Nobody's Perfect: A Story for Children About Perfectionism

Nobody's Perfect: A Story for Children About Perfectionism by Burns, Ellen Flanagan. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781433803796.

Jill walked over and stood next to Sally. She played right before Sally in the recital. "I liked your pieces," Jill said. Sally said, "But I messed up on the second one. It sounded really bad." "Oh, I didnt notice," Jill said. She shrugged, "I made a couple of mistakes too. Its no big deal" Sally thought Jill was just trying to be nice. She couldnt remember Jill every making a mistake when she played. In fact, she made it look so easy all the time. After another sip of punch and a chocolate chip cookie, Sally was ready to leave. She wasnt in a very good mood and most of all she didnt want to face Mrs. Pratt. Sally felt like she had let her down. Sally Sanders is a perfectionist—if can’t she be the best, she feels like a failure. Sally procrastinates, shies away from new things, and constantly compares herself to others, convinced she’s not good enough. With the help of her teachers and mother, Sally learns how to relax and try new things without worrying so much about being the best. She can just be herself, and that is all she needs.