The Perfect Fit

The Perfect Fit is the creation of husband-and-wife team Naomi and James Jones. Together they have created their debut picture book themed around accepting and celebrating difference amongst society. This strong message was inspired the real life experiences of their eldest son trying to make friends at nursery. There is certainly a connection to be made by adults and children who have experienced this themselves or, in the case of parents, seen it through their children.

Triangle loves rolling with his friends the circles. Together they spend their days making, creating and building patterns but triangle would often bump into them and feel like she was in the way. Triangle finds herself feeling a bit different so she sets off on a journey to find somewhere that she truly belongs with others just like her. Her journey is full of fun and adventures with all the new shapes that she meets along the way....but despite feeling welcomed by who she encounters, she never shakes the feeling of not belonging.

After searching high and low, triangle finally finds the shapes that are exactly like her in every single way. Excitedly, she joins them in playing all the triangle games and fun that they enjoy. However, triangle soon realises that although they are exactly the same as her, they are missing one thing....the ideas and games that she had learnt from all the other different shapes she had become friends with during her journey.

An idea forms in her head which leads to the coming together of all shapes as triangle soon realises that even though they are all different, they are still the perfect fit together as friends.

Naomi's story is charming, playful and visually engaging thanks to the illustrative work of James. Despite working with primarily simple shapes, he has presented them in a way that catches the eye and allows children to respond to what they see.

This is a delightful debut from the Jones family and I can see this being used in all EYFS and KS1 classrooms as a way of addressing difference and acceptance. It also explores shape and pattern in an entertaining way and would fit perfectly as a hook into the areas of Shape, Space and Measure in the maths curriculum. I am looking forward to using this in my own classroom but also sharing it with EYFS colleagues.

Picture book / Reviewed by Kyle Matravers, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 3+

The Perfect Fit is a highly recommended read for anyone who cares for or looks after young children. Triangle was having great fun rolling and playing with the circles until she kept bumping and poking them with her corners. Triangle felt she didn't quite fit in so decided to find some others like her. Around the corner, she meets the squares. Together they all have lots of fun until they make a stacking tower. Unable to balance on top of her without crashing down, triangle sadly sets off to find a place where she fits perfectly. Next she meets the hexagons. Again, Triangle has lots of fun with these shapes until they make a tessellating pattern and it doesn't work with triangle in it. She decides to carry on finding the place she fits in best. Luckily, the stars in the night sky point her in the right direction. Finally she finds the triangles and has found the place she thought she'd fit best! But it isn't long before triangle misses the fun she's had with the other shapes. Triangle realises that although she was the same as the other triangles, she misses everyone else.... until she finds the perfect solution.

This is such a fun and exciting story, beautifully illustrated with shape pictures. Not only will children be accessing a wide selection of shape vocabulary, they are also exposed to their properties. Cleverly, the author has also added in a PSHE theme of 'fitting in' and 'friendships'. This story, based around triangle, makes it evident that it's perfectly fine to not all be the same, and that together everyone can have a lot of fun.

Picture Book / Ages 4+ / Reviewed by Maria Faithorn, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+