Momo celebrating time to read: Perfect by Danny Parker illustrated by Freya Blackwood

Over the course of one day three children enjoy playing outside (no devices) using their imaginations and finding joy in small activities. By the end of the day, they all tumble into bed to enjoy a story. The premise is simple but these themes in our modern world are profound.

"Some sunshine and something to nibble. Some space with enough room to scribble. An apron and big bowls for mixing. Some glue and some things that need fixing."

I love to think about the text of a book arriving on one page ready for an illustrator to explore, imagine and create. I marvel at the imagination of a talented illustrator like Freya Blackwood. She creates a 'perfect' pace for her story especially with the inclusion of a wordless page.

My favourite illustration shows two cows - they are belted Galloways - my favourites.

Bookseller blurb: On a perfect day, the hours stretch endlessly ahead. Scribbling with chalk, running with kites, digging for shells ... paddling, climbing, dreaming. Hour unfolds upon hour, with reassuring comfort and sleep beckoning at the end. CBCA shortlisted author, Danny Parker captures the simplicity, spontaneity and freedom of an idyllic childhood. Kate Greenaway and multiple CBCA winner Freya Blackwood’s paintings of three children roaming a rolling beachside idyll capture the light—and even the smell and feel—of a perfect summer day.

Parker’s gentle words and Blackwood’s reflective illustrations take the reader back to a free, idyllic childhood that is easy to recapture as the children indulge in simple pleasures like flying a kite, going to the beach or just staring through the window at a stormy sky and letting their imagination run wild. Enjoying it as much as the children is the cat who accompanies them everywhere keeping careful watch and making the most of opportunities to snatch a treat or a cuddle. The Bottom Shelf

I highly recommend Perfect for young readers to slow down, lose themselves in the illustrations and explore the nature of happiness. Reading Time

Children reading it will be impressed with the freedom of the children depicted: allowed to make something in the kitchen even though a bowl is broken, making and flying their kites, climbing the biggest trees and sliding down the large branches, walking along the top of an old stone wall, until at the end of the day they retire back to the house, where more sedentary occupations keep them happily amused until bed time. They read and play, the smaller child wrapping himself in a small blanket and lying on the floor, the older boy snuggling the cat while the girl writes and draws. Read Plus

I wanted to add this book to my own picture book collection because last year I was so lucky to purchase a small post card sized piece of art by Freya Blackwood. IBBY Australia held their second Mini Masterpiece art auction at the end of 2025.

I wrongly assumed this sweet figure came from the book Perfect. My mistake does not matter at all because I am very happy to own a copy of Perfect and I have enjoyed the discovery of some interesting extras in the illustrations. One tiny image that made me laugh was the picture on the wall of the house from another Freya Blackwood book - Maudie and Bear.

Other books illustrated by Freya Blackwood: