When I Grow Up

July 1, 2018
A small child muses about the future as Mom guides the bedtime routine.The premise and the characters are established from the start. Large, black lettering on the verso says, "Mom, when I grow up, what do you think I will be?" On the opposite page, plenty of white, negative space surrounds the opening scene: A small child stands on the bed, hand reaching out to a friendly pet dachshund, as Mom begins unlacing the child's pale green hoodie. Mother and child have dark hair and pink-cheeked faces a shade lighter than the dog's brown fur--all rendered with masterful control of ink sketching and pastel washes. All three have equally sweet facial expressions. Throughout the text, the child questions Mom about possible future traits and characteristics, occupations, and accomplishments. Such fanciful questions as "Will I be the mayor and let kids run the town?" are matched by equally imaginative illustrations, with the added treat of the dachshund's inclusion (here the pup serves as aide as a multiethnic group of reporters attend a press conference). The depiction of the child as musician is especially lovely: Child and dog sit beneath a tree as the child pipes and birds fill its branches. Funny artwork extends the narrative with a subplot in which Mom struggles to get her child's clothes off, hair brushed, etc. Young children will love the repetition of "Will I be...?" Mom talks just enough at the end to prepare both child and readers for sweet dreams.Winning text and illustrations for bedtime. (Picture book. 2-4)

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August 20, 2018
As a mother helps her young son get ready for bed—tugging off his shoes and shirt, dragging a brush through his tousled hair—he wonders aloud what the future holds. “Will I be funny or smart?” he asks. “Do you think I’ll live near or far?” But most of his questions center on vocation: perhaps he’ll become a baker who makes “the world a sweeter place to live,” or maybe a mayor who “let kids run the town.” As they snuggle together, Mom assures him that the future is wide open, and “No matter what, I will always be there for you.” Chen, a news anchor and TV host making her picture book debut, offers a well-trod litany of choices for her protagonist. But she is fortunate in her collaborator: nimble, airy watercolor drawings by Goode (Founding Mothers) give the increasingly sleepy child a passel of richly imagined fantasies, showcased against bright white backgrounds, and teams him up with an adoring dachshund sidekick that’s game for anything, whether the boy is imagining a future in space or atop a mountain. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

September 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-Television talk show personality Chen and acclaimed illustrator Goode team up to create a picture book celebration of one boy's lofty aspirations about growing up-always with the loving support of his mother. Is he destined to be funny or smart? Live near or far? Become a teacher and let dogs come to school or be mayor and have kids run the town? One thing is assured by his loving mom: he can achieve whatever he dreams as she faithfully accompanies him along the journey. Some of the phrases are endearingly poetic: "Will I be a baker and make the world a sweeter place to live? Will I be a painter and make the world more beautiful?" Yet the top-notch illustrations often outshine the words. The notion of living near or far, for example, is captured with smiley-faced, squat houses holding hands, followed by the same two houses spaced from top-to-bottom along different parts of a globe. Goode's unique interpretation of each line is gracefully imaginative. On almost every page, his mother is there encouraging him, the most inspiring image of her holding onto a thin, threadbare rope while son climbs the precipice of a cliff to reach her. The accompanying words are "Will I be a climber and reach the mountaintops?" VERDICT A worthwhile read-aloud for parent and child to share as they reflect upon the future together that is even suitable at bedtime. A poignant celebration of how moms can help their children in the search for self-discovery.-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2018
Preschool-G Lighthearted watercolor illustrations from Caldecott Honor Book artist Goode offer some amusing answers to a child?s universal question: Mom, when I grow up, what do you think I will be? Funny or smart? A baker? An artist? A writer? Things get a little crazy when he suggests that, if he's mayor, he'll let the kids run the town, or allow all the dogs to come to school. Each imaginative page expresses positive messages: a desire to make the world sweeter, more beautiful, and lovely. Detailed pictures are fun-loving: his cake has both foxes and frogs circling the tiers, dogs fly paper airplanes, unicorns jump over hot-air balloons, sunflowers smile, rocket ships zoom, and grinning treehouses touch the sky. Children will enjoy finding the lively dachshund that accompanies the boy everywhere as they sail sky-high on a dragon, whiz along on a flying carpet, or plant a garden. The whimsical pictures fill every page with happiness and variety as Chen presents exuberant ideas for the big dreams and wishes of childhood.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)