Hector’s Perfect Cake || A Delightful Lesson about Perfection

Hector is baking a cake for his Granny and he’s determined that it’s going to be perfect.
But when he discovers that the peanut butter jar is empty, Hector decides that he must head out to find some more, or else his perfect cake will be ruined.

As time begins to run out, Hector’s luck begins to run out too. He may have to accept that sometimes perfection just isn’t possible…

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*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own*

This story is ever so sweet, and is requested every time I sit down with my siblings to read books. The dialogue is simple enough to be understandable for children, but not so simple that it feels tedious to read – which is perfect for a story which is asked for again and again! Furthermore, the story has a lovely message – revolving around how perfection isn’t necessarily the most important thing, and demonstrating how something can be special without being perfect.

“How am I supposed to make Granny a perfect cake without peanut butter?”

The illustrations are perfect for a children’s book – bold and bright, with captivating expressions on the character’s faces. There’s also a lot of detail throughout every image – from labelled products on a shelf to a chalkboard menu in a doughnut shop, and everyone I’ve read it to has enjoyed exploring each and every part of the image. The choice of font also adds to the appeal of the book – it’s a good size for children who are learning to read to manage, and is also a fun and playful font.

“This cake is going to be perfect!” thought Hector”

All in all, this is a really lovely picture book, and over the last month has proved itself to be highly appealing to a wide range of ages. It’s sweet, captivating, and also begins to teach the importance of accepting imperfection. Lily Clarke has created a lovely experience in the pages of Hector’s Perfect Cake, and I would certainly recommend it for the little people in your life – perhaps it will find its way under a tree or inside a stocking this Christmas?!

About the Author

Lily Clarke is the author and illustrator of Hector’s Perfect Cake.
She studied Physics at the University of York and now works as an innovation consultant in Cambridge. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book, she runs a small business called Lily in Space Designs, where she sells a range of illustrated products inspired by books and nature. Her favourite animals are badgers, birds and bats, (although she also loves animals that don’t begin with the letter B!).
Hector’s Perfect Cake is Lily’s first book, inspired by her own experiences of dealing with perfectionism.

Find Lily on:

Twitter – @lilyclarkex

Instagram – @lilyinspacedesigns

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/lilyclarkeillustrator