Perfect

Description: "Author Waka T. Brown and artist Yuko Jones join forces for this picture book about a young girl who learns to appreciate life's imperfections when her grandmother teachers her about the Japanese art form kintsugi"--

Brief description:

Waka T. Brown was the first American born in her family. She is a Stanford graduate with a master's degree in secondary education. She's currently an instructor at the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE), authoring curriculum on several international topics and winning the Association for Asian Studies' national Franklin R. Buchanan Prize. She's also been awarded the United States-Japan Foundation and EngageAsia's national 2019 Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award for her groundbreaking endeavors in teaching about US-Japan relations to high school students in Japan and promoting cultural exchange awareness. She lives with her family in Portland, Oregon.

Review Quotes:

"Universal emotions and cultural specifics combine to tell a story whose words and art are a perfect match for each other in their charm and lyricism. What a lovely book." - Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestselling author

Perfect is a tender, charming story sure to resonate with the smallest readers. Alongside Miki, they will discover that what appears dire and chaotic often leads to new and sometimes even better ways of seeing the world. - Eric Rohmann, Caldecott Award-winning medalist of My Friend Rabbit

"Jones' endearingly soft illustrations are endlessly clever and tactful about conveying Brown's sprightly and insightful intergenerational narrative." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The straightforward storytelling and illustration, the portrayal of a strong intergenerational relationship, and the book's antiperfectionist theme make this thought-provoking book a memorable one as well." - Booklist (starred review)

"Brown's poignant, tender prose expertly depicts Miki's emotional ups and downs, enhanced by Jones' sweet yet elegantly composed art, full of light and vivid color. Together, author and illustrator bring to life the quiet dramas of childhood, gently imparting a powerful lesson that will linger with readers. The perfect tale to demonstrate the importance of finding beauty in life's imperfections." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Naturalistic mixed-media spreads by Jones [and] methodical text from Brown conveys growth [and] models how to repair and restore instead of insisting on flawlessness." - Publishers Weekly