Not Perfect

by Maya Myers, Hyewon Yum (Illustrator)

From the creators of Not Little, the intrepid Dot is back with an endearing story about embracing the mistakes that let us build new skills.

Dot is good at a lot of things, but good isn’t perfect. Perfect is her sister’s blue-ribbon painting, or her brothers’ first-place tie in the spelling bee, or her mom’s black belt in tae kwon do. Dot tries and tries, but all she has to show for it is funny-looking cupcakes, off-key piano squeaks, and almost-goals in soccer. Nothing she does is perfect.

When Dot and her classmates get an assignment to make a poster about a person they admire, Dot has someone in mind right away: her best friend, Sam. But draft after draft comes out looking all wrong! How will she ever make the perfect poster for her perfect friend?

Fans of Dot and Sam and new readers alike will melt as Dot keeps on trying in this relatable companion to Not Little, featuring Maya Myers’s effortless narrative voice and Hyewon Yum’s irresistible illustrations.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Art, Childrens, School, Emotion, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Maya Myers is the author of Not Little and Not Perfect, illustrated by Hyewon Yum (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House), the Rosie Woods series (Capstone, '24), and National Geographic's Little Kids First Big Book of Baby Animals, along with a number of leveled readers. When she's not writing, she edits all sorts of books for publishers and authors. Maya is a former kindergarten teacher, K-5 literacy teacher, and piccolo player. She loves cooking, gardening, and (surprise!) reading. Maya lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, author-illustrator Matt Myers, three kids, seven chickens, and a twenty-three-pound cat named Hoss.

Reviews

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First 5 stars as dictated by Joel

[Wendi Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I love the colored pencil illustrations and the positive message of this picture book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this follow-up to the previous picture book by the same creative team, Dot proves that she and her best friend, Sam, just might have the perfect friendship. The opening pages introduce Dot, who tries hard at many activities but is never quite perfect at any of them. Even her handwriting is quite messy and hard to read compared to Sam's. These attempts at perfection are depicted perfectly--ha!--through illustrations rendered with colored pencils and winsome facial features and expressions. Dot really admires her friend, and when her teacher assigns the students to create a picture of someone they admire and three reasons that they admire that individual, Dot knows just who her subject will be. Still, perfection alludes her, and she grows increasingly frustrated until she pulls bits of all her failed efforts together. And then, to her surprise, she finds that Sam has quite a surprise for her. The text and artwork perfectly capture the unique personality of Dot with her hair piled upon her head in a bountiful topknot, and readers will feel that she is someone that they know. This picture book might be helpful to share with those youngsters who struggle with perfectionism or tend to compare themselves too much to others.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl, Dot, (from the author and illustrator’s previous book together Not Little) e’;/[/xplains that she’s good at some things but really wants to be perfect at something. When she gets frustrated about doing a great job on a school poster project, she screams, and rips up her work. After some tearful trampoline-jumping, Dot takes a deep breath and begins again.

Learning to manage big feelings is a huge part of growing up. And if a kid is a perfectionist, it takes learning how to know when you’ve done the best you can. In this case, Dot learns to accept herself when she sees how her friend Sam’s poster turned out: it’s a picture of her, Dot, and it’s not perfect. Then Dot can see that her picture of Sam is perfect in its imperfection. I really like how the author lets the charming colored pencil illustrations do a lot of the storytelling, leaving the text brief to be a perfect complement. I also appreciate how Dot was able to calm herself down, using exercise and nature to clear her head. This a great book to help little ones learn to accept themselves, especially if they are the youngest and are prone to comparing themselves with the rest of the family.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

While Dot recognizes she is good at many different things, she strives for perfection. When the class is assigned to make a poster of someone they admire, she wants hers to be perfect. Things don't go as planned, but sometimes imperfections can spark creativity and a new way of thinking.

A great story about perfectionism, frustration, and perseverance. Shows ways of calming down when you're angry such as taking deep breaths, doing something active, and stepping away from the task for a bit.

I really liked that the story also works in perceptions of others and thinking everyone else always gets things right. Dot admires those she thinks are perfect, but along the way sees that they can make mistakes too. Also loved the value placed on effort, practice, and doing your best (even if the result isn't perfect).

The artwork is adorable. Great visual representations of different emotions.

Such a wonderful read with a perfect resolution.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual the talented Hyewon Yum has illustrated this story with beautiful colors, as well as plenty of white space , and the expressions on the young girl, Dot, are spot on as Dot Dot strives to be perfect at her endeavors and many times we see angry, crying faces as Dot does not always succeed with her endeavors. The author, Maya Myers has given us a story about wanting to be perfect and the setting seems to be preschool or the early elementary years.
But all turns out well.
My personal philosophy feels that society in general puts too much emphasis on perfection and comparing ourselves to others. We are imperfect creatures and the best we can do is to attempt our best efforts at any point in time. And isn’t being a child and young person about trying many activities to find our talents and passions?
This title brings too much emphasis on perfection for me.

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dot will be highly relatable for the kids who just want to do everything perfectly as she tries and fails over and over. I was very worried this would have one big teaching moment at the end, but thankfully it maintains the same easy tone until the end. I loved the illustrations in this one, the sweet friendship between Dot and Sam, and the realistic depiction of the emotional overwhelm that can often befall perfectionistic kids. My only quibble is the sudden increase in the amount of on-page text halfway through the story. Otherwise, this is a great addition to any picture book collection about emotions.

[Anne S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not perfect. I loved this book. It's a great book to read if you (or your child) is having a hard time doing something. This book is about a little girl who sees everyone around her as perfect and herself being not so perfect. She has a big project coming up and she wants it to be perfect but it's not.

She continues working on the project and finally comes the day she gets to present it. Her best friend, also has a project that he has to share with the class. In the end, she finds out that what she thought was a shortcoming was not and her friend liked her in spite of her not being perfect.

great book to share with your children!

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute sequel to Not Little where Dot thoroughly realizes and tells us that she isn't perfect at anything, but she realizes that maybe that's okay. Learning that a friend admires her, "...she is brave, she is funny, and she never, ever stops trying," definitely helps her accept that being imperfect is alright after all.

Random side note: I absolutely love the line, "I do a little bounce of happiness." So cute!

I think this could work well in a preschool or lower elementary school storytime.

[Kirsten Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dot's family members are each perfect at karate, music, or art, but Dot feels she's only "good" at many things, not perfect at anything. When her class is tasked with drawing someone they admire, Dot immediately chooses her best friend, Sam. Despite countless attempts, she can't get the drawing just right and ends up frustratingly tearing them all up. In the end, Dot learns a valuable lesson: making mistakes and trying your best is what truly matters. This heartwarming story, paired with stunning colored pencil illustrations, delivers an important message in a beautiful way.

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I'm sorry, but this book IS perfect, even if the protagonist laments that she is not. Dot has high standards and is very self critical. Instead of framing things in how she might improve or what her strengths are, she is disgusted that she isn't perfect. This is a valuable, authentic and relatable story of what is more important than being perfect, and the value of your friends and family along the way to help your perspective.

[Emily Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Perfect by Maya Myers, illustrated by Hyewon Yum, is a gentle and honest picture book that reassures young readers that it's okay to make mistakes. With warm, relatable text and expressive illustrations, it captures the everyday ups and downs of childhood and celebrates the beauty of imperfection. This story encourages self-acceptance and resilience, making it a thoughtful read for classrooms and families alike.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a girl trying different activities and even though she is not perfect she loves trying. She watches her family members as they look perfect at spelling, art, tae kwon do, music, and baking. She makes comparisons to family, tries hard, and has imperfect results. But she is admired for trying and doing something her way.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read the to my daughter for another “no one is perfect” you’re amazing the way you are type of book. The artwork is the book was adorable. The message was so cute and I loved the ending. I hope my daughter got the message that anything you do will be great because you’re doing it. Just try your best.
We would recommend this book to everyone.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up because my son definitely suffered from the same frustration at no being perfect. (He didn't want to turn in his homework if he hadn't fully completed it...)

A girl is frustrated by not being perfect at something like the rest of her family and her best friend. However, a school assignment lets her see what her friend likes about her.

[Reita Pendry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for the children's room at my church. The first two people to read it were adults. They loved it! I know the children will too. The story is warm and gentle. The illustrations are so lovely. Great addition to a child's library.

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dot is frustrated because nothing she ever does is perfect. I liked the different examples that were shown. She wants to show her best friend, Sam how much she admires him, but things don't come out the way she would like.

#SocialEmotionaLearning

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dot struggles to be perfect at something. Everyone she knows is perfect in some area but she struggles to find something she is perfect at. When a class project does not go well, she learns that others struggle too.

[Presley Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a warm and honest story about a young girl who has a tough day when things don’t go quite right. She spills, forgets, and messes up—but learns that it’s okay to make mistakes and that being perfect isn’t the goal.

[Libby Burak · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book interesting, it talks about how Dot (main character) is not perfect at anything but she thinks that everyone around her is perfect at something. However, I think that this book could give the impression that everyone is perfect at something when no one is perfect at anything.

[Bree Sotirovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for those who struggle with doing things right even though no one is perfect. The illustrations are great and the story really pulls at the heart. Very good read aloud book.

[Nathaniel Grieci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great message for all ages!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dot deserves a series, and I'm so glad there's another story about her out in the world. Dot may not be perfect, but she's a lovable and adorable character!

[Patricia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story.

[Liz Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect.

[Y.Poston]

such a beautiful weaving of art, friendship & emotions

[Bekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her name is Dot and she wears polka dots, which to me is perfect.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dot learns that not perfect is just the kind of perfect you need sometimes.

[asanelder · Rating 4 out of 5]

有启发性

[Ossy Firstan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manis sekaliiii dan lucu dan menggemaskan. Wuwuw