Henry's Awful Mistake

Reach for this book when your child is spiraling over a minor inconvenience or when a small frustration has turned into a total meltdown. It is a perfect tool for families dealing with perfectionism or 'tunnel vision' where a child becomes so focused on fixing one tiny thing that they lose sight of the bigger picture. In this humorous story, Henry the duck is preparing a special dinner for a friend when he spots a single ant in his kitchen. His increasingly frantic and destructive attempts to remove the tiny intruder eventually lead to the literal destruction of his home. It is a lighthearted way to discuss the concept of 'the cure being worse than the disease.' Ideal for children ages 4 to 8, this book uses absurdist humor to normalize the feeling of frustration while gently showing the consequences of overreacting. Parents will appreciate how it opens a door to talk about staying calm and letting go of the small stuff without being preachy.