The OK Book

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)

The world is just full of things to do. And it's fun to give them all a go. But what if you're not good at everything you try? What if you're just OK? What then?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Growth Mindset, Self Esteem, Inspirational, Kids

40 pages, Library Binding

First published April 24, 2007

About the author

SHORT BIO:

Amy Krouse Rosenthal was.
She divided her time.


NOT SO SHORT BIO:

Amy Krouse Rosenthal was a person who liked to make things.
Some things she liked to make include:

Children's books. (Little Pea, Spoon, DuckRabbit)
Grown-up books. (Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life)
Short films. (The Beckoning of Lovely, The Money Tree)
Guided journals. (The Belly Book)
Something out of nothing. (see above)

A longtime contributor to WBEZ and to the TED conference,
Amy lived with her family in Chicago and online at whoisamy.com.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this one five stars for the idea and three stars for the execution. The concept is really fun as the character is shaped like "OK" and it tells how it is "ok" at many things, like swinging in a tree, doing handstands, etc. so we see the OK doing these things--hard to describe, but great concept! However, I found myself getting a little bored once the novelty wore off as there really wasn't much "special" about the illustrations or the text. The ending has a nice message, though.

[Prince William Public Libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many goodreads users, I was saddened by the news of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s death, of ovarian cancer, a few months ago. The author of more than 30 books, Rosenthal was one of my favorite picture book writers. She had a knack for producing work that was just the right balance of clever and emotional—clever without being smug; emotional without being sappy. She had a great talent, a great sense of humor, and, judging by her creative output, a great passion for the little things that make up a life. You can pick up just about any of her books and come away with a smile. The OK Book is just one example of the many wonderful titles in her bibliography.

The OK Book is more than just an ok book. Pairing for the first time with artist Tom Lichtenheld, who would go on to illustrate several of her most popular books, including Duck! Rabbit!, Exclamation Mark, and Friendshape, Rosenthal takes a deceptively simple concept and runs wild with it. Each illustration takes the ‘OK’ of the title and flips it 90 degrees, so that the two letters look like a rudimentary stick figure. “I like to try a lot of different things,” says the OK character. “I’m not great at all of them, but I enjoy them just the same.” The book celebrates the joy of trying new things and emphasizes the importance of not worrying about whether you’re good or bad at them. “I’m an OK climber. I’m an OK marshmallow roaster. I’m an OK tightrope walker.” By the end you realize The OK Book is also about self discovery—only by trying many things can you find the one thing at which you excel. In one last inspired and inspiring twist, the final page provides the reader with a challenge by following up “The End” with “Or is it just the beginning?"

So, I encourage you to check out The OK Book. Or Bedtime for Mommy. Or Little Pea. Or Spoon. Or That’s Me Loving You. Or any and all of the numerous other books Amy Krouse Rosenthal left us as her legacy. She will be missed, but she won’t be forgotten.

- John D.

Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ironically, this story is just ok, although the last page elevated it to 3 stars. Good for talking to kids about a fixed vs. growth mindset and for reassuring them that they don't have to be experts at everything they try or enjoy.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld – Oh, this was such a cute idea for a book. I love when these two book creators work together. Here’s a lovely exploration of what is “ok”. Appreciate the simple reflection on how not being fantastic at something is just fine.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant concept and execution.
Plus, it's ok to be ok. There's time to become excellent at something.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The letters "O" and "K" are used to make a stick figure who tries out different things. Though OK isn't really great at anything, they enjoy trying things and are fine with being just okay at them, knowing that they'll get better in the future.

I liked that the story not only encouraged readers to try new things, but also to keep doing them even if they aren't great at them right away. Lots of worthwhile things take practice and time and that's okay!

No content issues.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was super cute book. The "OK" guy (turn the letters OK on their side and they look like a stick man) is OK at a lot of stuff. One day he says he will be excellent at something and until that day he is having fun finding out what he will be excellent at. Loved the message. Cute idea -- OK guy. Left me smiling.

[Grant Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

It turns out the OK book lived up to its name.

[Faith Tydings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Amy Krouse Rosenthal and I love most of her books. This one was cute but it fell a little short with me. Still a big fan of the author!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In these high-pressure times, I LOVE the message of this book: it's OK to just be okay at things, especially for a child who's learning and experimenting. The child-like illustrations (stick person) are a perfect fit, and there are just the right number of examples. Each picture shows the child trying something ("I'm an ok pancake flipper") and shows the evidence that s/he's missed the mark a bit (pancake on the head not on the plate). Kids will relate but I'd REALLY like to put this in the hands of some parents who expect their children to be excellent at everything! (Hmmm...maybe a kick-off for a parent books group?)

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Amy Krouse Rosenthal. I love her fascination with word play and how she incorporates that into her books. Fun book especially when you pay close attention to the illustrations. My kids loved the "I'm an OK sharer" page. Silly yet profound picture book.

[Gary Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth: "One day, I'll grow up to be really excellent at something. I don't know what it is yet ... but I sure am having fun figuring it out."

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great use of OILS. Very creative!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun read but only because of the illustrations that go with the text. Young kiddos will have to be perceptive.

[Faith B DeBolt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. The simple illustrations draw you in while keeping you engaged with the true meaning of the story. Its great for both my toddler and my preschooler to comprehend and return to often.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book that can help build self confidence

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the perfect example why you should not judge a book by its cover!  I saw the cute little stick guy on the cover lying down on the cover (which spelled "OK") and the beautiful cornflower blue background (my favorite color) and was instantly captivated. 

I love the idea of creating a motivational self-help book for children with adorable drawings. Unfortunately, the various activities performed by the stick people seemed mediocre at best. 

[Aarvik · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ok read.

[Cleo White]

In a society where people strive to great at just about everything, it was refreshing to read a book about being just ok! In this book, OK is the main character. He tells the tale of how he is ok at lots of things. The story is enhanced by the creatively simplistic pictures of OK doing various things (playing soccer, singing, etc.). In the story, you can tell that OK is ok with being average things. But, he ends the story with the hope of one day being great at somethings and enjoying the adventure along the way.

I loved reading this book! From the simple illustrations to made-up words and strong message at the end. Rosenthal ingeniously personified the word OK and made the character easily accessible with the easy language and flow of the story. I appreciated the end the most! After the journey with OK, we are left wanting to go on our own adventure to being great! The message is clear for adults and students; it affirms our doubts about mediocrity while pushing us to be better.

I read this book to my students as a part of the Global Read Aloud program this year. After reading the book, we had a brief discussion about being ok at some things. We talked about how it is okay to be okay at some things, how fun it is to try new things, and that you can work really hard if you want to be great at something. I wanted them to know that you don’t have to be great at everything that you do. But, if you want to do something well, it will take time and hard work! After our discussion, I had the students make their own OK book. In the book, they told three things they were ok at. I had them follow the author’s writing by saying “I am an okay (ex. grass dancer).” I also challenged them to draw their illustrations like the author using the OK as their person. At the end of their book they wrote one thing they would like to do well and how they could get there. The book ends with the best quote in the story: “One day, I’ll grow up to be really excellent at something. I don’t know what it is yet…but I sure am having fun figuring it out!” This is such a great story to teach about risk-taking, hard work, growth mindset, and just being the best you!

The End. “Or is it just the beginning?”

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I happened across this picture book the same afternoon I’d finished reading “The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” for a book group. So my thoughts may be a bit biased because of this. “The OK Book” is the antithesis of “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.” In true American fashion, this book celebrates mediocrity. With simple (clever) line drawings, this picture book child shows (s)he’s ok at skipping, climbing, diving, hiding, sharing, pancake flipping, etc… and concludes “One day, I’ll grow up to be really excellent at something. I don’t know what it is yet...but I sure am having fun figuring it out.” While I think there’s huge value in having children (and even adults) try a lot of different things without fear of being looked down upon merely for being an inexperienced beginner, I also think it’s important to find your (or your child’s) passion and nurture it. The book went on and on about being OK at this and that which felt a bit tedious after a while. And the ending of the book about growing up to be really excellent at something gives a feeling that excellence will simply happen—(the character is in bed, asleep, dreaming)—without the tremendous amount of work that excellence takes. I’m afraid that many Americans feel they (and their children) feel entitled to excellence, without realizing that many hours and a lot of work are involved. So all in all I felt “The OK Book” is merely, well, okay.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This creative book has short sentences with cute figures created with the letters O and K. The first page states, “Hi, how are you? I’m OK.” OK states that trying different things is fun. “I’m not great at all of them, but I enjoy them just the same.” We see OK playing fielder in a baseball game, flying a kite, and flipping pancakes. All of the sparse illustrations and text have OK in different positions performing the act.

Cons: None

Pros: This is a wonderful book for creative children to see what an artist can do with the letters O and K. But more than that it is a valuable message that being OK is just fine and may one day lead to finding something you are better than OK doing, or maybe not. Such a great reminder to engage in life!

[Mikayla Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great, in it we follow a child as they state all the things they are ok at doing. At the end he book makes it clear that one day you will find something that you are great at but right now it’s better to have fun and be ok at things. I would recommend this book to preK to 1st grade because it is a very easy book to read, and it has a very important lesson they need to hear. I gave this book 5 stars because it is very cute, and discussed something not found in most books, and the illustrations were adorable even though they were simple. The theme of this book is that it is important to just have fun and not worry about whether or not you are great at something, it’s more important to just have fun. The genre is fiction.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A child shares all the various things that they are ok at, and how they are satisfied with being at this level at this time knowing someday in the future they'll be excellent at something and that this is the process of figuring out what.

This would be a spectacular book for little kids who demonstrate perfectionistic tendencies. I love the way the character is ok with just being ok and not pressuring him or herself to be amazing at things right now. It's a freeing and healthy perspective that all kids need to hear. The fact that the stick figure looks like an OK is also pretty clever. Highly recommended to any class, family, or child, but especially those who need to hear that it is totally fine to be ok at things and not an immediate expert.

[Anam Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all the immense profundity of picture books and its relevance across age groups I, for one, discovered the beauties not very early in life. However, my ravenous appetite has me gorging them at a rapid rate. I have to admit it intrigues how a younger version of me would have responded to the wisdom and silent encouragement these books provide. Working with children to a certain extent has compensated for any loss that I may feel.

You can read the complete review on my blog here: http://booksclever.com/blog/2018/01/2...

Happy Reading!

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in my kindergarten practicum class. It is a good read, especially for young readers. It's illustrations are simple and direct. It teaches students how it is alright to be just "ok" at something. Everybody is not the fastest or the smartest, and that is okay. The point it makes at the end of the book, is that even though you may be "ok" at something now, you will find something and get better at it as you get older. I think that is an important lesson for all students to learn.

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character in this book is a stick figure that is formed when you turn OK on it's side, which my story time audience thought was pretty cool. Our hero likes to try many different things…and it turns out he is OK at a lot of very diverse activities. I like the message that this book sends, that it is OK to be OK at things and try lots of things as long as one enjoys the journey. Most kids can identify with being OK at things. This book also reminds them that they will grow up "to be really excellent at something" even if they don't know what it is yet.

[Dawn VanLerberghe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very simply but the message it sends is a good one. My kids and students often feel they always have to be good at everything. In reality, we are ok at a lot of things and when we're young we need to realize that the fun is in trying all sorts of things. I can't juggle, I haven't figured out how to flip a pancake without feeding the dog, I'm at the mercy of the hill while sledding, and many more realizations that as an adult, I'm still only okay (or awful) at some of these things. But, I can still have fun trying.

I loved the creativity behind the "ok" stick person!

[Laura Giessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple story about trying all kinds of different things on the way to figuring out what one is really good at. The character is simple stick figure shaped like an OK. The illustrations are intriguing for that reason--they illustrate the text but also form an OK in all different positions--but they get a bit repetitive. Would be good to incorporate this book when talking to kids about fixed/growth mindset, including how one gets from "OK" to "excellent". This was Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld's first book together. Don't miss the funny notes on the back flap.

[Drew Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes when you're young (and even when you're older) you're just okay (or, OK) at some things, and that's just fine.

This Amy Krouse Rosenthal, I'm telling you, has had nothing but hits at our house. This book was clever, and even though it was a little beyond The Boy (2.75) just yet, he still really liked the visuals and I thought they were pretty clever myself. After a while it was hard to unsee OK, if you know what I mean. I think the message is appropriate and important for people of just about any age, but especially developing kids. Sometimes okay is just fine.

[Kailyn Gilliam]

The OK Book is a picture of the word OK expressed as various illustrations. The simplistic nature of this art is to teach that their is a way to find yourself in any thing (maybe not what the text is actually meant to do, but that is how I plan to use it). By allowing students to use this OK book to see the way OK fits into any illustration and influences the meaning to be something metaphoric is the point of voice that I want my students to understand. Your voice always has a place in conversation - learn to use your voice based on your experiences and perspective.