With each mistake...

The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken

​What is a mistake?

• A slip of the pen?
• An unintended blob of ink?
• Misjudging the size of a shape?

And what are the results of a mistake?

• Erasure?
• Crumpled paper in the trash?
• Giving up?

Corinna Luyken explores errors, glitches and slipups in The Book of Mistakes. ​ Beginning with an oversized black ink blob meant to represent an eye, readers follow the pen of an illustrator.  An initial attempt to correct the mistake doesn't work out. However a subsequent idea; i.e., enclose the black blob inside eyeglass frames, becomes an effective solution.
With each successive page, readers witness the evolution of an illustration. Some artistic expressions are good ones. Others appear to be blemishes.
Luyken's point becomes evident as the illustration takes form. Mistakes are part of the design. They inform the artist and provide ways for the composition to unfold and grow.

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​"Do you see -
​how with each mistake
she is becoming?"

​The dramatic use of black, with spare touches of pastel color emphasizes both the mistakes made and the grand book concept. A visual feast with intricate images and imaginative concepts to explore.
Brilliant inspirational book! Belongs in every classroom, library, storytime, and art studio,

Companion books

Explore the circuitous, often messy, and sometimes serendipitous process of creation with these picture books.

What Do You Do with an Idea?

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes

My Pen

Andrew Drew and Drew