7 Books That Teach Resilience and 'Failing Forward' for the New Year
Teach your child to "fail well" in 2026. We curated 7 essential books that turn mistakes into growth for ages 5-10.
January is the season of big goals. We make resolutions, we plan for the year ahead, and inevitably, we stumble.
For children, the pressure to “get it right” can be paralyzing. Whether it is learning to tie their shoes, solving a math problem, or navigating a playground conflict, the fear of failure is often the biggest barrier to growth.
At Urmila Books, we believe the most valuable skill we can teach our children in 2026 isn’t how to succeed instantly—it is how to “fail well.”
Resilience isn’t something you can simply explain to a child; they have to see it in action. We have curated a list of 7 outstanding books that reframe mistakes not as endpoints, but as necessary steps in the creative process.
Here are our top picks to build a “growth mindset” library this year.
After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat
The Plot: Everyone knows Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall, but this story follows what happened next—how he developed a fear of heights and what it took to climb back up.
The Lesson: This book creates a safe space to discuss the emotional side of failure (fear and trauma) and the courage required to face it again.
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
The Plot: A young girl has a wonderful idea to build something magnificent, but when her prototype doesn’t work, she gets frustrated, angry, and wants to quit.
The Lesson: It perfectly illustrates that frustration is a normal part of the process, teaching children to step away, take a break, and come back with fresh eyes.
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein
The Plot: Beatrice Bottomwell is famous in her town for being perfect, until she makes a very public mistake during a talent show.
The Lesson: This is essential reading for little perfectionists, teaching them that making a mistake isn’t the end of the world—in fact, it can be liberating.
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
The Plot: Rosie loves to invent, but she hides her creations because she fears they are silly—until her Great-Great-Aunt Rose helps her see that a flop is actually a success.
The Lesson: It reframes the concept of failure entirely: “The only true failure can come if you quit.”
The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi
The Plot: Rather than a traditional story, this book personifies the concept of the “Yet”—a magical companion that helps us when we can’t do something... yet.
The Lesson: It gives children a specific vocabulary to handle difficulty, shifting their mindset from “I can’t do this” to “I am still learning this.”
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
The Plot: A highly visual book where torn paper, ink spills, and bent pages are transformed into whimsical art.
The Lesson: It teaches adaptability and flexibility, showing children that mistakes don’t always need to be erased—sometimes they can be transformed into something better.
The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken
The Plot: The story begins with an artist making a “mistake” while drawing a character, and follows how that error dictates the direction of the entire story.
The Lesson: It celebrates the “happy accident,” encouraging children to embrace the unexpected rather than demanding rigid control over their work.
Which one will you read first?
Building resilience is a journey. We recommend choosing one of these titles to read together this weekend. When the character faces a setback, pause and ask your child: “What would you do if that happened to you?”
Here’s to a brave and resilient New Year.
The Team at Urmila Books