Nobody Is Perfick

Gr 3–5—Waber's classic has been repackaged as a proto "Diary of a Wimpy Kid": the title and chapter headings are presented in a childish, handwritten scrawl printed over a notebook paper background. This is not a novel, a graphic novel, or a hybrid of the two, but a collection of eight illustrated vignettes, all ending with a satisfying punch line. The situations should still ring true for children today: one girl tricks another into letting her read her diary, a boy struggles to remember to sit up straight in school, and a girl tries not to let a daydream interrupt her homework. The volume concludes with the tale of Peter Perfect, who loves brussels sprouts, never makes a mess, and turns out to be a windup doll. The cartoon-style line drawings resemble less-detailed sketches of illustrations in Waber's Lyle, Lyle Crocodile or Ira Sleeps Over. An almost pointillist technique gives the art rough, wavy lines, which adds to the simple, retro look.