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Review: Perfect

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Written by Waka T. Brown
Illustrated by Yuko Jones
New York: Quill Tree Books, 2024. Picture Book.

Miki Amelia Masuda likes for everything to be perfect. She doesn't like broken cookies or pants with ripped knees or favorite stuffed animals when they lose a wing. She wants everything to be perfect. One day, Miki's obaachan (her grandmother) brings her a special ceramic teacup from Japan. The teacup is perfect. White on top and blue on bottom, it reminds Miki of a perfect day at the beach. Miki loves her cup, and when she accidentally breaks it she is distraught. Obaachan steps in to fix it using the Japanese method of kintsugi, where the cracks are repaired with lacquer and gold. Though at first Miki is doubtful, Obaachan patiently helps her grow to a new understanding of perfect.

For readers who struggle with perfectionism, this story gently shows how cherished items can be repaired and restored instead of insisting on flawlessness. This message is delivered in a kid-friendly way and is enriched by watercolor, pen, and gouache illustrations. 
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