Book of the month

A Perfectly Messed-Up Story

By: Patrick McDonnell • Illustrations: Patrick McDonnell

This is Louie’s story, and he’s happy you’re reading it, but time and again something goes wrong. A jelly stain lands on the book, the pages are smudged with fingerprints, and rubbing a scribble with a paper towel just makes things worse. Louie nearly gives up, until he discovers that… everything is fine. This sweet, amusing book is about our ability to control reality, and the strength we muster to cope with it.

Age Group: Preschool (4-6)

Book-Related Family Activities

Once upon a time, there was a perfectly messed-up book! The story of this book’s main character, Louie, undergoes many unexpected changes – and he has no control over them. But just when all seems lost, he finds the strength inside to grapple with his imperfect reality.

“When I fall, I shall arise”
(Micah, 7:8)