The Most Perfect Spot

by Diane Goode

Experience a picnic in the park with Mama and Jack, where nothing seems to go right, but fun is had by all – and a little dog joins the family. With "And then, who knows why..." as the cheerful refrain, Diane Goode tells how a boy's plan to give his mother a perfect picnic in the park goes hilariously awry. Kids will spot the little dog who's the cause of the mischief on every spread, making the refrain even more fun! Without preaching, this visual adventure shows that you can be happy even when things don't go just right. And the large, animated scenes picture all the fun with an expressive, lively line and inviting color

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Humor, Storytime, Food, Summer

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Caldecott Honor children's book author/illustrator of over 55 picture books.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe I’m just finding out about this book! Why isn’t it on any reading lists?!? Well it’s going on mine!

Jack wakes up his mother with breakfast in bed and tells her that he knows the most perfect spot for a picnic. And off they go, with entirely endearing and oh so comical mishaps.

A delightful, turn of the century tale about a boy and his mother, with a very clever twist at the end!

Ages: All!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young Brooklyn boy decides to take his mother on a picnic in Prospect Park, having discovered the "perfect spot." But, as is so often the case, nothing goes quite as planned, and one disaster after another force the boy and his mother to keep moving on. With a flock of wild ducks, five galloping riders on horseback, and some unlooked-for rain, it looks like the picnic is off! Or is it...?

A charming story that emphasizes the virtue of accepting unexpected difficulties with aplomb, and "making lemonade from lemons," Diane Goode's The Most Perfect Spot will entertain any young reader who has set out to do something, only to find that the best-laid plans can go awry. I liked the fact that something good comes from disaster, and appreciated the humorous illustrations, which depicted an early twentieth-century New York (1930s, perhaps?). All in all, a delightful book!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, charming story perfect for summertime! A little boy presents his mother with an invitation for a picnic and he knows "just the perfect spot" in the park around the corner. They persevere as one mishap after another (from galloping horses to rain showers) makes them move to new "perfect spots" before they finally give up and decide that the perfect spot for today's picnic is actually their own apartment! But there is a surprise waiting with this new Spot! :-> I had so much fun going back through and revisiting the heartwarming illustrations after I knew the ending.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

5/16/22 Read with Julia and Andres

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I had small children, I always picked up a Diane Goode book if available. I loved her stories and particularly her illustrations. THE MOST PERFECT SPOT for a picnic, it turned out, is really a metaphor for life. Sometimes we find the perfect spot, but something ruins it and we have to move on and find another perfect spot. The point is WE MOVE ON and we look for that other perfect spot in imperfect circumstances. We make it work. I love that with little Jack and his mama.

[Mhm Storytelling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows a mother and son planning to go on a picnic in the park. After running into several problems, the two end up back home to picnic in their apartment.

Red flags: "Prospect Park" could be shortened to just "the park".

Opportunities for interaction:
-Have any of you ever been on a picnic? Where did you have it? (park, backyard, playground, etc.)
-Every time it says "Who knows why?" put arms out and shrug shoulders
-flap wings like the ducks and go "Quack, quak!"
-Splash! sounds
-Brrr (shiver like it's cold)
-beat hands on the ground to make galloping noises and go "clippety-clop!"
-Have any of you ever been on a carousel? What kinds of animals are on this carousel?
-Spin your head like you are dizzy
-Make rain noises with fingers on the ground and go "pitter-patter-pitter"
-bark like a dog
-move arms like you are running
-What kinds of things are they eating on their picnic? What would you want to eat?

Gallery connection: Lindbergh- connect packing a picnic to the things Lindbergh had to pack. World's Fair- talk about how it happened here in the park, what are some things you like to do in the park? Have a picnic?!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for so many reasons:

* I love the historical time period and the charming illustrations depicting this time period.

* The positive narrative of the story.

* The plot of mother and son spending a beautiful day together picnicking at the park.

* The cleverness and humor found in the pages of this book.

Read this book to your kids, they will love it! I also love the perfect ending!

[Samantha Penrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice illustrations.
I like that the mother and son remain upbeat despite all of the bad luck that they encounter at the park, but I kind of wished that the park, pitfalls and all, could have remained "the most perfect spot." The pair end up picnicing in their own apartment... It just felt like defeat to see them forced back inside...

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story of Mama and Jack who try to go on a picnic but once they get to the park, everything goes wrong. The illustrations are the star of this show and very detailed. The detail would make this one a hard group read aloud, but a fun one-on-one read.

[Melissa Ganka-Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

For readers who love their mothers and dogs :)

[Y.Poston]

cute mishap of a day

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The text is cute and clever but Goode's illustrations are what really make the book. An enjoyable read-aloud for students ages 4-7.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see why this is enjoyed by many, but I found it stressful. I guess I'm too old & tired to be able to roll with the punches. Read on openlibrary.org.

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little story about all the ways a picnic can go wrong. And a super fun surprise ending that is the most perfect spot.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How fun! I like the older time setting. Love the illustrations--so much in each one, little stories within the story. I like the story, especially the ending. I like how the mother and son keep going about their day even with all of the incidents, and seem to have smiles on their faces the whole time. Way to have a positive attitude! And after I finished the book, I had to retrace the pages to catch a couple of things I missed. Definitely entertaining for a lap-read or on a child's own, but I do think I could make it work in a preschool storytime.

4/6/10 & 4/8/10 Very fun to read with both groups. It's a good one for reading aloud with the suspense at some of the page turns. I was able to focus and read a bit better on Thursday (understandable, considering...), but I don't think it hurt either group in liking the book. It also worked well to read it this week with our mid-90 degree weather during a spring break!

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

As we introduced the story to the children attending story time at the library, we wondered aloud if the puppy on the title page would be on every page in the book. (It is). The children loved noticing the puppy and were sure to tell me about it.

Young Jack escorts his mother to the park for a picnic. Neither mother nor son notice the stray dog tagging their heels and causing all the disastrous commotion.

Our audience of children loved the many "BUT... ...suddenly, who knows why" moments in the story. (As did the story telling team).

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous story about a son trying to find the perfect spot to have a picnic with his mother, but "someone" keeps messing things up. However, the most perfect "Spot" is found at the end. 6/26/12

Used for picnics in story time. 7/24/13

Used for PJ Story Time and everyone enjoyed finding the dog and then keeping track of the hat. Was not quite as well received in Story Time. 7/14/14

Used in PJ and Lap Time, a bit long for both. (I think I will have to give up the picnic theme.)

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an attempt to do something nice, a little boy invites his mom on a picnic in the park, having found the "perfect spot." Unfortunately, each spot is worse than the last and they end up filthy, sticky, wet, and bedraggled before they take their picnic home again. The little stray dog that follows them from panel to panel plays a special part in the end. Light and mildly amusing.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack wishes to take his mother on a picnic in the most perfect spot at the park, but each spot he picks turns out to be a disaster. From boats capsizing to galloping horses, everywhere they try to picnic is NOT the most perfect spot. In the end they find it, in their very own living room.

Nice illustrations.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute story about a young boy's quest to find the perfect place to have a picnic with his mother. Of course, nothing goes as planned. Because of the intricacies of the illustrations, this makes a nice choice for one on one reading or narrative skill storytimes.

[Jennie]

Set in the early 20th century, Jack takes his mother on a picnic to the most perfect spots in the park. Each perfect spot becomes not so perfect thanks to ducks, horses, people or rain. So, they move on until they rush back to their own apartment and enjoy a picnic with their dog, Spot.

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story about the best of intentions of little Jack to treat his mother to a picnic in park, only to be interrupted time after time by loud noises, accidents, unlikely animals, a carousel ride and ultimately, bad weather!

[Katey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack wants nothing more than to find the perfect spot for a picnic. Everytime they settle down something happens and they have to leave. The keep searching for the perfect spot. You will never guess where or what it happens to be...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle story of a mother and son looking for the perfect picnic spot. Punctuated with lots of mishaps, the story lends itself to being a great read-aloud book. The rhythm, sound words, and gentle ending make it a great pick for preschoolers.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I love picnics, I thought I'd give this book a try. It was worth it. It's a sweet, optimistic story with a funny ending.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

J really likes this one, in which a boy and his mama have trouble finding "the most perfect spot" for their picnic lunch.

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect day in Prospect Park is planned but is quickly and surprisingly foiled by a flock of noisy ducks, a herd of muddy horses, runaway carousels, and alas rain.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books for picnic storytime!

[Brenna Call · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the predictive nature of the story and the book had a cute ending. Great pictures.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack tries to have a perfect picnic with his mother, but things do not turn out as they expected.