When I grow up by Andrew Daddo

Ill. by Jonathan Bentley. ABC Kids, 2016. ISBN 9780733333422
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. A young teacher poses this question to her class: 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' Their creative answers will delight and surprise you. Standing on a student chair at the front of the class, each child states their goal, their future dreams. Little Miss Goldy Locks asks the class to imagine the buns, braids, bobs and beehives she will create. 'So much hair, so many stories.' What about an inventor - a invention to clean a bedroom, clear the table, stack and unstack the dishwasher? Floating in space, the astronaut will see the stars, she will photograph new worlds and meet strange aliens.
Daddo writes expressively; he uses alliteration, imaginative descriptions and rhyming text. He also presents strong female role models, no stereotypes - the princess can rescue herself, thank you! The last little girl has a wildly creative list and ends with a special message, she just wants to be herself.
Jonathan Bentley's mixed-media images are lively, and bring Daddo's story to life. As each student shares their future dreams, the colourful illustrations show the astronaut swept into space in a fiery whizz-bang rocketship and into a fantasy adventure with green goblins and magical wizards.
Andrew Daddo's When I grow up is a delightful story to share with a family. This entertaining and enjoyable picture book is suitable for engaging young learners in thinking about their future careers, creating artworks or a class big book.
Rhyllis Bignell