Perfect

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.Yuko Jones was born and raised in Japan and spent much of her childhood drawing and painting. After completing her degrees in English, psychology, and human development, she embarked on her career in early childhood developmental research. While working with children, she realized how picture books can play a crucial role in their development, and she wanted to become part of the positive impact. When she is not illustrating, you will find her testing (and tasting) new baking recipes, savoring short stories and coffee, and practicing yoga. She lives in Western New York with her husband, two sons, a black cat, and two guinea pigs. Visit her online at yukojones.com.

“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 authorPerfect 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