Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party

by Anne Wynter, Shirley Hottier (Illustrator)

All Patrick wants for his birthday is a perfect FOOD party.
But why did Karter arrive dressed as a FOOT?
Patrick learns a valuable lesson in patience, embracing chaos, and most of all that family isn't perfect.

Patrick likes everything to be just-so, which is why he likes to cook. The meals he makes are always "exquisite," "delicious," and "absolutely perfect." So when his birthday rolls around, Patrick knows exactly what he wants to do. However, Patrick's big brother, Russ, is not perfect. When Russ makes a mistake on Patrick's party invitation, Patrick thinks his birthday is ruined. But is it?

Readers will delight in this warm celebration of self-expression, acceptance, and brotherly love.

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 11, 2024

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

This will teach you to proofread (hopefully)!

[Mr. Lowton · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 Picture Book. American Author. British Illustrator.

Patrick is a perfectionist planning the perfect party. But when his brother makes a typo on the birthday invitation, things get wild.

What I liked: This book is so funny, and the illustrations are perfect. I loved it!

What I didn't like: The ridiculous three-star reviews for this book. How do readers not see how "perfect" this book is?!

Overall, I'm getting this for every library!

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Patrick! Birthday disappointment is real. Readers will adore this hilarious story - Patrick's high expectations is at odds with invitation snafus, resulting in relatable frustration! With Anne Wynter's brilliant storytelling and Shirley Hottier's adorable illustrations, PATRICK AND THE NOT SO PERFECT PARTY is the *perfect* read-aloud (especially the week before a birthday)!

[AllyP Reads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would think if someone is such a perfectionist they would proofread their invitations. I also wasn't sure how many people would really put together such elaborate costumes. But this is a good book about dealing with unexpected situations and teaching kids how to roll with the punches when things don't quite go right.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick is a Virgo. And as a fellow Virgo, I appreciated the need for perfection. This was fun and and Shirley Hottier did a wonderful job capturing all of the party mishaps. Anne Wynter never disappoints!

[Morgan Joyner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick is a perfectionist and really struggles when a typo results in his party not going the way he planned. We get to spend some pages on Patrick's disappointment the first time around, but I wish we spent a little more time on how he grows out of it when things go sideways again.

[Rae the Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely adorable! I love that it teaches a lesson on moving forward despite mistakes and enjoying the silly moments of life. The illustrations were wonderful!

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining reminder that it’s ok when things don’t go as planned.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

One star off for the standard computer art where everyone looks alike save for hair and skin color. Pity, because it's funny and relatable.

[Megan]

This is adorable.

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick is a perfectionist. Sometimes Things Happen. Eventually, Patrick learns to roll with it. And the value of proofreading. Utterly delightful.

[Heather Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming and funny look at one perfectionist kiddo trying to have the perfect party. Patrick must deal with disappointment and managing expectations. The illustrations are hilarious and colorful.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party is a new favorite in our house! My 4-year-old daughter loved it so much we’ve read it over and over—and she even brought it to school for show and tell. It’s funny, relatable, and just the right kind of silly for her age—she laughed out loud at the word mix-ups every time!

As a parent, I appreciated how the story gently teaches that it’s okay when things don’t go exactly as planned. The book does a great job showing the steps of planning and cooking for a party, including how delegating can sometimes go hilariously wrong—and that’s part of the fun. A warm, charming story with great pacing and age-appropriate humor. Highly recommend for preschoolers and early readers!