Perfectly Imperfect Mira

Text and image work in fluid harmony in this sensitive picture book about overcoming perfectionism. Round, light-brown-skinned Mira—a long black braid trailing down her back—dreams of being good at something, but self-comparison and fear of failure mean that “every time Mira started a new thing, she gave up.” With poignancy, Pray’s flowing blue-gray tinted watercolor and pencil art shows Mira, clad in a blue leotard, departing a gym for a rocky beach, where she ponders rosy-hued visions of her would-be fellow gymnasts’ tumbling successes. Describing her classmates (portrayed with various body types and skin tones) as “mountains,” “rivers,” and “trees,” Mira resolves to stay small: “I will be a stone./ I will be a trickle./ I will be a seed./ Or maybe just a shadow.” Luckily, a longing to “stretch” and “wiggle” soon prompts Mira to attempt some moves on her own, and as the sky brightens with a golden sunset, she discovers that simply trying—and re-trying—a new skill can bring joy and growth that are their own kind of success. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)