SMITH, Lane. A Perfect Day. illus. by Lane Smith. 32p. Roaring Brook. Mar. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781626725362.

PreS-Gr 1 –An enjoyable afternoon is upended by an unexpected visitor in this charming book by the beloved children’s writer and illustrator. It was the perfect day for young Bert, his cat basking in the sunshine, his dog frolicking in a plastic pool, a chickadee enjoying the birdseed—even a squirrel was relishing a corncob. Then a bear lumbers onto the scene and—well, it WAS a perfect day. The simple tale combines the elements of repetition and surprise for a satisfying read that will appeal to young audiences and beginning readers. The gestural illustrations, which have the appearance of paint loosely brushed over a textured surface, expressively capture the mood of each animal. In one image that sums up a spoiled moment, viewers see Bear flailing snow angel–style in the flower bed vacated by Cat—the proverbial uninvited guest who ruined the party. The tale was inspired by a black bear that is a frequent visitor to the artist’s studio; a photo of the mischievous creature helping itself to the contents of a bird feeder appears with the author’s blurb. VERDICT This gently humorous book is sure to circulate well in any picture book collection. A perfect way to introduce the concept of point of view.–Suzanne LaPierre, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

This review was published in the School Library Journal January 2017 issue.