Think Big!

PreS-Gr 1—A supply closet, first full then empty, marks the endpapers of this picture-book poem in celebration of creative thinking and artistic endeavors. Enthusiastic children finger paint, play musical instruments, sing, sew costumes, and dance, all in preparation for a theater production called, "When We Grow Up." Digital collage illustrations done in gouache, charcoal, and mixed media echo the rollicking mood. Collaboration is made explicit on the page reading, "Brainstorm /Blank page/Scene set/Onstage." Yellow ledger paper tacked on the wall indicates who will write, paint, build the set, and dance, and shows a drawing of the stage setup. The rest of the text is an introduction to these creative arts as the kids enjoy themselves and mug for the audience. "Pinch salt/Dice, chop/Click, flash/Time stop." On the drawing spread, the inventive youngsters make their own tickets and playbills with black ink. It's wonderful to see a picture book that explores the creative arts in the hands of the youngest children. It would have been even better if more explicit clues on how each art form contributed to the theater production had been included.—Sara Lissa Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City