“Clumsy kids will appreciate Barney Saltzberg’s imaginative book, which shows how mistakes (spills, tears, stains) can turn into something wonderful. A festive invitation to creative liberation.

Saltzberg's trademark cartoon animals provide a sweetly childlike counterpoint to the artful scribbles and smears of gloppy paint. The interactive elements work beautifully with the photo-collaged 'mistakes,' never overwhelming the intent with showiness. Thanks to a telescoping pop-up, a hole is filled with nearly limitless possibilities. The folded-over paper can be a penguin's head a torn piece of newsprint can turn into a smiling dog with a little application of paint a hot-chocolate stain can become a bog for a frog. This can be a hard concept for kids and even adults to grasp when it comes to art. Mistakes should even be celebrated as they can lead to new discoveries, creations, and adventures. In the book, Saltzberg teaches kids that it is okay to make mistakes. Many children (and adults) go through stages where they don’t want to do anything for fear of making a mistake. Beautiful Oopsis a children’s book written by author Barney Saltzberg. Sometimes striving for perfection gets in the way of actually getting anything done. is just the beginning!' Spills, folded paper, drips of paint, smudges and smears-they 'all can make magic appear.' An increasingly complex series of scenarios celebrates random accidents, encouraging artistic experimentation rather than discouragement. Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg is a vibrant and creative book that celebrates the mistakes that lead us on to better and beautiful things. A pleasingly tactile exploration of the possibilities inherent in mistakes. * 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. * Another idea is to have students journal about a time they have learned from a mistake!

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. Barney Saltzberg, the effervescent spirit behind Good Egg, offers a one-of-a-kind interactive book that shows young readers how every mistake is an opportunity. * Have the art teacher hand out pieces of paper with blobs, streaks, or mistakes on them. Perhaps give the students discarded items (candy wrappers, old magazines, broken toys) to use to create found art! After reading it, have the art teacher demonstrate how she can turn an artwork 'mistake' into something beautiful.

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. * Barney Saltzberg's concept book Beautiful Oops is truly engaging for students. Themes: Acceptance of imperfection, avoiding self-criticism, creativity

The beautiful oops