Nobody Is Perfick

by Bernard Waber

Eight brief episodes show that even best friends and sunny days can have shortcomings.

Genres: Childrens, Humor, Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Juvenile

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Bernard Waber was the youngest in a creative family. At age 8, he ushered in a movie theater after school, so he often saw only the last ten minutes of a movie. He made a game of inventing beginnings and middles. When he returned from a tour of duty in World War II, he entered the Philadelphia College of Art. With a diploma and a new wife, he traveled to New York City, where he began working for the Condé Nast magazines as an illustrator. Reading books to his three children inspired him to apply his pen and ink and watercolor style to his own picture books. His first book, Lorenzo, was built in 1961. Today, his characters are some of the most beloved in the library. He and his wife, Ethel, live on Long Island.

Reviews

[Brigid ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh wow apparently nobody's read this! that's sad. this is like totally the book of my childhood. it's HILARIOUS. luv it. ;D

[Elena Lyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child. I still like to read it when I'm feeling nostalgic.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that the word "yilk!" is used more than once. The illustrations have some of the charm of Sendak's work with Ruth Krauss.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waber, Bernard Nobody Is Perfick. 144 pgs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. $9.99. Language: G; Violence: G; Mature content: G. REPRINT

This graphic novel/short story hybrid is hard to classify. The book is made up of a series of short humorous vignettes that all end with some sort of punchline. The stories are told in pencil drawings and speech bubbles, and have no real point beyond making the reader smile. I spent the first half of the book trying to figure out what this whole thing was about, and the second half trying to decide if I liked it. As an adult, I feel like the book is a waste of time but I think elementary age readers might enjoy the short stories of jokes and pictures. Its overall an okay book, but not one that readers are likely going to love.

EL (K-3), EL--OPTIONAL. Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how kids today would appreciate the art, as it references roller skates, rain hats, etc. But the stories are timeless. I wish I'd read it when I was little, but it was probably shelved with picture-books and I was just a bit too old. Try it on your kids now; openlibrary.org has archived a copy.

[Jackie Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an adult I did not enjoy the book at all. It had very little substance and little to no character development. I am looking for graphic novels which my struggling readers can read an entire book and feel successful. I will see what they think.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noel loved this book and said I had to read it. It’s a great little book of funny comics. I really like the illustrations.

[Farah Mohd Noor · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun book to read, entertaining and contain a very deep meaning of one who can't be perfect

Yes it is simply because nobody is perfect

[Alice Kuhn · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the creator of Lyle the Crocodile comes an hilarious collection of stories, told in a comic-book style format. Each uproarious story deals with a different scenario of every day life that all children encounter at home, in school and at play. Good book for reluctant readers.

[Susan Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This classic silly illustrated book originally published in 1971, has been reissued for a whole new crop of readers. Made up of 8 chapters, each story deals with a situation that today's kids will relate to just as much as the original 1970s's readers did: one girl tricking another into letting her read her diary, the frustrating concept of telling a friend about a hilarious dream, and having a super cool new raincoat, boots, hat and umbrella -and no rain to use them in. Readers of all ages will enjoy this fun precursor to the Wimpy Kid books.

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not the target market. That said, this was terrific. I think I first read it as a tween (not that we called ourselves that then), and since have read it to younger children, and both they and I really enjoyed it. It's actually funny, and it's insightful, and it's smart, and the illustrations are a perfick fit for it.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).

[Abby Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this little gem buried in the stacks... It's a little dated (or you might call it "classic"), but it's funny and cartoony and just might fit the bill for your Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans! Vignettes tell humorous stories that kids will relate to, like being compared to someone else's perfect child or daydreaming while doing math homework. It's a quick, easy read with little text on each page. The illustrations are reminiscent of William Steig and Charles Schultz.

[Carol Mccoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't read too many graphic novels because I am allergic to the ink they use to print them. However, every now and then, I will find one that does use the heavy-inked graphics. This book was a very simple read with silly juvenile humor (nothing inappropriate - just silly). It reads more like a newspaper comic strip than the graphic novels most of the older juvenile kids are use to.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perfectionism and traumatic brain injuries combine poorly at best.

Waber's short stories, I think, help even those top of their fields remember that it is true, Nobody Is Perfick.

(This was one of the books that made me cry over squandered potential.)

[Sarah Salem · Rating 5 out of 5]

signed by Mr. Bernard Waber himself:

"To Sarah Salem
(alligator drawing)
Who is perfect!

Love,

Bernard Waber"

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a kid and got a big kick out of it. I still like to read it when I need a tongue-in-cheek, quick reminder not to take myself so seriously. Fun story and cute drawings.

[Rap]

I read this as a child and I still remember it. I'd love to reread.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid. I found my old copy and gave it to my children who go around quoting it. They like it almost as much as I did.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

For grades 1-5 with humorous sketch-like illustrations. The book has a graphic feel with speech bubbles and the text is all dialogue. The stories could be used as conversation starters regarding behaviors and life lessons. I am interested in showing it to my second grader to see how she likes it. I'm worried it might be a bit dated. The child logic and laughter depicted can't help but make you smile.

[Gabrielle Neufeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a really good book for students with a short attention span. Each mini story is only a few pages long. I liked the silly nature of all the stories. I gave this book 4 stars because

Grade Equivalent: 3.1
Lexile: 280L