I can do it myself!

Diane Adams, 1960-

Book - 2009

Emily Pearl is a big girl who insists on doing everything for herself until evening, when having someone help her get ready for bed is nice.

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Children's Room Show me where

jE/Adams
0 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jE/Adams Due Apr 14, 2024
Subjects
Genres
Stories in rhyme
Picture books
Published
Atlanta, Ga. : Peachtree Publishers c2009.
Language
English
Main Author
Diane Adams, 1960- (-)
Other Authors
Nancy Hayashi (illustrator)
Edition
1st ed
Physical Description
unpaged : col. ill. ; 26 cm
ISBN
9781561454716
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Throughout the day, Emily Pearl takes every opportunity to show what a big girl she is, proudly taking charge of household duties independently. As the refrain of the rhythmic, rhyming text goes, And if just for one second her mom tries to help, / Emily says, I can do it myself!' So she can, though as the illustrations repeatedly show, her confidence far exceeds her competence. Whether or not preschoolers recognize the humorous disconnect between words and pictures, they will certainly respect her point of view. They will also enjoy seeing familiar household activities, from making a peanut-butter sandwich to brushing teeth, in a picture book. A turnaround comes at bedtime, when Emily Pearl is finally ready to ask her mother to read a story, give a hug, and find her teddy bear. With rounded forms and muted hues, the watercolor, ink, and colored-pencil artwork illustrates the story in pleasant, sometimes witty pictures. An accessible choice for reading aloud.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2009 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-Emily Pearl is "a very big girl" who is determined to be self-reliant. She pours her own juice (through a funnel), ties her own shoelaces (more or less), and can make herself a sandwich. She says she is able to do many things, although the illustrations tell a different story. The page that shows Emily Pearl copying the cat's cleaning habits is a wonderful, amusing example of how the pictures belie yet expand on the text: "She can wash her own face." Throughout the day, as her mom tries frantically to help or clean up after her, the child's refrain is, "I can do it myself!" "But at bedtime, when shadows creep over the wall,/Emily Pearl feels a teeny bit small," and she turns to her mother for a hug and a story. Hayashi's cheerful watercolors vary in size from spreads to small vignettes and help give the story just the right pace. Both for storytimes and one-on-one sharing, this tale is told in a fresh, yet familiar way.-Jane Marino, Great Neck Library, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

Emily Pearl insists she's a big girl who doesn't need any help--that is, until "bedtime when shadows creep over the wall, / Emily Pearl feels a teeny bit small." Independent-minded readers will identify with Emily Pearl (though adults may find the repeated refrain, "I can do it myself!" to be grating). Soft-hued watercolor, pen, and colored-pencil illustrations highlight the gentle humor. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Emily Pearl is just big enough to terrorize the household with her can-do attitude: "And if just for one second her mom tries to help, / Emily says, 'I can do it myself!' " As in this simple refrain, approximate and exact rhymes roll rhythmically along while Hayashi's watercolor, pen and colored-pencil art tells the real story. The text treats Emily as if she were the big girl she thinks she is, while the illustrations reveal a loving environment where a wise (and sometimes exasperated) mother allows her confident daughter to learn. Emily begins pouring herself juice through a funnel into a glass, uses a toilet-paper roll and clothespins to curl her hair, plays trombone upside down, delivers cat food on the back of her fast-moving remote-control car, until bedtime, when the shadows fall and she welcomes Mom's hug and a good story. The interplay between art and text will work well for the group reader who can enjoy the spontaneous giggles that will erupt at storytime or for one-on-one in-the-lap fun. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.