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
Buy 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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Not Perfect
Buy 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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A Not-So-Perfect Start
Buy from:The first week of school is supposed to be perfect, or so Thea thinks. Determined not to make a single mistake, she becomes anxious when an art project goes awry. With help from her teacher and classmates, Thea learns that an imperfect day isn’t a bad day. This sweet story is a great reminder that mistakes can lead to connection, kindness, and even something beautiful.
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Nobody's Perfect
Buy 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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Mao Mao's Perfectly Imperfect Day
Buy from:A perfectionist panda student aims for everything to be, well, perfect — until a free‑spirited newcomer shakes up his routine. As chaos unfolds, he learns that spontaneity, messiness, and mistakes can spark creativity and heartfelt connections. A delightful lesson in accepting imperfection.
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Don't Think of Tigers
Buy from:Whatever you do, don’t think of tigers! Of course, that’s exactly what happens, leaving the narrator to draw one hilariously terrible tiger after another. But as those tigers keep appearing, something surprising happens: the drawings get better. In this playful read-aloud, an illustrator struggles to draw tigers. And, of course, tigers keep appearing! This playful, interactive book reminds kids that being bad at something is often just the first step toward getting good at it.
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Programmed to Paint
Buy 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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Mistaco
Buy from:We all have those days when every little mistake feels like a BIG deal. After Izzy has a truly terrible day, her grandfather helps her turn her mistakes into “mistacos” — tortillas filled with all her mishaps. This hilarious, heartfelt story reminds kids that everyone messes up, and sharing our mistakes can make them feel a whole lot less scary.
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The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons
Buy 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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Leila, the Perfect Witch
Buy 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
Buy 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
Buy 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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Imperfectly Perfect
Buy 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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Bluey: Perfect
Buy from:Bluey is determined to create the perfect Father’s Day card — only to reject every design as flawed. Mum reminds her how Dad and his games aren't perfect either. Inspired, Bluey draws a heartfelt picture of them being tough together. Dad hangs it proudly, declaring it “perfect.”
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Ish
Buy from:Ramon loves to draw until his older brother’s criticism makes him believe his pictures aren’t good enough. Luckily, his little sister helps him see his drawings — and himself — in a new way. I love how this simple story gives kids permission to create without worrying about getting everything “right.” Sometimes a drawing doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to be drawing-ish!
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Editor’s Note: This artile was originally published in 2024 and updated in 2026.