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The Big Oops

Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26
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31 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 4, 2026

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About the author

Julia Cook

151 books199 followers
"In order to teach children, you must enter their view of the world."
~ Julia Cook

JULIA COOK, M.S. is a national award winning children’s author, counselor and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools across the country and abroad, regularly speaks at national education and counseling conferences, and has published children’s books on a wide range of character and social development topics. The goal behind Cook’s work is to actively involve young people in fun, memorable stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspiration for her books comes from working with children and carefully listening to counselors, parents, and teachers, in order to stay on top of needs in the classroom and at home. Cook has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through storybooks, giving children both the “what to say” and the “how to say it”.

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5 stars
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10 (33%)
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Oli R.
68 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 30, 2026
The Big Oops! is a book about how its ok to make mistakes because that is how we learn. Scooter the mouse is trying to paint a picture of Pudgy the Penguin, his best friend. But things keep going wrong for him. The mistakes frustrate him and he each time he thinks he needs to start over.
Thankfully his friends are around him and help him see that sometimes it is fun to roll with the mistakes. Scooter isn't fully convinced but he listens to his friend each time. In the end he has a lovely picture painted of his friend Pudgy just with a few fun additions and he is both excited and nervous to give it to Pudgy because of the mistakes. But Pudgy loves the gift so much and Scooter learns about how sometimes mistakes bring us to wonderful things like popcorn and xrays.

The caregiver guide in the back is also great and has a few helpful suggestions for knowing how to guide children when they get upset by "mistakes" It uses accessible language and offers realistic suggestions for real life situations.

Over all a cute little book with a great message. The illustrations are fun and a little silly in a way that is engaging and goes along well with the story. This would be a great addition to any child's library or a preschool/ kindergarten classroom shelf

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, the author and illustrator for the opportunity to review this Advanced Reader Copy.
Profile Image for Shelby.
74 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 17, 2026
As a clinician working with kids, Julia Cook is already a staple in my library, but The Big Oops might be my new favorite book of hers. It does such a great job of teaching cognitive flexibility, frustration tolerance, and how to deal with unexpected changes.

The story follows Scooter, whose painting experiences a series of accidental "oopsies" due to interruptions from other characters. What makes this book special is how it reframes the mistakes. Instead of viewing the accidents as failures, Scooter paints the feedback into his work, incorporating a monkey’s tail, a bull’s horns, and a snake’s sprinkles. Each addition highlights a strength of that character (like the bull’s honesty and strength), modeling social awareness and empathy.

My favorite parts of the book:
The realistic time-skepticism: there is a hilarious, accurate nod to how it takes "forever" for paint to dry, contrasting with a visual showing it’s only been 5, 10, and 15 minutes.

The ending: when Scooter shares his final masterpiece, his friend doesn’t see a ruined painting; instead, he identifies and celebrates the unique strengths woven into the "oopsies."

Real-world examples: the ending of the book connects the story to real history, listing inventions that only exist because an adult's mistake turned into a creation. I found this to be a great way to challenge perfectionism in kids.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 30, 2026
This is a charming and uplifting story with a positive message at it's heart. It focuses on how things don't always go to plan, but with the right mindset, those moments can turn into something even better. The message is very easy for young children to follow and understand which is really important to me especially when reading to younger children. I appreciate the emphasis on teamwork, friendship and resilience which are wonderful themes for children.
The characters are very appealing for young children with fun and memorable names that add to the books playful tone. They feel warm and engaging making it easy for kids to connect with them and stay interested.
One of the stand out moments for me was towards the end, when the mouse's friend embraces the painting despite its unexpected extra features. Instead he celebrates it, proudly hanging on his wall. This was a lovely way to reinforce the story's message about positivity and acceptance. Also it creates a great opportunity for children to engage by pointing out this by themself.
I did find the language choices slightly inconsistent with the target age group. Words like "kinda" and "min" felt a little too informal for a children's book and disrupted the flow slightly. A more polished vocabulary might make the story feel more cohesive and support early language development,
Profile Image for Trisha.
358 reviews130 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 31, 2026
Julia Cook has a knack for turning everyday challenges into teachable moments, and The Big Oops! is no exception. This story tackles the universal theme of making mistakes. Those cringe-worthy slip-ups that every child (and adult!) experiences and shows how they can become opportunities for growth.

The book balances humor with heart. Kids will laugh at the silly scenarios, but they will also see themselves in the characters who mess up, feel embarrassed, and then learn to make things right. As a parent, I appreciated how Cook frames mistakes not as failures but as stepping stones. It is a gentle reminder that resilience and responsibility are skills kids can practice, even in small everyday situations.

The illustrations are bright and engaging, keeping little readers hooked while the message quietly sinks in. Reading it aloud sparked fun conversations with my toddler about her own "oops" moments, and it gave me language to help her understand that mistakes do not define us, they teach us.

A lively, relatable read that turns blunders into lessons. Perfect for bedtime or classroom shelves, The Big Oops! reassures children (and parents) that mistakes are part of the journey, not the end of it.

Thanks to Boys Town Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Kenya Lassiter.
31 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 24, 2026
The Big Oops!by Julia Cook is a wonderful children's book that reminds young readers that everyone makes mistakes and that those mistakes can become valuable learning opportunities.

The story presents an important life lesson in a way that is engaging, relatable, and easy for children to understand. It encourages kids to develop resilience, take responsibility, and recognize that making an "oops" doesn't define them—it simply gives them a chance to grow and do better next time.

One of my favorite features of the book was the section at the end with tips for parents. I appreciated that the author included practical strategies and conversation starters to help families reinforce the book's message at home. Those additional resources make this book even more valuable for parents, caregivers, and educators.

The Big Oops! is an encouraging and thoughtful read that promotes a growth mindset and helps children build confidence as they learn from their experiences. I highly recommend it for families, classrooms, school counselors, and anyone looking for a meaningful social-emotional learning resource.
Profile Image for Tammy.
264 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 1, 2026
The Big Oops! by Julia Cook was such a sweet, genuinely helpful picture book about making mistakes—and not letting perfectionism steal the fun. Scooter is trying so hard to paint a picture of his best friend, Pudgy, but every “oops” feels like a disaster…until his friends gently help him see that mistakes can lead to something even better than the original plan.

The illustrations are bright, expressive, and a little silly in the best way, so the message never feels heavy or preachy. I also really appreciated the caregiver guide in the back—it gives practical, realistic ways to respond when a kid spirals over a “wrong” line, a spill, or a ruined project.

This is a great pick for ages preschool–early elementary and would be especially useful for classrooms or any kid who gets upset when things aren’t “perfect.” Overall, this is a really solid, useful read for those moments when kids are learning that messing up is part of life.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through NetGalley this is an honest review.

★★★★ Release Date: August 4, 2026
Profile Image for Chelsey Anderson.
260 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 14, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story will inspire your children to find the beauty in imperfections, while learning to think creatively and build character and resilience in the process.

A story about an adorable little mouse named Scooter with an even bigger heart. Scooter decides to paint a perfect portrait of his best friend Pudgy, however as soon as he begins things quickly start to spiral out of his control.

Through encouragement from his friends, and finding creative solutions he learns resiliency and makes the best of an unfortunate situation.

This book is exactly what my kids needed to hear! I highly recommend reading this with your children and encourage them to make mistakes, get messy and use it as a learning experience.

The parenting tips at the back of the book are really helpful in explaining the benefits of encouraging your children to learn to let go of perfectionism, build confidence and adopt a creative thinking positive mindset.

Recommend age range between 3-10 years.
9,760 reviews139 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 13, 2026
Matching the first in this series (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) for charm, colour, and half worrying and half not about being told in verse, this has Scooter try and make a painting of his best friend. He gives it the best start, but not once but thrice something happens that makes him almost dump it in the bin. Only his friends that advise using the goofs to make good can see the use in carrying on – but the subject ultimately is very happy indeed that he did.

This is about persisting, accepting incidents of nature and happy accidents, and not worrying about perfection. It tells us if we try hard we win hard, and that one mistake is easily forgiven. It's all a welcome message then, in a delivery that feels like a fun little read, and not a prescribed lesson. The adult might have to take it with a pinch of salt that the portrait sitter is as welcoming of the differences, but the target reader will see this easily as four stars.
Profile Image for Lauren Nash.
113 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Big Oops! by Julia Cook is such a relatable, kid-friendly way to talk about mistakes and what we do after them.

It follows that all-too-familiar moment of making a “big oops” and the feelings that come with it—embarrassment, frustration, wanting to hide—and then gently walks through how to take responsibility and move forward. It never feels preachy, which I really appreciated.

I like how practical it is. It gives kids a way to think about mistakes without making them feel bad for having them in the first place, which honestly is the whole point.

The illustrations are bright and expressive, and they help keep the tone light even when it’s covering something that can feel heavy for kids.

Overall, this is a really solid, useful read—especially for those moments when kids are learning that messing up is part of growing.
Profile Image for Ellie Beaver.
36 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 29, 2026
This story is a good example of “everybody makes mistakes” and teaching children to accept things not going to plan.
The pictures are great and bold. I personally am not keen on the font chosen - it just doesn’t seem to go with the pictures in my opinion.
It was a nice short story with a moral lesson.
I wasn’t keen on some of the words used like “kinda” but that may be because I am from England and this book is American I believe.
Additionally, I didn’t appreciate the seeking approval side of things. Especially when “Scooter” was already proud and happy and couldn’t wait for the paint to dry on his picture so he could show “Pudgey” but then seemed to need the approval of Pudgey and talked the painting down to them.
Would I read it to my daughter more than the once I just have? Probably not. But it was a ok story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bianca Hanson.
6 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 22, 2026
The Big Oops! brought color and joy to frustration. For our four-year-old, this book was especially meaningful, as she has an aunt who is an artist and takes art courses herself. It doubled-down on the idea that just because something isn't what you expected, doesn't mean it can't be turned into something better or even more special; especially when friends are involved. The story’s message about mistakes being part of learning fits beautifully with a child who is still exploring, creating, and discovering the world.

The sneeze was, naturally, one of our toddler's favorite parts. The writing was geared strongly towards a preschool age kiddo who learns daily that sometimes we fall down and need to pick ourselves up and try again.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy of this children's story.
Profile Image for Melanie Green.
211 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 18, 2026
I had the opportunity to review an ARC copy of The Big Oops! by Julia Cook. It's officially published on August 4th, 2026. This was such a cute little book that really gets to the heart of a problem lots of kids face.

It follows the story of Scooter, a mouse, who wants to paint a picture for his friend. He keeps messing up the picture and adds unrealistic details to it to cover it up. Scooter's scared his friend will hate it, but his friend ultimately loves it.

My kids like to toss their art away when they make a mistake or it doesn't look real. However, it's important that they know that mistakes help us learn and can lead to bigger breaks in creativity. This book is great for illustrating that.
Profile Image for Michelle (around - catching up!).
112 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
May 7, 2026
A cute and entertaining book, aimed to encourage young children to embrace imperfection and to learn from their mistakes. We loved the host of animal characters who are really very kind to each other, the sweet illustrations and the use of art/ painting in the story... in the age of ai hideousness, this feels particularly valuable in a children's book. There are a lot of resources for teachers and parents to take these discussions further, there are also downloadable pages to colour in.

One thing really stumped me, though; one of the characters mentions that horns (as in animal horns) are an indicator of honesty and I don't get it? Even Google couldn't seem to explain.
Profile Image for Kayla Kuzniar.
11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

The Big Oops is a cute story for young readers or a family read-along. Its main messaging about accepting your mistakes and learning from them is an encouraging message for everyone, but especially younger children who struggle with perfectionism. Our main character makes a few mistakes while painting a portrait of his best friend Pudgy. Turns out, the mistakes make the painting the most special of all, and even talks about modern technology that's come about from mistakes. Highly recommend!
4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 28, 2026
This was a cute story with a big message. I have a highly anxious 5 year old and we read this together. He loved the creative solutions to the oopses and even made a comment about how he could do similar when he makes a mistake. I loved that main character was honest with his friends about the mistakes and that his friend supported him anyway. It’s a great example of not only growing from mistakes but choosing friends that had our backs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
91 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 13, 2026
Scooter the mouse is trying to paint a picture of his best friend but mistakes happen. His friends offer suggestions for how to deal with these mistakes to turn them into something good.
My grandson and I both give this book 2 thumbs up each. It really held our interest, had a great message, and was very colorful.
Thank you Boys Town Press for making this available as a read now ebook through NetGalley.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Turning Pages Turning Heads.
51 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 1, 2026
A sweet little book that many children would benefit from. Perfectionism is a common issue in early childhood and can cause real distress for the child and parents supporting when ‘mistakes’ are made. This book helps the child turn what they see as a negative into a positive. A great tool to encourage problem solving and resilience.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
133 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 1, 2026
A wonderful short illustrated children’s story. It follows Scooter and his friends as they find their way through inevitable mistakes that they use to learn and progress as a collective. I read this book with my daughter at bedtime and she found the text and illustrations engaging and enjoyed it throughout. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Craig Sisterson.
Author 4 books92 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 12, 2026
A vivid and well-told tale about an artistic mouse who discovers thanks to their friends that mistakes are all part of learning and life, and can lead to fantastic, unexpected things. With an important underlying message, colourful illustrations and relatable characters, there's plenty of re-readability value here for kids and their grown-ups. A very good read.
Profile Image for Kelsey.
138 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 28, 2026
I read this to my 6 & 4 year old and they loved it! Afterwards we talked about how when we are building things and they break that sometimes rebuilding can make them even better. That messing up is a part of life and I love how this can show kids that you can keep moving on and fixing your mistakes whether it be a picture or something bigger!
Profile Image for Arin  Kate (Trying my best, but really stressed).
101 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 26, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.

This book was cute. I think children would love it. It teaches us to not give up when we make an "oops." The pictures were great!

This is a great read for children, but the overall rating is 4 stars because there are a few better books out there. Still a good book overall, though.

Thank you for reading my review.
Profile Image for Nitoy Gonzales.
766 reviews24 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 29, 2026
Reading this book is not a big OOOPS! I like these kind of story that are simple yet relatable without being exaggerated. Just giving a straightforward pleasant story of making mistakes. Blending in some friendship and you'll get a book that you'll love and read over and over.
Profile Image for Allie.
30 reviews177 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 1, 2026
The Big Oops is a heartwarming children’s book about Scooter, the mouse! Illustrations are creative, perfect to keep the attention of any child. I love the message that oops’es happen and that is okay!
Profile Image for KB.
38 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 14, 2026
“Oopses give us a chance to learn and grow” is the message of this sweet children’s book. The art work is beautiful and the animals are all tied into the art work the main character is drawing in a creative way.
Profile Image for Kimberly (Bookblurbist).
41 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 3, 2026
Aww I will absolutely be purchasing this for my little perfectionist at home! What a perfect story to show young artists that mistakes aren’t just ok or part of the process, but they’re also worth celebrating. Such a cute and memorable little story.
Profile Image for Danielle Mccoy.
2,551 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 7, 2026
I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I like this book about making oops and finding ways to keep going forward with your project. We all make mistakes it's part of growing and learning and this book will help make kids understand that.
Profile Image for Emily Anne.
301 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 28, 2026
A mistake doesn't have to be the end. Sometimes it just takes us in a new direction. Sometimes it helps us practice and increase our skills. Cute animal pictures.
102 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 29, 2026
My son absolutely loved this. And I enjoyed it myself. Thankyou for the ARC.
Profile Image for Anna.
219 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 24, 2026
I received an advance copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

Ooh I loved the lesson I this book! The artwork was well done and my daughter really enjoyed the story.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews