JUST ENOUGH

From dawn to dusk, a young boy marvels at the many tasks he can accomplish on his own. As the day unfolds, the boy constructs elaborate structures out of building blocks, makes pizza dough, picks a posy for his mother, and gaily soars on his swing, along with other activities that highlight his newfound capabilities. Ebullient rhymes encompass the many milestones that herald emerging self-reliance. Daniels (The Feet in the Gym, 1999) selects words that address both the emotional and physical development of a child, from old enough to be responsible for his fish to quick enough to capture fleet fireflies. The text is comprised of a series of single words, printed in capital letters, accompanied by several lines of verse. The pairings of word and verse are a melding of practicality and whimsy, “TALL / enough to touch the sky, / our twinkle star, / very far / sky.” Daniels’s lighthearted rhymes reflect the boy’s gleeful enjoyment of life and living that is uniquely childlike. The exuberant rhythm of the verses sweeps readers up in the boy’s enthusiasm, while Jessup’s (Grandma Summer, 1999, etc.) vibrantly hued illustrations burst with vitality. From an extreme close-up of a wiggly earthworm to a broad panorama of the evening landscape, Jessup’s creative artwork is a spirited counterpart to the text. A lively tale celebrating the wonders of childhood. (Picture book. 2-5)