PRESCHOOL
Schwartz, Amy

100 Things I Know How to Do

(2) PS Schwartz's third picture book cataloging 100 things (100 Things That Make Me Happy, rev. 11/14; 100 Things I Love to Do with You) celebrates some of the many everyday milestones in growing up: "Help cook / Read a book / Bounce a ball / Stand tall." The text's rhythm keeps the pace lively, while the gouache illustrations inject each activity with true joy and personality. Through the montage of pictures representing a variety of children and families, special moments are woven together to capture how seemingly small accomplishments, such as zipping a coat, taking medicine, or building a fort, all work together to have a big impact on young children. Thin lines and pops of color create a tiny, engaging story within every scene. The small spot art occasionally expands into a larger image that uses the same scale but takes up most of the page, encouraging viewers to pause and consider an activity more deeply: "Touch the sky / Say goodbye." There is much to recognize, relate to, and discover for children and grownups sharing this book for the first time or on repeated viewings. A poster on the back of the book jacket brings all one hundred things together into a large, countable burst of colorful activity.

RELATED 

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?