Loretta: Ace Pinky Scout

by Keith Graves

She can save the world - but she can't roast a marshmallow!
An hilarious story about a heroic young Scout who is plagued by her desire for perfection.


Loretta is perfect. From knowing the scout manual by heart, to pressing 375 pounds -- to saving the world every Tuesday -- there is nothing Loretta doesn't excel in. She has earned every known merit badge in the universe - except for one -- The Golden Marshmallow Badge. She can't roast a marshmallow to save her life. Overcome by her failure to acheive, Loretta is reminded by her grandmother that even the most perfect people are flawed. With this new-found knowledge, Loretta gains the courage to accept her imperfect self -- and go on saving the world.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Keith Graves for giving us a book that points out that even the most perfect of us are not good at everything and that that's okay. It's the perfect good for those of us who are too hard on ourselves, who struggle with perfectionism.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't recommend this just because Keith Graves is from Austin, I swear!

I didn't even know what my son would make of Loretta's attempt to earn a coveted badge for her Pinky Scout sash (in between saving the world from giant space chickens and whatnot every Thursday). I don't think he knows much, if anything, about Scouting. It may have been the battle with the aforementioned space chicken, or Loretta's conversation with the ghosts of her Pinky Scout foremothers, but something about this recovering perfectionist really tickled him. Just don't make Loretta mad, especially if she's had her oatmeal.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loretta is a perfect scout who lacks one badge to make her sash complete: the Golden Marshmallow Badge. Being perfect runs in Loretta's family and Loretta works hard to be like them, especially like Gran, the most perfect of all. But Loretta shocks the world by failing at achieving her Golden Marshmallow Badge at the Annual Tri-County Marshmallow Trials, Has she now disgraced the Pinky family name with not being perfect after all?

[Natalie Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! I read it over and over when I was about 7 or 8!!! It is funny and inspiring! Read it you will love it I guarantee!

[Sharper1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I like this one for the moral, too. I love the "We're not perfect. Everybody stinks at something" aspect.

Oh, and local author, too.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

my kids and I really enjoyed this book. the illustrations were very good. I think we read it a dozen times while on loan from the school library. I would recommend this book to others.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and a little too close to home. Perfect for your favorite perfectionist.