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The Perfect Seat
This child and their parent are almost ready for story time--but first, they must find the perfect seat! This picture book takes readers through various opposites ("Too rough! Too slippery!") as the characters search for just the right spot.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 2019
About the author
Minh Lê
23 books219 followersMinh Lê is the author of Drawn Together illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat and Let Me Finish! (named an NPR Best Book of 2016) illustrated by Isabel Roxas (both published by Disney-Hyperion). He is also writing Green Lantern: Legacy, a graphic novel (illustrated by Andie Tong) for the new DC Comics middle grade imprint, DC Zoom. As a member of the kidlit consortium The Niblings, he writes about children's literature at Bottom Shelf Books and for a variety of publications, including the New York Times, The Horn Book, and HuffPost.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
November 26, 2019
This was such a cute book! It makes me think about me reading to my daughter. I'll have a full review of this up tomorrow!
February 15, 2021
THIS MADE ME SNORT LMAO
December 24, 2019
Short, sweet and super cute! The Perfect Seat would appeal, I think, to both of my nephews – one is 4 1/2 and the other is 2. The brevity of each page’s text is ideal for squirmy kiddos with a small attention span; but the adorable & whimsical illustrations elevate the text even further to hold the attention of slightly older siblings and parents. Charming book! Would be a great Christmas gift for pre-K – Kindergarten age children.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
May 27, 2021
Rounding up because I love a book that uses the endpapers and starts the story before the title page.
Kids will love feeling smarter than the two moose; there are perfectly wonderful seats all around; just grab one and enjoy! Of course, exploring one's community is also a cool way to spend an afternoon....
Only one thing... the adult looks more like a grandparent than a parent, to me. And that's a good thing. Grandparents of small children are seldom as decrepit and boring as portrayed in so many picture-books.
I need more by the author.
Kids will love feeling smarter than the two moose; there are perfectly wonderful seats all around; just grab one and enjoy! Of course, exploring one's community is also a cool way to spend an afternoon....
Only one thing... the adult looks more like a grandparent than a parent, to me. And that's a good thing. Grandparents of small children are seldom as decrepit and boring as portrayed in so many picture-books.
I need more by the author.
September 8, 2019
Super cute!! Few words, but sweet message for a beginning of the school year read aloud. All about finding that perfect spot for reading. Subtle themes of perseverance and not giving up on a deeper read. Love seeing a dad and his kid trying to find just the right spot to sit and read together. Much to see on the endpaper maps, and I love when a picture book story starts before the title page.
August 11, 2020
A celebration of lap-sit!
I loved how this book showed the joy of sharing a book by sitting on a loved one's lap. It reminded me of a cool catchphrase from a few years back..."There is no app to replace your lap."
I loved how this book showed the joy of sharing a book by sitting on a loved one's lap. It reminded me of a cool catchphrase from a few years back..."There is no app to replace your lap."
December 12, 2019
A parent and child search for the perfect seat to use for their story time reading. Together they look all over, but meets with disappointment at every selection, and when they are just about to give up, they find the perfect seat.
December 31, 2019
Expressive illustrations and sparse text make this the perfect read aloud! A father and son try to find the perfect seat to read a book together. Sweet story and great for kids who don't want to sit for long!
February 11, 2020
How I love this book, not least for Gus Gordon's simple, lively, and clever illustrations. The quest for the perfect spot to read together has tenderness, humor, rising action, and perfection at the end.
February 3, 2020
Note: I received an F&G of this book from the publisher at ALA Annual 2019.
July 15, 2019
Sigh. As always, a gem from Minh Le.
December 21, 2019
I rounded down because I am more of the view that reading can be done everywhere instead of looking for the perfect spot.
February 8, 2020
Trying to find the perfect seat to read ends up not being as hard as one thinks.
October 11, 2021
This is just lovely. You really do need to find the right seat for reading books. Super cute!
August 15, 2020
k-2 (maybe preK)
Very sweet, simple book to talk about where you like to read best. Maybe for PST if in person and with older preschoolers? It doesn't have as much action.
Very sweet, simple book to talk about where you like to read best. Maybe for PST if in person and with older preschoolers? It doesn't have as much action.
November 28, 2021
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
The Perfect Seat was a really sweet book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading with my monsters. They're always fighting over who gets to sit in my lap, since everyone's too big now to comfortably share the space (my lap and the chair). I've tried reading to them individually, but all three of them want to listen as soon as there's a book in my hand. Life problems, right? Haha! I'm not going to complain about this one though.
I thought the story was simple, yet effective. It conveys a sense of playfulness when viewed from the child's perspective, while also showing an adult's frustration when circumstances are not exactly right. We see the child in this book being flexible -- too flexible at times -- and how they were less defeated by the perceived failures.
The illustrations were very unique and eye-catching! I liked how some of the book was in color, while other aspects were just stencils and outlines. There were also images that looked like they'd been cut out and then pasted onto the pages, which was distracting in the best way. All of this added a depth to the pictures that really enhanced the overall story.
I highly recommend The Perfect Seat, and already know a few nieces and nephews that will be getting this as a gift next month! Side note: I was supposed to review this book on the 8th, but there were distribution issues that caused a delay.
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The Perfect Seat was a really sweet book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading with my monsters. They're always fighting over who gets to sit in my lap, since everyone's too big now to comfortably share the space (my lap and the chair). I've tried reading to them individually, but all three of them want to listen as soon as there's a book in my hand. Life problems, right? Haha! I'm not going to complain about this one though.
I thought the story was simple, yet effective. It conveys a sense of playfulness when viewed from the child's perspective, while also showing an adult's frustration when circumstances are not exactly right. We see the child in this book being flexible -- too flexible at times -- and how they were less defeated by the perceived failures.
The illustrations were very unique and eye-catching! I liked how some of the book was in color, while other aspects were just stencils and outlines. There were also images that looked like they'd been cut out and then pasted onto the pages, which was distracting in the best way. All of this added a depth to the pictures that really enhanced the overall story.
I highly recommend The Perfect Seat, and already know a few nieces and nephews that will be getting this as a gift next month! Side note: I was supposed to review this book on the 8th, but there were distribution issues that caused a delay.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin' | Amazon | Pinterest
August 4, 2020
Absolutely adorable. Two friends set out to find "the perfect seat" to read a book together.
July 28, 2020
Of course reading requires finding the perfect place to do it!
February 26, 2020
After Big and Little Moose purchase a book, they walk around the city trying to find the perfect place to read it together. Emphasizing opposite concepts like tall/short and thin/wide this cleverly conceived picture book will be a fun read together book for any big and little pair. The water color, pencils, crayon and collage illustrations are charming and the end page maps will help you see their journey around the city from a different perspective than the linear story line. When they finally find “the” place to read their beloved purchase, readers will breathe a sigh of relief. I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
February 14, 2020
Upon leaving a bookshop, a young moose asks his dad if he'll read his new book to him. His response - of course! But first they have to find the perfect spot to sit. A bicycle? Too rough. A subway? Too crowded. What about a tree? Too tall. The duo tests out tons of spots, but none of them are perfect...until the dad plops down in the grass and creates the best seat of all. This is a cute read aloud for younger grades when teaching about reading habits and/or adjectives. Adults will see the resolution coming from a mile away, but that doesn't detract from the delightful story. The hand-lettered text and mixed media illustrations add to the book's charm.
November 29, 2019
This cute picture book shares the experience of a parent and child looking all around for the perfect spot to read a book together. All of the places they find are either too big, too small, too, old or too new. There’s lots of fun to have with this book - kids could establish criteria for their own perfect reading spot and draw a picture of it. It could also be used to talk about antonyms, as many of the potential reading spots have opposite attributes. It could also be used to discuss the usage of the adverb “too”.
December 9, 2019
Loved it more for the adorable illustrations (keep an eye out for the added in elements--funny!) and a plus for the map, than for the story itself which starts immediately. Yes, I am a sucker for books about parents reading to their children. Yes, this uses great adjectives. Yes, it isn't quite too long. Yes, it has a sweet ending. And yet...something just didn't quite click for me to nudge it up to 5 stars. Honestly, it only received the 4 stars based on the strength of the illustrations, otherwise it would have been a solid 3 stars for me.
February 18, 2020
Ah, the power of reading a book together. Such a great and simple story of reading a story with your child. Reminds me of the concept, "There's no app to replace the lap."
Moose and child moose want to read a book together so they look for The Perfect Seat. This book would make a great second short book in a storytime focusing on print motivation or vocabulary. Everything is opposites when finding the perfect place to read together.
"Too old. Too new... Too thin. Too wide... Too funky. Too boring." Cute, simple, and fun. Great book for toddlers and up.
Fun read!
Moose and child moose want to read a book together so they look for The Perfect Seat. This book would make a great second short book in a storytime focusing on print motivation or vocabulary. Everything is opposites when finding the perfect place to read together.
"Too old. Too new... Too thin. Too wide... Too funky. Too boring." Cute, simple, and fun. Great book for toddlers and up.
Fun read!
February 26, 2020
The Perfect Seat by Minh Le, illustrated by Gus Gordon. Disney, 2019. $17. 9781368020046
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
A young moose and its parent have bought a book, but now they need to search the entire city for the perfect place to enjoy it together.
Their antics as they search high and low for their spot make for a fun opposites study. Of course you should read this while seated in YOUR favorite spot.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
A young moose and its parent have bought a book, but now they need to search the entire city for the perfect place to enjoy it together.
Their antics as they search high and low for their spot make for a fun opposites study. Of course you should read this while seated in YOUR favorite spot.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
January 8, 2020
I'm not normally in to books that don't fit the traditional story book picture book type genre, so when there's just a word or two per page I normally find myself feeling meh about them but this one had such a cute ending it makes the whole book work and the story is easy to see even for those of us who prefer clear stories and don't do as well with the "wordless" or super minimal word books.
January 15, 2020
A moose parent and child search all over town for the perfect seat for the two of them to share while reading a book. Lots of opposites (old/new, tall/short, thin/wide) and some seats that don't really have an opposite but are still wrong.....
Fun to pair with Goldilocks and the Three Bears with the too soft/too hard/just right, too hot/too cold/just right, etc.
Fun to pair with Goldilocks and the Three Bears with the too soft/too hard/just right, too hot/too cold/just right, etc.
March 10, 2023
A book of opposites and about wanting parental perfection but enjoying time spent with children, especially when reading. I also love the short sentences which make it easy for children to follow and learn.
February 8, 2020
A father and son look for the perfect place to read their new book - and the perfect one is very logical! The background of the illustrations have some interesting things going on. Pair it with The Best Place to Read.
February 14, 2020
A pair of moose, father and son, go looking for the perfect spot to sit and read a book together. Their quest takes them all over the city. Simple text, cute pictures. A great pick for toddler storytime.
October 5, 2021
It's not so much a story as a celebration of reading. A great book to use in a discussion with young students about their favorite place to get cosy and read. Track and follow the characters' search for the perfect spot using the map on the endpapers. Very clever!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews