Pearla and her Unpredictably Perfect Day

March 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Every Sunday, Pearla skips down the block to her dad's bakery to make cookies and cupcakes. She prides herself on their excellent quality and performs each task just so. But one day, she forgets to add baking powder. The cupcakes come out like squares; the round circle cookies, triangles. Pearla feels awful but calms herself by making a plan: she will sell these goods at half-price. The first customers to arrive are a family who love triangles. They adore the "imperfect" cookies, which are "perfect for us." The following shoppers turn up their noses at the cupcakes. Pearla feels embarrassed and sad, but she reminds herself that "I did my best and feel so thankful for the rest." The next customer loves squares and is thrilled by the cupcakes. In the end, Pearla learns that "maybe, just maybe, it's okay to make mistakes." As a picture book, the story is implausible. However, its main purpose is to illustrate cognitive processes to control fear and change behavior. As a tool for handling anxiety and perfectionism, it works well. The somewhat naive cartoon illustrations are a cut above those in other titles in this vein. Pearla's feelings are labeled and color-coded: pink for positive, purple for negative. Discussion questions and an afterword from a psychiatrist are included. VERDICT Most useful as a resource for teachers, counselors, and parents of children who struggle with perfectionism and anxiety.-Suzanne Myers Harold, formerly at Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR

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