Book Details
Book Title: Petey Perfectpants and the Silly Sock Puppet Problem
Author: Jimmy Vee
Publisher: Belly Laugh Books
Trim Size: 10×10
Page Count: 40
Special features: Dustjacket with an undies case cover (This means the dustjacket design is different from the hardcover design under the dustjacket.)
Formats available: Dustjacketed case laminate hardcover
Layout Style: Illustrated Children’s Book
Book Description:
A funny friendship story about a boy, a silly sock puppet, and the perilous pursuit of perfection.
Petey Perfectpants is perfect at just about everything except making friends.
But when he wakes up with his imperfect sock puppet pal permanently attached to his palm, his school day doesn’t go as planned.
As Petey’s perfect record goes kaput, he realizes that being perfect might actually be part of his problem.
Illustrator: Gary Wilkinson
Book Designer: Melinda Martin (that’s me!)
Body Font: Text set in Adobe Garamond
Display Lettering: Gary Wilkinson
Designer's Notes
As a perfectionist, Petey Perfectpants is a story I can surely relate to. If only I had a magic sock puppet to see me through…
Petey is Jimmy Vee’s third book, and Jimmy has a great grasp of writing for laughs while also leaving room for the artist to get in his own jabs.
I was thrilled when Gary Wilksinson accepted our offer to illustrate this book, and, per usual, he did not disappoint.
Petey is one more example of teamworking making this dream work, as we all worked tirelessly to tweak every word, every page turn, and every piece of art.
Character Sketch
Gary presented five initial sketches for the main human character and three initial sketches for the silly sock puppet. so much to love with each character!
The author chose character B for the boy and the first sock puppet, and Gary submitted the next round for review.
We had a few additional tweaks but finally landed on our dynamic duo. They’re not perfect yet, but we’re on the way!
Storyboard
The author and I prepare a paginated PDF for the illustrator, so he knows which text goes on which spread. Some artists like to have detailed notes, but Gary has such strong storyboarding skills and a great imagination, I just give him the bare essentials and let him do his thing.
We reviewed the storyboard via Zoom so I don’t have JPGs of each storyboard, but I did manage to grab this screenshot of spread 4. Love this POV Gary used in order to capture the havok wreaked by the puppet in the dead of the night.
Wordsmithing and text placement is a continual process in picture book development. We opted to put all text on the right-hand side above Petey’s bed.
Color Low Detail
Gary’s process does not include a line art stage. He goes from storyboard into beginning stages of color with low details.
Now all of the text is on the right-hand side, and we ask Gary to create some art around it to frame it in more organically as he heads into the more detailed round of color.
Color High Detail
Then Gary sent back this masterpiece and we knew what we had to do.
It was in this moment we decided to cut the top three lines completely and zoom in on the room a bit.
Even Petey can agree that this is perfection!
Cover Design
Landing on the right cover is a team effort. Gary submitted some really good concepts but they weren’t 100% on the money. Part of the problem is that the title for this book is so long. Although each of these three covers are giving the energy we want, none of them fully read as “There is silly sock puppet stuck to my arm and he is wrecking my life!”
It is common for me to present a concept based on existing artwork, and that is what I did for this project. The two illustrations below were from two separate spreads in the book.
The author and I worked on a cover concept and then sent it to Gary for his feedback.
Gary wasn’t sold on this particular take due to the angle of the school building, and so he sent over a similar concept for review.
We loved the extension of the body but ultimately decided to have Gary revise the school for best fit with the cover.
The author and I then worked on perfecting the title treatment for best display at a thumbnail and overall vibe, as well as meticulously adjusting several small details that no one will ever notice unless they are a nerd like me 🙂 And I’m perfectly okay with that.
End Pages Design
Sometimes the end pages call for simple solid-colored pages—but not this time. In keeping with the story, the book starts out prim and proper…
but then the puppet wreaks havoc, as magical sock puppets are prone to do.
Gary also made Jimmy, himself, and me into puppets for the wall art 🙂 Possibly my favorite book every just because of this. Kids can also draw their own silly sock puppet design in the blank canvas.
Reviews
When the book nears completion, an ARC is sent out for reviews that we can use on the dust jacket and for general marketing purposes.
“Following Vee’s Professor Nincompoop (2024), this story is silly on the surface but carries a serious message: There is a time and place for perfection. Wilkinson’s colorful art often varies its perspective and framing, with larger-than-life sound effects that reflect the sock puppet’s unpredictable behavior. A tastefully funny but instructive picture book perfect for early elementary schoolers. Our verdict: Get it.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A fantastically fun, vibrantly written picture book with a fab ‘perfectly imperfect’ message. Highly recommended!”
— The Wishing Shelf
“A laugh-out-loud storybook that reminds kids it’s okay not to be perfect at everything all the time! Embrace the imperfections and have fun!” — Kameron Brook for Reedsy Discovery
Read additional reviews from Readers’ Favorite.
Bringing It All Together
After all of the art assets were delivered, I was ready to roll up my sleeves and get to the sheer graphic design part of the work and create all of the bits that an illustrator isn’t responsible for.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this picture book design tour of Petey Perfectpants and the Silly Sock Puppet Problem. It was my honor and my delight to help Belly Laugh Books add another wholesome, AI-free, retail-ready title to their catalog.
I’m Melinda Martin, and I help authors create quality books for kids.
I meet each author where you are in the process. Request a fit call to learn how I can help you specifically.
