Author: Julie-Anne Graham
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Pages: 32
Review Copy: Final copy from publisher
Availability: On shelves now
Summary: Percival Priggs seems to be the perfect child. His parents are perfect, his grandparents are perfect, and even his pets are perfect. Percy’s shelf is packed with gleaming trophies. But with all the practice and preparation needed for his competitions, Percy never has a free moment.
Percy worries that his parents will not love him if he does not smile his prize-winning smile and perform perfectly in every competition. But after his rocket experiment turns into an imperfect mess, Mr. and Mrs. Priggs reveal their own funny imperfections and show Percy they are proud of him exactly as he is.
Review: Percy is trying very hard to be perfect. He mistakenly believes that his parents expect him to be absolutely perfect. He is a bundle of nerves as he tries hard to be perfect in every single area of his over-scheduled life. This is quite a burden for a young child.
The illustrations are whimsical and humorous. Readers paying attention to the details will see a dress decorated with crossword puzzles, skin with words on the surface, and Percival's magnificent hair once chaos ensues. From the cover image, you can also see that the characters are made in a cartoonish manner.
This is more of a message type of book to me than a story that happens to have a message, but the illustrations and the humor at the end do keep it from being completely preachy.
This would be a great book to share early in the school year to emphasize trying new things and being kind with ourselves as we are learning. It would pair well with Beautiful Oops by Barney Salzberg and The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires.
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