Children’s author and local teacher centres growth over perfection
Kitchener–Waterloo educator Katie Bresseau is taking a straightforward message into library branches across the region this summer: striving for flawlessness can be exhausting, and children benefit when they are encouraged to learn from missteps. Her new picture book, Perfectly You, follows a child who starts out believing every task must be done just right, only to discover that mistakes are part of how we grow.
Speaking with CBC K‑W’s The Morning Edition, Bresseau explained that her own childhood focus on getting everything exactly right eventually gave way to a more forgiving perspective. The book is designed to reflect that shift through its main character, Ben, and two friends who show different ways of being themselves. As she takes the book on a mini tour of Region of Waterloo Public Library branches, Bresseau is aiming her readings at children and caregivers who may be navigating similar pressures.
“perfect is being the best version of you.”
Inside the story: from pressure to perspective
In the book, Ben starts out convinced that perfection is the only acceptable outcome — whether he’s lining up buttons, tying shoelaces or colouring strictly within the borders. The need to control every detail becomes stressful. Through experiences with friends Milo and Lily, he learns that stumbling, making a mess and trying again are normal. The narrative is intended to give younger readers language for acknowledging frustration and moving forward.
Bresseau links that arc to a broader, age‑appropriate conversation about how children define success. The story’s focus on effort and reflection, rather than faultless results, is meant to validate different learning styles. For many families, the takeaway is less about lowering expectations and more about shifting them — from an impossible standard to progress that children can see and describe.
Library visits highlight practical strategies for families
The author is reading the book aloud in public library branches across Waterloo Region this summer. Live readings create space for kids to ask questions and for caregivers to hear how the message lands. Bresseau’s appearances also reinforce the role libraries play in connecting local educators with families during school breaks.
At each stop, the emphasis is on simple tools children can use when perfectionism takes hold: naming the feeling, taking a breath and trying again with support. While details vary by branch, the goal is consistent — to normalize learning through trial and error and to give adults a shared vocabulary to support that at home.
Why the message resonates in Waterloo Region
Parents and teachers frequently encounter children who hesitate to start a task unless they are sure of the outcome. Bresseau’s approach meets that hesitation head‑on by highlighting peer examples and modelling self‑compassion. By placing those ideas in a picture book, she offers a common reference point for classrooms, camps and family reading time during the summer months.
The work also reflects a broader conversation many families are having about pressure — academic, social and self‑imposed. By embedding that discussion in a read‑aloud setting, the library visits turn a familiar routine into an opportunity for kids to hear that they are not alone in feeling the urge to be perfect.
What caregivers can listen for during readings
- Moments when characters pause, make a mistake and try again — a chance to model that process at home.
- Language children can repeat, such as naming feelings and reframing errors as attempts.
- Examples of friends supporting one another, reinforcing that asking for help is part of learning.
Book at a glance
| Title | Perfectly You |
|---|---|
| Author | Katie Bresseau |
| Main character | Ben (with friends Milo and Lily) |
| Core themes | Learning from mistakes; self‑acceptance; redefining perfection |
Bresseau said the idea to write the book had been on her personal list for some time. Turning it into a public‑facing project — and reading it with local families — positions the work as both a story and a prompt. As children listen and respond, caregivers can gauge where perfectionism shows up and how to turn those moments into practice rather than pressure.
For Waterloo Region families looking for a summer activity that blends storytime with practical coping skills, the author’s library visits offer an accessible entry point. The message is consistent across every page: progress counts, and being “perfect” is less about never erring than it is about being, as Bresseau puts it, the best version of yourself.
