What do you think?
Rate this book
Perfect
Perfect is a story of anticipation, disappointment, acceptance, and, ultimately, love. Suffused with natural imagery, Perfect is an ideal way to open up the subject of disability with children, as well as being a great story in its own right. This beautifully illustrated, truly remarkable book is guaranteed to bring a lump to the throat.
36 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Davies
173 books185 followers"I was very small when I saw my first dolphin," says zoologist Nicola Davies, recalling a seminal visit with her father to a dolphin show at the zoo. Enchanted at the sight of what she called the "big fish" jumping so high and swimming so fast, she determined right then that she would meet the amazing creatures again "in the wild, where they belonged." And indeed she did--as part of a pair of scientific expeditions, one to Newfoundland at the age of eighteen and another to the Indian Ocean a year later. In WILD ABOUT DOLPHINS, Nicola Davies describes her voyages in a firsthand account filled with fascinating facts and captivating photographs of seven species of dolphins in action.
Nicola Davies's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for studying animals of all kinds has led her around the world--and fortunately for young readers, she is just as excited about sharing her interests through picture books. The zoologist's latest offering puts a decidedly quirky twist on her years of experience: POOP: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE is a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating world of poop across species. "As a zoologist, you are never far from poop!" the writer explains. "I've baked goose poop in an oven with my dinner, looked at bat poop under the microscope, and had my T-shirt stained pink with blue-whale poop. I was obviously fated to write this book."
The exceptional combination of Nicola Davies's zoological expertise and her first-rate children's writing is apparent in her remarkable catalog of award-winning titles. Her first book with Candlewick Press, BIG BLUE WHALE, was hailed by American Bookseller as an "artfully composed study" offering "language exactly appropriate for four- to seven-year-olds and precisely the right amount of information." In ONE TINY TURTLE, Nicola Davies's clear, compelling narrative follows the life of the rarely seen loggerhead turtle, which swims the oceans for thirty years and for thousands of miles in search of food, only to return, uncannily, to lay her eggs on the very beach where she was born. The author's next book, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, is a tenderly written ode to a much-misunderstood flying mammal, the pipistrelle bat, while SURPRISING SHARKS--winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award--contains unexpected facts about another one of the planet's most infamous animals.
When she is not off on scientific expeditions, Nicola Davies lives in a cottage in Somerset, England, where she is lucky enough to have pipistrelle bats nesting in her roof.
Nicola Davies's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for studying animals of all kinds has led her around the world--and fortunately for young readers, she is just as excited about sharing her interests through picture books. The zoologist's latest offering puts a decidedly quirky twist on her years of experience: POOP: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE is a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating world of poop across species. "As a zoologist, you are never far from poop!" the writer explains. "I've baked goose poop in an oven with my dinner, looked at bat poop under the microscope, and had my T-shirt stained pink with blue-whale poop. I was obviously fated to write this book."
The exceptional combination of Nicola Davies's zoological expertise and her first-rate children's writing is apparent in her remarkable catalog of award-winning titles. Her first book with Candlewick Press, BIG BLUE WHALE, was hailed by American Bookseller as an "artfully composed study" offering "language exactly appropriate for four- to seven-year-olds and precisely the right amount of information." In ONE TINY TURTLE, Nicola Davies's clear, compelling narrative follows the life of the rarely seen loggerhead turtle, which swims the oceans for thirty years and for thousands of miles in search of food, only to return, uncannily, to lay her eggs on the very beach where she was born. The author's next book, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, is a tenderly written ode to a much-misunderstood flying mammal, the pipistrelle bat, while SURPRISING SHARKS--winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award--contains unexpected facts about another one of the planet's most infamous animals.
When she is not off on scientific expeditions, Nicola Davies lives in a cottage in Somerset, England, where she is lucky enough to have pipistrelle bats nesting in her roof.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 23, 2018
This is a powerful book about disability and Davies covers the subject with sensitivity, however, I struggled to connect to the characters and found that it lacked the warmth needed to immerse the reader into the story. The narrative voice was disconnected and, although the illustrations were beautifully done, they were quite mature and heightened the book's serious tone. The issue the book explores is, of course, serious but I think that children would struggle to connect with this book unless led by an adult. In this sense, it would be a good book to use for a Book Talk session, as the teacher would be able to guide and lead the discussion, allowing the children to explore their feelings and reactions in a controlled environment.
March 16, 2019
I really like the use of colour in this book. It shows the changes in emotions and mood as the story progresses; the dark colours when he's talking about his sister and then colourful sky and scenery when he realises he will still be able to run around and enjoy life with her.
September 30, 2019
“I couldn’t love my sister, no matter how I tried”
The hopes and dreams placed on a sibling can be dashed when it is revealed that the sibling is disabled. Anticipation and fantasies of the future turn to frustration, depression and feelings of isolation. In Perfect, Davies explores a topic often hidden from children, and in doing so gives them the opportunity to empathise, reject and battle with the emotional fallout which comes with having a disabled member in the family.
As a picture book, it suites being read aloud so that an adult can be on hand to act as a mediator as the children first encounter this difficult topic. The artwork is very clever is expressing the emotions of the leader character/ narrator, a young boy and brother to the disabled baby. Beautiful vivid colours to depict hope, and dark, cold colours with blurring lines to represent depression.
The artwork provides a visual gateway for children who may also be expressing these emotions; they may not be able to put their feelings into words, but the visual representation of these words would show them that they are not alone. Children are always told to be polite and hold in their sadness, with the book and set activities, they can explore feelings they may have been told to repress or not indulge in.
I would recommend this book for children of 7+ yrs, as the topics may be too distressing for young children.
Opportunities for Science:
learn about the life cycles of swifts and their function in the British ecosystem
conservation issues with swifts
how could we make you home/ school more swift friendly?
Opportunities for English:
discuss the choice in words in the book. Is the boy being overly melodramatic? Can you relate to the way he expresses his feelings. Use of repetition in the word perfect.
Continue the story of the baby and the boy. What happens to them in the future?
Write an observation of the situation as the swift fallen on the ground.
can you put yourself in the situation of the parents, struggling with the birth of a disabled baby and the distress of their older child
Write a letter to the boy about how you would want to help him bond with his sister and be helpful to his parents.
Opportunities for art:
drawing a time in their lives when they felt very strong emotions, using chalk and wet products for blending like the author does
Practice at making origami birds to represent the swifts. Make a display on them, and on each piece the children could write a promise in how they will be kinder, more aware and helpful towards the disbaled people they meet.
Opportunities for PSHE/ Citizenship:
Write down all of your emotions in regards to the story and the characters, do you feel angry, sad, hopeful?
What difficulties to parents and families of disabled people encounter?
What problems do disabled people encounter as they grow up?
What forms of help do they find in their everyday life / world to assist them in their needs?
What can we do, as individuals, to help disabled people that we meet?
October 18, 2019
A heartbreaking yet sensitive story which tells the story of a boy who struggles to accept his new born sister, when she is born with a disability. I'm still not sure if I liked it or not that Davies never explicitly talks about the disability, instead she just writes 'I could see that she would never race or chase. She didn't even scream.' In a way, I think this allows the writing to be more sensitive which is a good thing, however for younger children reading the book, it might not be clear. The language Davies uses is raw and honest, yet beautiful in it's own light. Going hand in hand with this, are the gorgeous and abstract illustrations which use bold brush strokes. Both these elements allow the story of a disabled baby and their older brother to be made very accessible to a younger audience. I can't wait to read more of Davies work.
October 27, 2018
Fantastic book which explores the emotion and imagination of a young boy. The illustrations themselves are perfect using colour and movement to emphasise the words written by Nicola Davies. This book reminds me of a book I loved as a child, as it uses adjectives and verbs frequently to paint a vivid mental picture of the story outside of the illustrations.
January 25, 2021
A lovely story about a little boy who learns the importance of love through nature and applies it to his own life where he has a new baby sister. Many children will struggle with the birth of a new child within the family, feeling pushed aside. This book will help children to understand that by loving their sibling they will feel happier. There is also a strong theme relating to birds and nature.
March 1, 2017
An absolutely "perfect" picture book and a must read for primary aged students.
July 19, 2017
Beautiful pastels, beautiful prose take the reader through a young boy's mind and heart as he faces his disappointment over his new baby sister, who can't immediately run and play with him. He learns about process and helping through the families of swifts that live near him.
Delicate, calm, and perfect.
Delicate, calm, and perfect.
January 1, 2021
A lovely story about a boy understanding the importance of acceptance and love. He realises how the powers of nature is important in all our lives.
November 1, 2019
Perfect is about a young boy's struggle to come to terms with his newly born disabled sister's uncertain future, a cause for anxiety which is exacerbated by his loneliness and desire for her companionship. However, his observation of the swifts nesting nearby, and the assistance which he provides to one seemingly injured fledgling swift, brings him to a realisation concerning his sister and a state of acceptance and optimism regarding her unknown future (the nature of her disability is not disclosed). The author's careful use of particular words and phrases and the repetition of these builds an atmosphere of anxiety, sympathy, and hope, feelings which are conveyed by the illustrations. These full page images, through their use of carefully composed imagery, colour, and mark-making, express the darker and more optimistic aspects of the book's narrative.
As an appreciation of nature, of which we sometimes forget we are a part, this book is a poignant reminder of this aspect of our lives. For children, it will serve to introduce them to the complexities of life, specifically the wonder of new life and the challenges presented by disability or illness, and the role that time may inevitably play in either revealing the full extent of such a condition or, with intervention, in helping to relieve that condition. The book would therefore be suitable for older primary school children to work from in class, its theme being too upsetting for younger children. In the context of an English class, for example, pupils could be asked to write a story detailing what might happen next, or perhaps years into the future when the sibling's relationship and the full extent of the little girl's disability is apparent. Equally, They might write a version of the story from the perspective of the parents, or if being especially imaginative, from the viewpoint of the fledgling swift or its parents. Prior to any such task, a discussion of how, through the repetition of words and phrases, an atmosphere is created would be of value, as would an exploration of the function of the illustrations in this respect. If creating their own story which elaborates upon the narrative in the ways suggested above, pupils might also create, during an art class, illustrations to accompany their story. Finally, the book would provide a good starting point for discussions in PSHE about living with disability, the disabled and society, and the uncertainty that living with ill health, either one's own or that of someone close to us, may bring, and how to deal with these aspects of life.
As an appreciation of nature, of which we sometimes forget we are a part, this book is a poignant reminder of this aspect of our lives. For children, it will serve to introduce them to the complexities of life, specifically the wonder of new life and the challenges presented by disability or illness, and the role that time may inevitably play in either revealing the full extent of such a condition or, with intervention, in helping to relieve that condition. The book would therefore be suitable for older primary school children to work from in class, its theme being too upsetting for younger children. In the context of an English class, for example, pupils could be asked to write a story detailing what might happen next, or perhaps years into the future when the sibling's relationship and the full extent of the little girl's disability is apparent. Equally, They might write a version of the story from the perspective of the parents, or if being especially imaginative, from the viewpoint of the fledgling swift or its parents. Prior to any such task, a discussion of how, through the repetition of words and phrases, an atmosphere is created would be of value, as would an exploration of the function of the illustrations in this respect. If creating their own story which elaborates upon the narrative in the ways suggested above, pupils might also create, during an art class, illustrations to accompany their story. Finally, the book would provide a good starting point for discussions in PSHE about living with disability, the disabled and society, and the uncertainty that living with ill health, either one's own or that of someone close to us, may bring, and how to deal with these aspects of life.
April 9, 2019
I loved so much of Cathy Fisher's artwork in this picturebook story. I loved that the child the blurb on the back says is a boy, could be either (which of course makes the book more accessible if you are wanting to use this book for a particular purpose) Some of the images are stunning - especially the head of the swift and of that especially the eye, which then links so beautifully with the alert eyes of the baby.
But I was not sure what to make of it otherwise. We see the paraphernalia of baby preparation, the big cot in a special attic nursery, freshly painted, the child knows the coming baby is a sister, the parents wave to the child in the attic as they go off in the car.
Then the baby comes home and is put into that too big cot and the child 'could see that she would never race or chase. She didn't even scream and she lay quite still.' (There's no obvious difference) A few months later she's gripping her older sibling's finger and 'just needs a little help' like the grounded young swift with crumpled wings just needs to be held out of an upstairs window
I just didn't feel in safe hands with this story. The intentions are well meaning, the look at loss of expectation and how it takes time to adjust worthwhile, but the connection with nature seems largely spurious (however glorious swifts are) and the whole thing just didn't ring true somehow, especially not with the title.
But I was not sure what to make of it otherwise. We see the paraphernalia of baby preparation, the big cot in a special attic nursery, freshly painted, the child knows the coming baby is a sister, the parents wave to the child in the attic as they go off in the car.
Then the baby comes home and is put into that too big cot and the child 'could see that she would never race or chase. She didn't even scream and she lay quite still.' (There's no obvious difference) A few months later she's gripping her older sibling's finger and 'just needs a little help' like the grounded young swift with crumpled wings just needs to be held out of an upstairs window
I just didn't feel in safe hands with this story. The intentions are well meaning, the look at loss of expectation and how it takes time to adjust worthwhile, but the connection with nature seems largely spurious (however glorious swifts are) and the whole thing just didn't ring true somehow, especially not with the title.
October 20, 2017
This story talks about a boy's anticipation for his new siblings arrival and yet once she arrives he is disappointed. However, after he helps a baby swift to fly he has a change of heart. The story does not make the reason for his disappointment clear, meaning that it could be interpreted in different ways. For this reason, it would make it a good book to read to many children who may be struggling with their feelings following the arrival of a new sibling, helping them to feel less alone and overcome their disappointment.
The book has used some beautiful illustrations to help aid the story, particularly in terms of the Swifts, who draw you eye in many of the pictures. The illustrations are so detailed that even older children (who may be reading novels independently) will also be engrossed in the pictures and subsequently the text, due to the levels of detail found with them.
The book has used some beautiful illustrations to help aid the story, particularly in terms of the Swifts, who draw you eye in many of the pictures. The illustrations are so detailed that even older children (who may be reading novels independently) will also be engrossed in the pictures and subsequently the text, due to the levels of detail found with them.
August 16, 2017
I liked this book. I think it leaves a lot of things open ended so that the story can be interpreted and related to from many angles. A little boy is excited about his baby sister but then is disappointed that she can not run and play. It is unclear if that is because she is little or because she has some sort of illness/disability. He then helps a bird that couldn't fly and realizes he loves his sister. The book is beautifully illustrated and an interesting story whether you are looking at it from the accepting of a disability stance or just unhappy with the initial addition of a baby.
September 30, 2018
Overall, an enjoyable heartwarming read with natural imagery and an effective use of colours and texture, which add to the reader's understanding of the characters emotions. It would be great for helping young children understand the realities of getting a new sibling. I can see how it would also be good for opening up conversations about disability, however, for some young children, I think this could have been better done separately from the conversation of bringing home a new baby.
September 30, 2018
This is another book that Nicola Davies rad during her keynote address at Reading Rocks South and I cannot believe that I hadn't come across this book before. It follows a little boy and his struggle to reconcile himself with his little sister being born with a disability. Books like this should be in every classroom and a part of every child's education!
Sometimes, all people need is a little help and understanding.
Sometimes, all people need is a little help and understanding.
January 30, 2020
This book is about a boy who watches swifts from his house. His baby sister comes along and he refuses to like her so he avoids her. He finds a bird one day that needs help so he offers it help. This makes the boy realise that maybe his sister needs a little help. One day she opened her eyes and curled her fingers around him. At this point he decided he liked her and made a connection. The story ended with him taking her outside to watch the swifts with him.
December 18, 2023
This is quite serious and sad in tone, and I don't know if I have seen a picture book that addresses the topic of a sibling coming to terms with the fact that their new baby sibling is not as expected. In this case, the baby has some sort of unspecified disability, and this honest look at the older child's feelings could be helpful for kids who are trying to figure out what that means for their expectations.
October 6, 2019
A beautiful story about a boy who struggles to relate to his new little sister, but learns to after a special interaction with nature (something he is very in tune with). Profound and beautifully illustrated, this story is a subtle way of opening up the subject of new family members and disability with children. It is lovely. (But then, I haven't met a book by Nicola Davies that wasn't!)
October 8, 2019
This is a very beautiful and powerful book which explores disability and differences and how a young boy struggles to connect with his baby sister because of her disability but eventually realises she is perfect in her own way and all she needs is nurturing and support. The illustrations are lovely and represent the mood and atmosphere of the story throughout.
October 20, 2019
This book is lovely. I think it’s great for siblings coming to terms with having a new born baby in their family. I love Davies work and how she always draws a relationship between nature and humans.
May 9, 2017
The artwork is simply amazing.
June 29, 2017
Beautiful story about a young boy coming to terms with his baby sister's illness/disability with the help of nature. Will be using in conjunction with our whole school Wonder topic.
July 19, 2017
Good book for kids grappling with feelings around a new baby in the family.
October 10, 2017
Perfect with just the poetic splendor of Fisher's gorgeous pictures and none of the noisy distraction of Davies' pretentious words.
May 28, 2018
A beautiful story that reveals the restorative power of nature when life takes an unexpected turn that is difficult to accept.
March 6, 2019
A beautiful book, perfect for an older new sibling who may be struggling with the idea of a new baby.
December 8, 2019
A senstive, deeply felt story about a boy's disappointment and anixety over a newborn sibling's disability.
September 19, 2021
Beautiful illustrations. Cute story about a big brother who has to come to grips with the fact that his baby sister is disabled. After the initial disappointment and repression, he realises that he has a role to play in her life, to help her and make her life easier.
February 8, 2023
Had a dark, depressing feeling to me. Heavy for a children's picture book about a baby sister being born.
February 24, 2025
I did not like this book’s writing style or the explanations in the book that were supposed to add to the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews