The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes

By Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

Intended Audience: 8-12 year olds as well as carers, educators, or others trying to promote and foster understanding of neurodivergent individuals.            Written By a Neurodivergent: No Audio Companion Available: Yes, unofficially on YouTube Neuro Affirming Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK Perfectionism is something many children struggle with—especially those who are highly self-aware, anxious, or feel intense pressure to succeed. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein is a lighthearted yet powerful story that challenges the fear of failure and encourages kids to embrace mistakes as part of learning and growth.

The book follows Beatrice Bottomwell, a young girl who has never made a mistake—until one day, she finally does. Instead of this mistake defining her, Beatrice learns that making errors is not something to fear or avoid, but an opportunity for joy, discovery, and resilience.

Key Themes & Takeaways:

• Encouraging a Growth Mindset – Teaches children that mistakes are a natural part of learning and do not define their worth.

• Reducing Perfectionism & Anxiety – Helps kids, particularly those who feel pressured to always “get it right,” develop self-compassion.

• Promoting Self-Acceptance – Shows that failure isn’t something to be ashamed of, but rather an opportunity to learn.

• Engaging & Relatable Storytelling – The playful, engaging illustrations and humorous tone make this an enjoyable read for children, parents, and educators alike.

Rather than reinforcing unrealistic expectations of perfection, The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes helps children reframe their thinking, encouraging resilience and a more positive relationship with learning and self-discovery.

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ABOUT THE READER

Elisabeth Anderson is a neuro affirming neurodivergent school psychologist with 10 years of public service and is the owner of Connected Family Practice. She is also the Director of Assessment for The ABLE Center.  Elisabeth has been recognized by families, colleagues, and school administrators for her leadership and knowledge as a policy writer, consultant and trainer. Elisabeth’s insights have made her a sought after internship supervisor.  Elisabeth believes that families should be able to find the supports they need both during and after the identification process to build greater understanding of neurodivergent brains, their needs, and potential support options. 

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Elisabeth’s Neuro Affirming Likert Rating Scale

⭐️: The resource contains language or content that perpetuates stereotypes, stigma, or misinformation about neurodiversity. It fails to use respectful and inclusive terminology, and may even promote harmful attitudes towards neurodiverse individuals.

⭐️⭐️: The resource makes some attempts at inclusivity, but still falls short in using affirming language and portraying neurodiversity in a positive light. It may contain instances of language or content that could be perceived as insensitive or exclusionary.

⭐️⭐️⭐️: The resource generally demonstrates a decent level of neurodiversity affirming language and content. It makes efforts to use respectful terminology and accurately portrays neurodiverse experiences, although there may still be room for improvement in certain areas.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: The resource consistently uses affirming language and content to depict neurodiversity in a positive and respectful manner. It actively challenges stereotypes and promotes understanding and acceptance of neurodiverse individuals and communities.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: The resource excels in its use of neurodiversity affirming language and content. It goes above and beyond to accurately represent the diverse experiences of neurodiverse individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment. It serves as a valuable resource for promoting inclusivity and understanding in both neurodiverse and neurotypical audiences.