Perfectly Imperfect: Children’s Books About Overcoming Perfectionism
by Miranda Rosbach
Writing this roundup as a recovering perfectionist feels a bit daunting. Seeing perfectionist tendencies in my kids (e.g., crumpling up art creations or speaking badly about themselves) means I/we have work to do to root out the insidious toxicity of perfectionism. Where does perfectionism come from? How do we talk to ourselves when we make a mistake? Is there room for error?
We all know perfect doesn’t exist, but like trained lab rats, we can’t help falling for the glamorous illusion. Let’s start by saying, “Perfect is boring” and “Practice makes better, not perfect.”
Failing is the true teacher, so let’s celebrate it more! No one bakes a perfect cake on the first try or learns to fly a plane after one lesson. We are creatures of practice, creation, and growth. Let’s continually remind kids that life is messy and wildly imperfect. If you need an extra nudge, these books are ideal for embracing imperfection.
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The Book of Mistakes
Available from:An artist paints a girl and gets one eye too big. The next eye is even bigger. Adding glasses around the eyes turns the mistake into something unique. A too-long neck becomes sophisticated with a bit of lace. The girl appears to be jumping too high off the ground, so the artist adds roller skates to the girl’s feet. With each mistake, the girl becomes who she was meant to be. This is a truly modern classic with a timeless message.
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Programmed to Paint
Available from:Pintro, the robot, is programmed for perfection. He excels at gardening, baking, and math — especially math. However, when Pintro paints, his painting is too perfect. It looks like an exact replica of the cat. That’s not what Pintro wanted. Determined to imperfect his art technique, he joins an art club to practice. After experimenting with textures and shapes, he learns that imperfection in art (and life) comes from the heart.
RELATED: Books That Help Kids Know and Love Themselves
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The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons
Available from:Violet’s Dad gives her a box of 84 perfect, never-used crayons. She organizes the colors by shade and from light to dark. Marigold, Violet’s sister, wonders why she isn’t using them. Violet insists they are too pretty and decides to save them for another day. Days pass, and still, the crayons sit. Meanwhile, Marigold uses the old, flat, uninspiring crayons until curiosity gets the better of her, and she uses Violet’s brand-new crayons. Readers will love this vibrant book!
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Not Perfect
Available from:Dot longs to be perfect at something but falls short at everything she tries. Meanwhile, Dot’s friend Sam gets everything right. His cubby is tidy, his handwriting neat, and he always knows the correct answer. When the class is assigned to make a picture of a person they admire, Dot works furiously to create a picture of Sam. Frustration mounts as she spirals into a not-perfect storm. After some trampoline jumping, tears, and deep breaths, Dot begins anew. At sharing time, Dot and Sam end up sharing portraits of each other, neither of which is perfect. This standout picture book is a must-read!
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Leila, the Perfect Witch
Available from:Leila won numerous trophies for her flying, conjuring, and shape-shifting abilities. This year, she wants to enter the baking competition, which she expects to win. After research, hard work, and experimenting, Leila’s cake is … a disaster! However, with her sisters’ help, Leila makes a cake worthy of the competition and learns that having fun and eating cake can be better than winning.
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Everything Will Be OK
Available from:Little bunny gets a lunch he doesn’t want and stubs his toe. Ouch! But the pain subsides after a minute. When a kite gets lost outside, he finds another game to play. When little bunny feels sad or scared, he knows he can be brave and strong, and everything will be okay. Days have ups and downs — that’s the way it goes. Hug yourself and know that everything will be alright. This sweet rhyming book is ideal for young kids.
RELATED: You Can Do It! Children’s Books That Promote a Growth Mindset
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Most Perfect You
Available from:When Irie’s self-esteem takes a hit, her mom shows her how perfect she is. When Irie’s mom was pregnant, she wished for a baby with magnificent skin, spectacular hair, sparkling eyes, and a kissable nose. Finally, she wanted a child with a big heart. When Irie was born, she was everything her mother wished for. This gorgeous celebration of Black girl joy is a standout amongst mother-daughter stories.
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Nobody's Perfect
Available from:“Nobody’s Perfect. That’s what everybody says. And I guess they’re right.” A young boy notices his family's loveable imperfections in this spirited picture book. Even when he cleans his room, it’s still messy afterward. Sometimes, messes help him create. And the imperfect traits of his family and friends often make life happy and fun, making it all worthwhile. This joyful book is ideal for flipping the script on what it means to be perfect.
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Pete Makes a Mistake
Available from:Rose asks her brother Pete to deliver the invitations for a party. He delivers the first two but gets distracted by his friends playing baseball and forgets to deliver the third invitation. Meanwhile, Rose gets balloons, cake, and decorations ready. Two friends arrive, but one is missing. Pete acknowledges his mistake. At last, when everyone arrives, they celebrate with cake — and even Pete gets a piece.
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Imperfectly Perfect
Available from:Maria accidentally rips the pages of her brother Robbie’s favorite book. Her heart crumbles when Robbie gets upset. Ms. Bea, a family friend, comforts Maria by showing her a beautiful, cracked blue bowl mended with gold (called Kintsugi in Japanese). Maria and Ms. Bea walk through the neighborhood together, looking for imperfectly perfect things. Like a dandelion sprouting from the broken pavement or the lines and scars on their bodies. Back home, Maria mends the book with golden tape so that she and Robbie can read it together.
RELATED: Books To Help Kids Handle All Kinds of Uncomfortable Emotions
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Gaga Mistake Day
Available from:When Gaga (grandma) comes over, she makes lots of mistakes. For instance, she can’t get the cats’ names right, and plays Connect Four by making patterns. She walks backward or only on the cracks while walking to the park. Lunch is a smattering of different foods doled out in specific quantities. She adds too many bubbles during bathtime and reads a book upside down. Gaga makes a million mistakes, each one sillier than the last. This is easily one of our favorite books published in 2024!
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