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Cover of Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

Age rating and parents' guide:Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

by Stephan Pastis

Ages 6–11

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis is best for children aged 6–11. It has no violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language.

Meet Timmy Failure, the hilariously clueless founder and CEO of his own detective agency, Total Failure, Inc. Alongside his lazy, five-hundred-pound polar bear partner, Total, Timmy takes on local mysteries with complete overconfidence and terribly flawed logic. Packed with quirky cartoon illustrations, this deadpan, laugh-out-loud story appeals to fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid who enjoy watching an unreliably funny narrator bumble his way through everyday life.

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Content ratings

How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.

Violence
None
Scary moments
None
Romance
None
Bad language
None
Dhiraj Bodade

Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on 21 September 2026.

At a glance

  • ★Early chapter book
  • ★Part of the Timmy Failure series
  • ★Easy to get into from the first page
  • ★Plenty of illustrations
  • ★Emotionally light
  • ★A good pick for reluctant readers

Great for kids who like

  • Mystery & Detective
  • Humor & Comedy
  • Realistic Fiction (School & Friendships)

Reading mood

  • Funny
  • Mysterious

Good to talk about

  • Puzzles & problem-solving
  • School life

Books like Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

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On these book lists

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  • Animal books for kids
  • Books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid
  • Books like Geronimo Stilton

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Questions parents ask

Q: What age is Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made for?
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made suits children aged 6–11. It is an early chapter book: easy to get into from the first page, plenty of illustrations.
Q: Is Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made appropriate for a 6 year old?
Yes. Bookstaken rates it for ages 6–11. It has no violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language.
Q: Is Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the Timmy Failure series. If your child enjoys it, the other Timmy Failure books are the easiest next step.
Q: What should my child read after Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made?
Try Geronimo Stilton (series), Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Judy Moody. They share the same kind of story and suit the same ages.
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