Illustrated by Jessica Holm Wren and Rook ISBN 9781526363411 £9.99
This is an impressive book that helps us learn from our mistakes and bounce back. Clare Balding is a TV presenter, a sportswoman and an author, but she has made mistakes in her life. She shares her own experiences and those of her friends to show us that we all get things wrong sometimes and that is OK. It is how we learn. There is no need to be afraid of failure. There book explores ten character traits – Resilience, Patience, Confidence, Courage, Flexibility, Creativity, Speaking Out, Motivation, Kindness and Keeping Going. The real life examples give the text an immediacy and help make the book accessible. Balding offers a wide range of people from whom we can learn, including Michelle Obama, Didier Drogba, J.K. Rowling, Usain Bolt, Venus Williams and the Dalai Lama. I particularly enjoyed learning about Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost her arm when a shark attacked her. One month later she returned to the water and two years later she won her first US national surfing competition. The text is enhanced by fun illustrations. The tone is friendly and reassuring. An important book about resilience, empowerment and life. Highly recommended for children aged 9+, and adults!
Brenda Marshall
