Nothing cuts off a young child's curiosity faster than when they worry about making a mistake or don’t know something. In this brilliant book, preschoolers learn that it's not only okay to have an uh-oh, but it’s also a kind of blessed state, a ‘present’ in Do’s words. It’s an essential part of the journey of discovering ‘what is and what isn't.’ It's a message young children need to hear. I can't recommend this book enough!

It's Okay Not to Know teaches kids that not knowing something is an opportunity to learn and inquire. Educators and parents can use this book to start or extend a conversation about having a growth mindset (I can't do that YET) versus a fixed mindset (I can't do that). Quality books that support this idea can be really beneficial in growing a child's confidence both in school and in general.

Do's new book teaches young children emotional regulation with easy, everyday activities, opening the door for much-needed SEL (Social Emotional Learning). Brenda Do has captured the essence of this in her new book. The use of repetition is essential for young readers. As a Special Education Teacher, the use of simple phrases makes it easy to incorporate into social skills lessons.​

Young children learning in two languages in a Dual Language program will identify with the message in this beautifully illustrated book about looking at challenges as uncovering ‘presents’ when learning new things, and that it is perfectly okay for them to make mistakes, not know all the answers, and to tackle through inquiry the way things work.

This story teaches kids that it’s okay to make mistakes and that good can come from them. My four-year-old quickly picked up on what was going on in the book and how the character felt. We talked about how he felt when he made a mistake, so Do opens the door for parents to have these conversations while enjoying a beautiful story. I love this!​

This book uses simple language to give children options for turning mistakes into learning experiences and sharing their learning with others. The child-centered, repetitive wording is memorable for a little one, who can use it in their own explorations of their world. The engaging and brightly colored illustrations can capture a young book-reader’s attention. This is a great addition to a young child's bookshelf!

The reframing of mistakes and inexperience as opportunities to become curious and to better understand “what is and what isn’t” is, for kids, a terrific antidote to all the misguided messaging they get about the importance of being the best, the first, the smartest, the fastest. It’s Okay Not to Know offers a refreshing perspective on a critical developmental issue.

In the highly pressurized world in which we raise our children of today, this simply and beautifully illustrated book reminds readers of the importance of mistakes as a vital part of learning, and the precious gift of self-discovery.  The author gently relays that ‘uh-oh's’ are like getting a present of childlike wonder, curiosity, and imagination, and that 'not knowing' builds the vital skill of supportive encouragement of self and others. What a wonderfully endearing and rhythmic read to help instill self-efficacy and empathy in our children!