Whoops! Ack! Darn it! Twenty brave poets share real-life blunders they made as young people.
With a wide range of mistakes and a diverse group of poets, this anthology speaks to a wide audience.
A Junior Library Guild selection
A Bank Street College of Education’s 2025 Best Children's Books of the Year
"Comforting reminders that nobody's perfect, infused with lessons large and small."
Kirkus
"An anthology packed with a broad spectrum of human emotion and experience."
Publisher's Weekly ★ STARRED REVIEW
"Charming and insightful... A gentle reminder of the stepping stones making up the path to growth, discovery, and creativity."
Booklist ★ STARRED REVIEW
"This accessible, well-tuned collection of poetry will reassure and delight young readers in equal measure."
School Library Journal
Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award List (PA)
ALA Notable Children's Book
Children's Literature Assembly Notable Book in Language Arts
Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids of 2024
2025 NCTE Notable Poetry Book
School Library Journal's 8 Poetry Books for Dreamers, Animal Lovers, and Mistake-Makers
Betsy Bird's 2024 Poetry Books for Kids List
Interview with Irene & Charles at Read Your World
Irene shares what it's like to be a poetry anthologist.
Video interview with Irene and Charles... plus some contributors share their poems.
