Maybe When
I’m Bigger by Christianne Jones, Illustrated by Mark
Chambers. 2011. 32 pgs. Mankato, Minnesota: Picture Window Books. 9781404861688.
Annotation: Janey the crocodile is sick of being told
she’s too small to do fun things, so she decides she can’t do boring things
until she’s bigger.
Reaction: Jones easily encapsulates the eagerness- and
frustration- of younger children wanting to do everything their older siblings
do, only to be faced with no from their parents. Janey’s method of defiance-
refusing to do boring stuff if she can’t do fun stuff- is a surprising yet
natural reaction. My daughter, herself the younger child, LOVED Janey’s refusals
and laughed out loud—no doubt relating to the little crocodiles’ exasperation. The
pictures are bright, lively and playful- and communicate the emotions of the
entire crocodile family in a child-friendly, stylized way.
Primary
early literacy skill enhanced: Narrative
skills. The story follows a clear pattern- Janey is told “Maybe when you’re
bigger” after she proposes a series of fun outings. She then turns the tables
on her parents, until she wants to go to school. Children will identify the
pattern and anticipate the next steps.
Recommended ages: Ages 3 and up.
Format: Picture Book
Tags/Themes: Younger/youngest children, growing up,
parent-child relationships, sibling relationships.
Author site/additional titles: Click
here.
Illustrator site/additional titles: Click here.
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