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Failure Friday
Emma was born to run...or was she?
Emma's sister, Bella, is the star runner on the high school track team. Her super athletic mom has been running for years. And her dad trains for marathons. Running is just what Emma's family does.
When Emma finds out she made the school running club, she's excited...and nervous. Right away, though, it becomes evident that Emma isn't the fastest one in her family. Or the most coordinated.
Emma thinks quitting is her only option...until her teacher invites a special guest to talk to her class about failure. Emma is surprised to learn that failure isn't something to fear - it's actually something to celebrate! As her classmates share their own failures, Emma realizes that maybe failure is actually a stop on the road to success...and that maybe she shouldn't throw away her running shoes just yet.
- GenresChildrens
32 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2022
1680 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 24, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and National Center for Youth Issues, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for accepting my request to read and review Failure Friday.
Author: Andrea Burns
Published: 08/25/22
Genre: Children's Fiction -- Sports
The illustrations are bright and well done. They do not take away from the story. The two compliment each other beautifully. I noticed the facial expressions and found them to be spot on.
The story itself has several messages that can be taken from it. Team work, practice, not always winning, and not everyone in a family has the same skill level. This is a kind and gentle expression between a child and parents teaching trying without giving up.
Author: Andrea Burns
Published: 08/25/22
Genre: Children's Fiction -- Sports
The illustrations are bright and well done. They do not take away from the story. The two compliment each other beautifully. I noticed the facial expressions and found them to be spot on.
The story itself has several messages that can be taken from it. Team work, practice, not always winning, and not everyone in a family has the same skill level. This is a kind and gentle expression between a child and parents teaching trying without giving up.
August 24, 2022
✨ "We never lose. We either win or we learn."
An inspiring and beautifully illustrated book with a powerful message! I read this randomly and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. This delightful book teaches you how to navigate and cope with setbacks, which I think is a lesson that readers of all ages can do with. After all, we are our own worst critic, agree? I also appreciate the diverse representation.
Every classroom and library needs a copy of this wonderful book.
✨"There's a difference between having a failure and considering yourself a failure."
An inspiring and beautifully illustrated book with a powerful message! I read this randomly and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. This delightful book teaches you how to navigate and cope with setbacks, which I think is a lesson that readers of all ages can do with. After all, we are our own worst critic, agree? I also appreciate the diverse representation.
Every classroom and library needs a copy of this wonderful book.
✨"There's a difference between having a failure and considering yourself a failure."
August 21, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.
Summary of plot:
Emma was born into a family of runners, so she joins the running club at her school. Turns out, she's not very good at it. She ends up losing a team relay race, so she feels like a failure. But her teacher, who is also the coach, teaches her and the class how to celebrate failure.
Pros about the book:
✔️ Bi-racial family representation
✔️ Asian best friend representation
✔️ Great messaging to young ones about what failure means: "We never lose. We either win or we learn."
✔️ Supportive family dynamic
Cons about the book:
❌ Some pages are a little too wordy.
Would I recommend this book? Yes!
Summary of plot:
Emma was born into a family of runners, so she joins the running club at her school. Turns out, she's not very good at it. She ends up losing a team relay race, so she feels like a failure. But her teacher, who is also the coach, teaches her and the class how to celebrate failure.
Pros about the book:
✔️ Bi-racial family representation
✔️ Asian best friend representation
✔️ Great messaging to young ones about what failure means: "We never lose. We either win or we learn."
✔️ Supportive family dynamic
Cons about the book:
❌ Some pages are a little too wordy.
Would I recommend this book? Yes!
August 17, 2022
Great, easy read for kids. My 8-year old read it with ease and enjoyed the story. Definitely recommended for every kid to read so they are not afraid of failing.
September 15, 2022
Failure is only the first step. Not the final.
Emma has always wanted to run like her sister, mother and father. She has big shoes to fill since her dad runs marathons and her older sister is the star of the track team. So when she joins the school's running club she is excited but also nervous. Can she keep up with everyone? Can she live up to the high standards her family has set or will she fall behind and linger in their shadow forever?
Emma isn't the fastest and she's a little clumsy too. She wants to quit until a guest speaker comes in to talk about what it means to fail. Emma learns a valuable lesson about determination, perseverance and having some grit to overcome the challenges. The best part was the quote "there is a difference between having a failure and being a failure," which should be hung up in every bedroom and classroom. Emma learns that progress is more important than perfection.
This story was both entertaining and educational, which can be a tricky balance to maintain in a children’s book, and I will be suggesting it to teachers whenever possible. Incorporating social-emotional skills and topics such as this into children's picture books is a tried and true way to teach an important life skill in a way that is fun. This would be an amazing addition for classroom libraries, counselling offices and more.
Emma has always wanted to run like her sister, mother and father. She has big shoes to fill since her dad runs marathons and her older sister is the star of the track team. So when she joins the school's running club she is excited but also nervous. Can she keep up with everyone? Can she live up to the high standards her family has set or will she fall behind and linger in their shadow forever?
Emma isn't the fastest and she's a little clumsy too. She wants to quit until a guest speaker comes in to talk about what it means to fail. Emma learns a valuable lesson about determination, perseverance and having some grit to overcome the challenges. The best part was the quote "there is a difference between having a failure and being a failure," which should be hung up in every bedroom and classroom. Emma learns that progress is more important than perfection.
This story was both entertaining and educational, which can be a tricky balance to maintain in a children’s book, and I will be suggesting it to teachers whenever possible. Incorporating social-emotional skills and topics such as this into children's picture books is a tried and true way to teach an important life skill in a way that is fun. This would be an amazing addition for classroom libraries, counselling offices and more.
September 25, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and National Center for Youth Issues, Independent Book Publishers Association for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: 25 August 2022
Why I picked up the book: We have been celebrating failures at our dinner table for the last couple of weeks, so the title of this book caught my attention.
What I liked the most about the book: I loved the celebration of failure and the lesson the book provides. I also loved how the book gave ideas on how to be encourages of others failures too. Both lessons are something we have been focusing on in our house.
Who I would recommend to read this book: I think this would be a great classroom book to teach children how to celebrate failure and how to encourage each other! "We never lose. We either win or we learn."
Rating: 5/5*
Genre: Children's Fiction | Parenting & Families | Sports
#FailureFriday #NetGalley
Release Date: 25 August 2022
Why I picked up the book: We have been celebrating failures at our dinner table for the last couple of weeks, so the title of this book caught my attention.
What I liked the most about the book: I loved the celebration of failure and the lesson the book provides. I also loved how the book gave ideas on how to be encourages of others failures too. Both lessons are something we have been focusing on in our house.
Who I would recommend to read this book: I think this would be a great classroom book to teach children how to celebrate failure and how to encourage each other! "We never lose. We either win or we learn."
Rating: 5/5*
Genre: Children's Fiction | Parenting & Families | Sports
#FailureFriday #NetGalley
January 24, 2023
So many powerful and necessary SEL (social and emotional learning) concepts packed into this book! When Emma is not sure she should continue to run after a failure, her teacher brings in a special guest to the classroom. Soon, Emma and her classmates explore failure, and learn that failure is not the end of all things (among so many other precious lessons, that we, as adults ought to remember better).
Loved everything about it – the simple yet powerful narration, the colorful, diverse, and emotive illustrations, and of course, at the risk of repeating myself, the lessons it imparts.
Get it today for your home, your classroom, and as a reminder that failure is not the rock that blocks us or the pebble that makes us trip and fall but rather a stepping stone that lets us learn and go forward in leaps and bounds!
Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC for this from NetGalley, and these are my honest opinions.
Loved everything about it – the simple yet powerful narration, the colorful, diverse, and emotive illustrations, and of course, at the risk of repeating myself, the lessons it imparts.
Get it today for your home, your classroom, and as a reminder that failure is not the rock that blocks us or the pebble that makes us trip and fall but rather a stepping stone that lets us learn and go forward in leaps and bounds!
Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC for this from NetGalley, and these are my honest opinions.
October 23, 2022
A short story to share with a class or have kids read and discuss in small group. Help foster resiliency and kindness as children discover that we learn from failure and talking about one's failures is not a sign of weakness, but a way to grow. Full page illustrations help visualize concepts and emotions in the story that kids will be able to relate to. A great SEL text to enrich any classroom, school, or private library.
November 30, 2022
Emma is frustrated with her difficulties with the relay event in track at school and is ready to quit. But instead, she learns a valuable lesson: how to fail and keep trying. She finds that failing is not only a part of life, it is a part of success. Most people are unsuccessful a number of times before they start to become successful. So Emma decides to stick with track to find out what she can accomplish.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews