The ABCs of What I Can Be

by Caitlin McDonagh

Overview

Part alphabet book, part dress-up, and part career book— and all fun, from A to Z!

ABC. . . . What can I be?

The possibilities are nearly endless— and in this fun picture book, an inclusive group of kids play-acts all sorts of occupations. Dressing in grown-up work clothes, the children try out some familiar roles, like artist and athlete for A, and some less-common ones— from beekeeper and biochemist to zipper-maker and Zumba instructor.

With a hundred different jobs and interests represented, Caitlin McDonagh's bright illustrations are filled with funny, hidden details that will bring sharp-eyed readers back again and again.

This imaginative, joyful picture book shares a wonderful message about exploring all the possibilities, and opens up all kinds of discussions about the careers people embark upon— while also reinforcing basic reading skills. Perfect for reading aloud and sure to spark imaginative play!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823447367
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	12/08/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	491,969
Product dimensions:	9.70(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology, Caitlin McDonagh was a student of award-winning Holiday House author and illustrator Eric Velasquez, who has been her mentor. The ABCs of What I Can Be is her first picture book.

Editorial Reviews

"Diverse children act out 100 different careers, organized alphabetically from 'astronaut' to 'Zumba instructor' . . . Readers will love choosing their favorite."—Kirkus Reviews


"This alphabet of occupations and hobbies features a diverse cast of children, depicted in appealing panels, exploring jobs spanning from artist to zumba instructor. . . . Libraries and schools looking for distinct alphabet books, or ways to introduce various occupations will find this a pleasant addition."—School Library Journal


"Artist, doctor, firefighter, plumber, chef, police officer, soldier, or teacher might appear on many children's lists of potential adult jobs, but what about upholsterer, biochemist, zipper maker, mathematician, oil rigger, or yodeler? This charming occupational exploration ranges from the familiar to the fanciful (though all are actual jobs), suggesting many directions for children to consider. . . . The large variety of activities may provoke serious contemplation about future possibilities, while the funny situations on some pages keep the tone light." —Booklist

From the Publisher

12/01/2018
PreS-Gr 1—This alphabet of occupations and hobbies features a diverse cast of children, depicted in appealing panels, exploring jobs spanning from artist to zumba instructor. It opens with the words "ABC, what can I be? Come along and you will see!," which sets the scene. Subsequent spreads feature two letters, each centered on a page, broken into four squares or two squares and one rectangle, with a letter in the center. Each box contains the name of an occupation and depicts two or more of the children from the initial spread involved in the occupation. The children are simply drawn, with round, oversize heads, button noses, and oval eyes. The acrylic painted color palette is saturated with bright colors, and provides an inviting air. The occupations range from the expected—doctor, firefighter scientist, teacher—to the unusual—jockey, radio host, web developer, x-ray technician—to the fanciful—hot-air-balloon pilot, kite maker, sheep shearer, zen gardener. There's really no story here, it is just an alphabetic encouragement for children to expand their ideas of what they can do in their futures, and, utilizing the diverse cast, it does so effectively. Despite a couple of poor letter choices, the most egregious being "exobiologist" for "x," which seems unnecessary, as there are three other occupations pictured, it is fairly effective and appealing. VERDICT Libraries and schools looking for distinct alphabet books, or ways to introduce various occupations will find this a pleasant addition.—Amy Lilien-Harper, Greenwich Library, CT

School Library Journal

2018-08-27

Diverse children act out 100 different careers, organized alphabetically from "astronaut" to "Zumba instructor."

The layout effectively uses panels to expand the sense of possibility, with, usually, four career alternatives presented per letter/page. L stands for "lawyer," "landscaper," "lifeguard," and, of course, "librarian," for instance. Just four letters—H, J, Q, and Z—are allotted only three choices each. The illustrations employee a flat, naïve perspective and include comic touches. In the P group, a "police officer" (a woman of color) is depicted eating a doughnut. To illustrate "yarn maker," a child with beige skin is wrapped up in yarn like a big spool. As two "groomers" (both children of color) trim a poodle, a cat seems ready to stick the plug for the electric clippers into an inhabited hamster ball. Most of the selections are logical, but a few stretch credulity, at least as careers, such as "yo-yo competitor" and "yodeler." There are four choices for X, but with no legend or explanation, it's up to adult caregivers to help kids understand "xerophytic gardener" and "exobiologist" (they'll probably pick up on "xylophone player" and "X-ray technician" without much difficulty). Overall, the illustrations provide the fun while the selection of jobs makes the book useful, and the vigorous eye to diversity is a real plus.

Readers will love choosing their favorite, strangest, or funniest or coming up with their own quirky ideas. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews