TALES FOR THE PERFECT CHILD

Sergio Ruzzier brings his mischievous touch to a timeless favorite by Florence Parry Heide, beloved author of The Shrinking of Treehorn. This delightful new edition includes one never-before-published story.

Ruby is reliable (kinda).
Arthur is careful (sorta).
Harry eats his carrots (though it depends on what you mean by “eat”).
And just like all perfect children, Gloria helps her mother (well, that might be an exaggeration).

As the eight deliciously wicked tales featured in this hilarious chapter book prove, it’s perfectly nice to be a perfect child—but where’s the fun in that?


Florence Parry Heide (1919–2011) was the author of more than 100 children’s books, including picture books, juvenile novels, two series of young adult mysteries, plays, songbooks, and poetry. She may be best remembered for her now-classic The Shrinking of Treehorn and its two sequels, illustrated by the great Edward Gorey. Florence grew up in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, married during the second world war, and spent her adult life in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with her husband and five children, all of whom grew up listening to the joyful sounds of an old typewriter.
Sergio Ruzzier is the author and illustrator of many children’s books, including A Letter for Leo, Bear and Bee, and Two Mice. He has created comic strips for Italian magazines Linus and Lupo Alberto Magazine. He has also done work for many national and international magazines and book publishers. His work has been awarded by American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, The Society of Publication Designers, and Parents’ Choice, and in 2011 he was awarded the Sendak Fellowship. Born in Italy, he lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit Sergio at Ruzzier.com.