Perfectly You

By: Leigh Doest
Illustrated by: Marcin Poludniak
Publisher: Write Way Press
Publication Date: October 11, 2024
ISBN: 9789083446905
Reviewed by: Diana Coyle
Review Date: August 25, 2024

Mom-to-be Flamingo is so excited to be having a baby flamingo very soon in Perfectly You by Leigh Doest. She dutifully sits on her egg day and night counting the time before it hatches. It’s such a special time that flamingos from all around come to see this special egg for themselves. When it finally hatches, Mom and Dad are in for a big surprise. Flo, the baby flamingo, looks nothing like what everyone has imagined her to look like.

Flo is very different looking from all the other graceful and beautiful flamingos. She has eyes that are big and bobbly, her neck is a bit crooked, and her legs are short and chubby. No matter how Flo tries to blend in with the other flamingos, she stands out because she looks so different from the others. Plus, she has no special skills like the others do. Does Flo realize that looking and being different makes her unique and special? Does she ever fit in with the other flamingos?

This reviewer adored this story from cover to cover. The idea that Leigh Doest created Flo to be completely different looking, and made her have no special skills like the other flamingos did, was honestly a breath of fresh air. The story allowed the readers to fall in love with Flo because of her uniqueness from the other flamingos. It teaches children that looking and being different from others is something to be proud of, not something to hide from. Flo was a character that adults and children alike will easily fall in love with because she’s so sweet.

Since Flo was so different, it was a pleasure to see that Doest made Flo use her uniqueness in a positive way by allowing her to help other flamingos with whatever they might need. She learned to be proud of who she was, and in turn took that positive mindset to do great things for the other young flamingos that came to her for assistance. In showing how giving she was of her kindness, children will want to be like Flo and offer kindness to others in need as well.

The illustrations provided by Marcin Poludniak were colorful and very humorous to look at. There were illustrations provided on every page for the readers to enjoy and they pulled the readers further into Flo’s story just by looking at them. They were the perfect accompaniment to telling the author’s story. Readers will easily find themselves smiling at Flo’s silly adventures throughout the pages.

Quill says: Perfectly You by Leigh Doest is one children’s book that you will want to have your children read because it promotes positive thinking and shows that being different and unique makes you special. It comes highly recommended!

For more information on Perfectly You, please visit the author's website at: leighdoest.com

Author Interview