I’m a dog lover who has lived with a succession of almost perfect pups. So when I saw today’s Perfect Picture Book mentioned in a social media post, I had to read and review it!
Title: The DOG who was (ALMOST) PERFECT
Written & Illustrated By: Jack Kurland
Publisher/Date: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, an imprint of The Quarto Group/2026
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: dog, cat, perfection, mistake, guilt, dachsund, humor, forgiveness
Opening:
Doris was the perfect dog.
She could do everything, perfectly.
Skateboard
Fetch sticks
High-five
Fetch bigger sticks
Swim
Play dead
Chase squirrels
Brief Synopsis: When perfect pup Doris thinks she has chewed her beloved owner’s slipper, she panics, runs away, and hides it.
Links to Resources:
· Learn to draw a dachsund;
· Make these cute felt slippers;
· Pair The DOG who was (ALMOST) PERFECT with X Fang’s Broken (link is to my review). How are the two stories similar? How are they different? What role does a cat play in each of these stories?
Why I Like this Book:
With understated humor and illustrations, Kurland explores perfection, mistakes, and guilt. Now I know all dog parents reading this, or most of us anyway, think our pup is perfect. But look at that list above. Do any of our pooches skateboard? And is an ability to chase squirrels a sign of perfection? Queue the giggles as we contemplate the attributes of a perfect pup and realize that Doris probably isn’t as perfect as Kurland, or Bill, Doris’ pet papa, suspects.
But the two who matter most in this heartfelt tale believe Doris is perfect. So when she wakes to discover a chewed-up slipper, Doris does what any perfect pup would do: panics. How can she have let her beloved Bill down? Like kids (and pups) who’ve done something wrong, Doris worries whether Bill will be angry, sad, or both. How kidlike is that?
And like panicked kids (and pups), Doris sees no other solution than to run and bury the slipper. Out of sight equals out of mind, or does it? Not when a pack of dogs discovers you mid-burial. I love how the other dogs calm Doris by helping to put her misdeed into perspective. One dog had stolen sausages (in our home, it was an entire loaf of fresh bread on the counter). Another bit a hole in the sofa (I can really relate to that, especially as our sofa was brand new at the time). A third started a house fire (thankfully, none of our pups have managed that…yet).
By putting everything into perspective, the dog pack helps Doris realize that it was time to confess. I won’t spoil the ending by sharing Bill’s reaction, but it’s a great lesson for kids, including those who pretend to be adults, that those who love us do so even if we make mistakes. And about that cat…I really won’t spoil the ending by revealing its role in the story.
With it’s low word count and bright illustrations set against primarily white backgrounds, The DOG who was (ALMOST) PERFECT is a perfect read, especially in classrooms and homes in which mistakes are made.
A Note about Craft:
I wasn’t surprised to read Kurland’s bio on the jacket flap and learn that he is a graphic designer and that he hails from Essex, UK. Both text and illustrations synthesized down to the essentials to get a perfect message across. And British humor at its best!
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
Wander, Ponder, Write 