The OK Book

Rosenthal, Amy Krouse & Tom Lichtenheld. 2007. THE OK BOOK. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780067752559 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

REVIEW
A simple picture book with an important message for parents and their children, THE OK BOOK tackles the subject of children trying new activities and being okay at them –not perfect-- and still having fun. When the letters “O,K” are turned on their side, they produce a basic stick picture with the O as the head. The OK kid works wonderfully well as the main character.

The story begins, “I like to try a lot of different things.” The picture on the opposite page is the OK kid juggling three balls. On the next two-page spread, the text is “I’m not great at all of them, but I enjoy them just the same.” The OK kid is shown dropping the balls. The story continues with simple statements of what the OK kid enjoys, but we also see the mistakes he makes as well. He’s an “OK left fielder,” but the illustration shows a ball coming down behind him. The simple text and simple drawings are amazingly effective at presenting a child trying many new things, making some mistakes, and realizing that some day, when he’s grown up, he’ll be excellent at something.

CONNECTIONS
Invite children to imagine what they might like to be when they grow up. Next, brainstorm everyday activities they like to do and whether or not they are “OK” at them. Create a group list of things we can do “OK.”

RELATED BOOKS
Other books by the same author:
COOKIES. ISBN 9780060580827
ONE OF THESE DAYS. ISBN 9780399243653


By Cay Geisler