100 THINGS I LOVE TO DO WITH YOU
From the 100 Things series
by Amy Schwartz ; illustrated by Amy Schwartz
A rollicking, rhyming read-aloud gives kids ideas for things to do with someone else.
“Be twins / sleep in / skip stones / lick cones / rub noses / smell roses // scoot scooters / learn computers / pogo stick / apple pick.” Whether they portray the children with a sibling, friend, parent, or other grown-up, the illustrations, which range from whole-page to small vignettes, show kids exuberantly enjoying activities that represent such variety that all readers are sure to find something they will enjoy and are able to do geographically and financially. And sneakily, a few of the suggestions even involve good manners and being helpful—“snap beans,” “scramble eggs,” “plant flowers,” “set good examples,” “share a treat”—though a few will raise adult eyebrows—“misbehave” (jumping on the bed), “make trouble” (drawing on the wall), and “skinny dip.” Schwartz’s endearing characters show a wide assortment of skin tones and racial markers (including horizontal lines instead of dots for Asian characters’ eyes), and the groups are delightfully mixed in terms of gender, age, and relationship. A poster is printed on the back of the jacket flap, numbered thumbnails of the 100 activities surrounding the title and author’s name.
Sure to spark readers’ own lists of things they love to do.
(Picture book. 3-8)