I Can Be Anything!

Jerry Spinelli - author of such young adult favorites as Stargirl, and the Newbery Medal-winner, Maniac Magee - takes aim at a younger audience in I Can Be Anything, a charming inspirational picture-book in which a young boy imagines all the things he could be. From pumpkin grower to dandelion blower, puddle stomper to apple chomper, the list of possibilities is practically endless!

With a rhyming text that just begs to be read aloud, an triumphant ending that affirms the many possibilities open to the young child, and colorful illustrations that are so full of joyful motion, that they almost leap off the page, this would make a wonderful gift for the toddler in your life, and an ideal story-hour selection. I'm not sure I needed the show more little orange sticker (thankfully removable) on the front cover, informing me that I Can Be Anything is "Perfect for Graduation," but then, I doubt the author and illustrator had anything to do with that. show less

I LOVED this book! It was so simple yet powerful and charming. It had simple rhymes throughout the story that could help guide children throughout the book. For example, “Pumpkin grower, dandelion blower.” The illustrations were bold and colorful. Young children would be able to relate to the little boy’s clothing and adventurous mind. I also liked that a child would be able to fully comprehend the story without reading the words just by looking at the descriptive illustrations. The story is about a little boy who is trying to decide what he should be when he grows up. After thinking about the many, many possibilities, he decides that he wants to do them all. Once again many small children would be able to relate to this because show more most little kids have no clue what they want to be when they grow up. The message of the book is to do whatever makes you happy! You only live once so live it well ☺ You don’t have to have one job for the rest of your life, you can do it all! show less

While I don't agree with the sticker that calls this a great graduation gift, I liked this book. I love that this paired Spinelli and Liao, two authors I hold in the highest regard. This was simple and out of character for Jerry Spinelli. It reminds me more of something that his wife, Eileen, would have written. However, in this case it works. Very nicely done.

I liked this book because it gave several examples of what you can be when you grow up. I gave this book 4 stars because it was really great, but it is not the most exciting childrens' book I have ever read. I think it can help young adults, even. Figuring out what you want to be isn't always easy and seeing it in this light is refreshing. I liked it because it made me less stressed about growing up. You could use this book for children who are moving on to the next grade, or even when children are graduating from kindergarten or preschool. You could encourage children to draw what they want to be when they grow up or you would make a chart of every childs' aspirations.

Summary: In this well illustrated book a little boy imagines all the things that he might be when he grows up. He has a very creative imagination and thinks of jobs such as a pumkin grower and a mixing bowl licker and many, many more.

Personal Effect: I thought this was a really fun story to read. I read it to my four year old and I could just see his little imagination start running. He decided that he could be a dandilion blower and a mixing bowl licker when he grows up. How cute!

Extension Ideas: This would be a great book to use for a career week. Also the book uses a variety of descriptions for the different activities that each career involved, such as swoop and dive. Great for vocabulary building.

A young boy thinks about what he wants to be when he grows up. After thinking about many relatable (and imaginative) occupations, he decides that he is going to be every single one.
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This is a good book to help young students get their creative minds going as well as introducing them to concepts of reading. The book fully encourages students to tie this book into their life; a way of connecting with others, as well.