PING'S PERFECT POT

A young Chinese girl discovers the beauty of imperfection during a Lunar New Year celebration.

When Grandpa picks up a tangerine tree at the market, Ping’s excited (“It will bring prosperity and good luck”). She decides that the leafy new resident needs a “perfect pot,” so she gathers her clay and gets to work. Ping deems her first effort too “clumsy.” Meanwhile, Grandpa cleans up around her and gently urges her on. The evenly paced narrative is artfully spotted with onomatopoeias as Ping attempts various media with rigor: She uses papier-mâché and vials of colorful glitter and tries to wrap yarn around a bowl. But nothing is just right. Yang fills every page with bright hues and intricate details, creating vivid scenes. Alluring illustrations show Grandpa decorating the house for the festivities as he urges Ping to persevere. Through Grandpa’s dialogue, Wu provides pragmatic examples on how to take a mindful approach to challenges, and finally, after taking a deep breath, Ping realizes her artistic vision. Grandpa praises her, but “something is still missing.” Ping eventually finds beauty within the flaws of her prior projects and decides to include them in the final celebratory display, each holding plants of their own. Her embrace of all aspects of the creative process makes for a delightful holiday tale.

A charming story of encouragement, illustrated with life and movement.