs of paint into something beautiful by adding their own touches on them! This lesson comes from here: http://www.workman.com/static/saltzbe...
* Another idea is to have students journal about a time they have learned from a mistake!
Other information:
* This would be a lot of fun for a read aloud! You could even invite students to come up to pull the different tabs to demonstrate a mess turning into a masterpiece! There is also a YouTube video of the book with a perfect song (also titled: "Beautiful Oops") in the background: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fZjMY...
Publication date: 2010
Annotation is posted above via GoodReads
Themes: Acceptance of imperfection, avoiding self-criticism, creativity
Ways to Use Book:
* Barney Saltzberg's concept book Beautiful Oops is truly engaging for students. Here, a blob of paint with a few strokes becomes a frog, and a balled up piece of garbage becomes the fleece of a lamb! Collaborate with an art teacher when reading this book aloud. After reading it, have the art teacher demonstrate how she can turn an artwork "mistake" into something beautiful. Perhaps give the students discarded items (candy wrappers, old magazines, broken toys) to use to create found art!
* Have the art teacher hand out pieces of paper with blobs, streaks, or mistakes on them. Then, encourage the students to turn the blobs of paint into something beautiful by adding their own touches on them! This lesson comes from here: http://www.workman.com/static/saltzbe...
* Another idea is to have students journal about a time they have learned from a mistake!
Other information:
* This would be a lot of fun for a read aloud! You could even invite students to come up to pull the different tabs to demonstrate a mess turning into a masterpiece! There is also a YouTube video of the book with a perfect song (also titled: "Beautiful Oops") in the background: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fZjMY...
October 12, 2015
This is definitely a WOW book for me because I was surprised by every page at the way the author and illustrator turned each mistake into something beautiful. I really loved this book. I think the things you can use this book for are endless with this book. Not only will it show kids they can make a mistake with their writing or art creations and turn it into something beautiful, but it can lead to a great conversation about other things that can be seen as a "mistake" but can be turned around. I love the way it turns things that are normally a mess up into a beautiful picture. This would be a great book to use in my Kindergarten classroom where students are sometimes fearful of completing work because they are worries they will make a mistake.
I loved the illustrations and the overall story! What a great book!
I loved the illustrations and the overall story! What a great book!
March 25, 2015
Beautiful Oops is a fun, wonderful book that teaches children that mistakes can be opportunities for creativity. The illustrations, tears and folds throughout the book encourage interaction and engages them in the process of seeing imperfections in a new way.
I got this book for my son because he would get so frustrated if he made a mistake: coloring outside the lines, an accidental mark on a drawing, etc. This book helped him realize that he can make something beautiful from accidents and that mistakes are ok.
I highly recommend this book to all parents!
I got this book for my son because he would get so frustrated if he made a mistake: coloring outside the lines, an accidental mark on a drawing, etc. This book helped him realize that he can make something beautiful from accidents and that mistakes are ok.
I highly recommend this book to all parents!
August 14, 2018
Fun book to read with pull out pages and a pop-up. There's a lovely message about turning mistakes into the opportunity to do something beautiful.
This is a quick read and can be read with preschoolers (though some of the flaps may be fragile), but it can also be read with elementary students.
With older children, you can discuss the message. One child pointed out "this works well in art class, but not so much on math tests."
It would also be a good book to read before an art activity - inspiring kids to have fun with random scraps of paper or artistic "mistakes."
This is a quick read and can be read with preschoolers (though some of the flaps may be fragile), but it can also be read with elementary students.
With older children, you can discuss the message. One child pointed out "this works well in art class, but not so much on math tests."
It would also be a good book to read before an art activity - inspiring kids to have fun with random scraps of paper or artistic "mistakes."
January 26, 2018
Enjoy reading.
I learn how. Is it amazing creative thinking and solving with art
I learn how. Is it amazing creative thinking and solving with art
September 1, 2021
I love this book! I love the artwork, especially the hole in a paper artwork. The message of the book is great for kids and even adults.
June 23, 2023
A great read for kids and adults !
May 17, 2024
Obsessed
November 9, 2018
I love it!
February 27, 2021
I liked it; great message and fun flip pages, etc., but my Big Kid got bored.
June 26, 2025
i loved the page with holes the most!! i like flipping through this book
April 12, 2019
Beautiful Oops! is by Barney Saltzberg, the story states that it is okay to make mistakes. It is a fun book to read it really shows and focuses on how mistakes can create a great thing. The illustrations helps the reader stay engaged, by encouraging interaction with the reader. The whole goal of this book is to show children that by making a mistake it is not the end of the world. Everything happens for a reason, can be fixed, or made into something better.
This book is a great way to show students how to stay positive, and it is a good read. There are lots of thoughtful moments throughout the book. I have always liked books that can help keep children from beating themselves up over silly little things. This is why I rated this book the way I did. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read it.
This book is a great way to show students how to stay positive, and it is a good read. There are lots of thoughtful moments throughout the book. I have always liked books that can help keep children from beating themselves up over silly little things. This is why I rated this book the way I did. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read it.
April 19, 2025
It's a great book to use with kids and teach them how it's okay to make mistakes and how sometimes those mistakes can be turned into something beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 482 reviews