From this simple beginning grows a story that celebrates those little changes that tell us we're growing up! This Ruth Krauss classic enchanted young readers when it was first published in 1947. Now it blooms again with lush illustrations by one of the world's best-loved illustrators: Helen Oxenbury.

Reviews

PreS-K-A young boy watches a puppy, chicks, and the world around him grow through the seasons. On the opening page, it is early spring, with light snow falling and buds just appearing on the trees. The puppy is small enough for the boy to tuck under his arm. As the days grow warmer, the child and his mother put away his warm woolen clothes. He watches in wonder as the flowers bloom, pears ripen, and the puppy grows into a dog. He asks his mother, "Am I growing too?" Despite her affectionate reassurances, the youngster is still unsure. As the leaves grow red and yellow and brown, the days grow shorter, and the air grows colder, they take the box of warm clothes from the shelf. The little boy is delighted to find that everything is too small, and, with a cartwheel of delight, proudly shouts to the dog and the chickens, "I am growing too." The illustrations perfectly capture the gentle spirit of Krauss's classic text (HarperCollins, 1947). Oxenbury conveys the expressive postures of childhood in the boy's skipping gait, his stance as he ponders something, and his pensive gaze as he considers his changing world. The expressive watercolors are especially suited to the beauty of the changing landscape. The text is nicely paced and well suited for storytimes or one-on-one sharing. A great selection for a new generation of readers.-Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.