GROW UP

“What are you going to be when you grow up?” is the question that kicks off this career-minded frolic and what follows is one boy’s epic response. The many answers range from typical “little-kid” choices (cowboy, basketball player, fireman), to the sensible (vet, dentist, plumber), to the more unusual (numerologist, lighthouse keeper, hypnotist). Doodle-like drawings in pencil with shots of muted yellows and reds crawl all over the page and little jokes can be found in every corner, such as a small “batteries not included” sign on the bottom of a jet plane. Turner joyfully caricatures each “job,” exaggerating the child’s point of view. The free-flowing creativity found in both the child’s career choices, and the hilarious illustrations plays out the theme well—that a child will believe he or she can do anything if allowed. The author also includes a “How to be an artist” spread that instructs the reader how to draw one’s hand, which offers a self-empowering (and humorous) touch at the end. Every inch of the book, including the copyright page, is handwritten and illustrated by Turner (Silent Night, 2001), lending a giddy and somewhat ’zine-like feel. The ever-changing text size and style, however, are at times hard to read. Some of the sharp-witted content might fly over the heads of young readers, but as Turner writes in his handwritten bio, he “creates truly innovative books for the child in the adult and the adult in the child.” He also gives suggested ages as 4–88, which says it all. (Picture book. 4+)