The perfectionist in me appreciated this book and I look forward to handing it to my seven-year-old son, who could be Ben. I enjoyed the writing and fast-paced storyline, as well as the enjoyable and relatable similies and metaphors. Matthew Swanson's writing is great for developing readers!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a complementary review copy. All opinions are my own!

Ben Yokoyama is not having a good day. So far, the 9-year-old's mom has burned his pancakes and his dad ruined his jersey in the laundry. It doesn't get much better at school until he sees a chance to make a new friend. Darby is a kid who excels in math, and lets Ben in on a little secret: he's got a super secret alter ego named Darbino. Darby's quest to become perfect gave birth to Darbino's identity, and he offers to help Ben attain perfection, too. At first it sounds great, but when you're working at being perfect, Ben realizes that you have to give up a lot: baseball, for instance. As Ben starts to realize that being perfect isn't all it's cracked up to be, he takes readers on a hilarious, very sweet, journey, illustrated in black and white, as if readers are peeking through a journal. This is the third Cookie Chronicle, with two more coming, and it's a great series to booktalk to your Timmy Failure, Big Nate, Wimpy Kid, and Alvin Ho fans. Ben is biracial and there are nice multicultural nods to his American and Japanese heritage, including a look at the Japanese concept of kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold seams, highlighting the mistakes and making them beautiful. Now that we're in testing season (at least, we are here in NYC), kids will really appreciate the book's take on the pressure to be perfect. Back matter includes a history of the fortune cookie.

Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Perfection is everything one could want in a middle-grade book: great characters, humor, and an excellent plot. The story begins as we meet Ben and his not-so-perfect parents. When Ben finds a new friend, perfection becomes very important to him. A little too important, and life begins to get complicated.

Full of overly dramatic figurative language, author Matthew Swanson perfectly captures the brain of a tween. The witty humor will have you frequently laughing and is reminiscent of Liz Pichon’s Shoe Wars. The story is paired perfectly with the simple yet expressive illustrations of Robbi Behr. Readers will not only be entertained by this story but will learn some important lessons as the pages turn. Perfect for reluctant readers, book three of the Cookie Chronicles, Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Perfection is a quick read that will be loved by many.

This was such a cute book! Ben runs his life by the fortune cookies. When it tells him that "practice makes perfect" he takes that to heart. He finds that while practicing, he has to give up some of the stuff he loves most, including sports and puppy kisses. As Ben works through his fortune cookie directions, he finds that sometimes flaws become strengths and not everyone can be perfect, no matter how much you practice!
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book!!!
#BenYokoyamaandtheCookieofPerfection #NetGalley #novelnene #MiddleSchoolBooks

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

A funny realistic book that will be great for 2nd-5th graders! The illustrations in the book are great and really add to the story, and in some places help tell the story.

Another cute and funny installment in the Ben Yokoyama Cookie series. While I didn't enjoy The Cookie of Perfection as much as the first two, I still liked it overall. I found the third book's plot to be almost a mix of one and two. Also, Janet's character was a little more aggravating than usual in this particular installment. But overall, fans of the series will enjoy the Cookie of Perfection!

Hilarious realistic fiction story perfect for grades 2-5. Love the black and white illustrations throughout. Will definitely add the series to the library's junior fiction collection.