Not Perfect

November 15, 2023
A young girl strives for perfection. Dot's good at many things but isn't perfect at them. She believes her siblings and parents are perfect in various ways; even her cat's a perfect mouser. While her grandparents and soccer coach encourage her efforts, it's not good enough for her. She compares herself to her best friend, Sam, who "does everything right." One day their teacher asks each student to create a poster of someone they admire. Dot chooses her subject immediately and, naturally, wants her creation to be perfect; repeated imperfect attempts frustrate her so much that she tears her artwork up. After berating herself, Dot starts over. Next day, Sam reveals his poster of her--it's not perfect--and announces that he admires Dot's persistence. Dot then displays her portrait of Sam, made up of all those torn-up pieces. Surprise! She deems their efforts perfect. The conclusion to this story, a companion to Not Little (2021), seems abrupt and, well, imperfect. Overall, though, the protagonists are endearing and convey a reassuring message: It's OK to fail; trying is what counts. The colored-pencil illustrations are charming. Dot has light-tan skin and a brown poufy topknot. Her family is multiracial--her mother is light-skinned, her father is brown-skinned, and her siblings vary in skin tone. Sam presents Asian. Kids struggling with perfectionism will learn a valuable lesson. (Picture book. 5-8)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2024
Not Little (rev. 9/21) protagonist Dot is not happy about not being perfect. While her multiracial family members excel at their endeavors (sister is an artist, twin brothers are spelling bee champs, Mom has a black belt, Dad sings in a band, and: "Even my cat is perfect"), Dot bakes lopsided cupcakes, kicks too-wide goals, and plays wrong notes on the piano. At school, her best friend, Sam, shines in tidiness and rule-following, and Dot chooses him for her "person we admire" project. Frustration grows and self-esteem plummets as her portrait of Sam doesn't match what's in her head. She rips up her drawing, storms outside, angry-jumps on a trampoline, then dries her tears, gets back to work -- and arrives at a perfectly imperfect solution. This second book about Dot gives the realistic-seeming child plenty of support from nonjudgmental adults, providing time and space to solve her own problems -- and without the pressure of perfection. Spare colored-pencil illustrations with lots of white space are particularly good at reflecting Dot's feelings, from eager and hopeful to self-conscious, mad, and sad, to relaxed, contented, and proud. "'I made a lot of mistakes. It was really hard.' 'But you did it,' [Sam] says. 'That's true.' I did a little bounce of happiness. 'I did.'" Elissa Gershowitz

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

March 29, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 Whether it's painting, singing, or practicing tae kwon do, Dot is dismayed when she can't do something perfectly--unlike her family and best pal Sam, who all seem perfect at whatever they do. Even though she gets encouragement, whether for trying to bake cupcakes or play soccer, she's still not happy because the outcomes aren't perfect. These feelings escalate when she's working on a homework assignment--making a poster of someone she admires--and when it doesn't go as intended, rips up her attempts ""into a million little pieces." However, what initially feels like failure also sparks creativity ("I pick up a million pieces of paper, and I start over") and a new sense of perspective, including about what "perfect" means. Introduced in Not Little, Dot is a spirited protagonist, relating her experiences and emotions in a lively, eloquent narrative, which is reflected in Yum's bright, colored pencil illustrations that feature Dot's cheery multicultural family in scenarios that will be familiar to many children. Dot's path to finding confidence and appreciating what matters will likely strike a chord, uplift, and reassure.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 3, 2024

PreS-Gr 2-Dot excels in many areas, yet perfection always seems just out of reach. She lives in the shadow of her seemingly flawless family members, even their pet cat. Despite her efforts to bake cupcakes, play soccer, and master the piano, she falls short of perfection in each endeavor. When tasked with creating a poster of someone she admires, Dot faces frustration as her attempts fall flat. After tearing up her failures and taking a breather, she finds inspiration in the colorful paper shreds. In a stroke of creativity, she crafts a mosaic of her best friend. In class, her friend unveils an imperfect drawing of Dot, leading them to embrace the imperfections in their friendship. The endearing colored pencil illustrations complement this heartwarming tale, teaching children the value of perseverance and self-acceptance. VERDICT An sweet narrative promoting resilience and embracing imperfection, this is an amiable addition to the shelves.-Kirsten Caldwell

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2024
Not Little (rev. 9/21) protagonist Dot is not happy about not being perfect. While her multiracial family members excel at their endeavors (sister is an artist, twin brothers are spelling bee champs, Mom has a black belt, Dad sings in a band, and: "Even my cat is perfect"), Dot bakes lopsided cupcakes, kicks too-wide goals, and plays wrong notes on the piano. At school, her best friend, Sam, shines in tidiness and rule-following, and Dot chooses him for her "person we admire" project. Frustration grows and self-esteem plummets as her portrait of Sam doesn't match what's in her head. She rips up her drawing, storms outside, angry-jumps on a trampoline, then dries her tears, gets back to work -- and arrives at a perfectly imperfect solution. This second book about Dot gives the realistic-seeming child plenty of support from nonjudgmental adults, providing time and space to solve her own problems -- and without the pressure of perfection. Spare colored-pencil illustrations with lots of white space are particularly good at reflecting Dot's feelings, from eager and hopeful to self-conscious, mad, and sad, to relaxed, contented, and proud. "'I made a lot of mistakes. It was really hard.' 'But you did it, ' �Sam] says. 'That's true.' I did a little bounce of happiness. 'I did.'"

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)