The Things I Can Do

K-Gr 1—Young Jeff has written a tongue-in-cheek book all by himself to show readers all the things he can do. His brief rhymed words, printed in his own hand in black crayon on a collection of colored and lined paper, indicate that he can fix his own lunch, bathe himself, brush his teeth, choose his clothes, brush his hair, tie his shoes, fix broken toys, and even fly. In addition, he's a storyteller who can "talk… and… talk and… talk" if he gets someone to "just listen." Children old enough to get the joke, however, will realize that Jeff's own crayon drawings and the cutout pictures he attaches to his book with big strips of tape provide a very different account of his accomplishments. His lunch is a hot dog, fries, and ice cream; there is more toothpaste on his face than on his teeth; the sweater he chooses is "perfect… for wiping [his] nose"; his underwear lands on his head instead of where it belongs; and his flying feats get him no farther than the couch. This book is best enjoyed one-on-one because there is much to laugh at and talk about, from Jeff's crazy hairdo, tangled laces, and other illustrations that belie his boasts to the globs of glue everywhere, and his final foiled attempt to reach the top shelf. Nancy Viau's Look What I Can Do! (Abrams, 2013) depicts the challenges and accomplishments of young children and animals as they acquire new skills.—Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT