Moving Up!: A Graduation Celebration

by Rosemary Wells

Celebrate the great milestone of kindergarten or preschool graduation in this bright and happy picture book featuring five graduates with big dreams—what will you grow up to be?

Susannah wants to be a pilot, Akiko a doctor or nurse, Amanda a teacher, and Rafa a mechanic. They all had special talents when they were in kindergarten that sparked their dreams. This celebratory picture book will inspire readers to follow their own dreams, from kindergarten and beyond.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

Publisher's website has the number of characters and half of their names wrong. Here's my corrected version:

"Celebrate the great milestone of kindergarten or preschool graduation in this bright and happy picture book featuring [four] graduates with big dreams—what will you grow up to be? Susannah wants to be a pilot, [Akio] a doctor or nurse, [Amara] a teacher, and Rafa a mechanic. They all had special talents when they were in kindergarten that sparked their dreams. This celebratory picture book will inspire readers to follow their own dreams, from kindergarten and beyond."

Not really a story, and I have concerns about some of the medical activities. Also, made me feel like I should have had my life (or at least my future career) figured out by the end of kindergarten. Overall, it was fine; it just wasn't for me.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not one of Wells ‘s better books. It’s four vignettes of little kids who like to do stuff and what they may become when they grow up. The illustrations are classic Wells. They are lovely. They’re memorable and recognizeable characters from other books she has written. However, there’s not really a story. It’s more informative. I do like that not everything is Dr., Nurse, these high degree high expense type of jobs, but still it’s lacking a storytelling quality which is highly unusual for a Wells.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 2 out of 5]

This picture book features short vignettes, highlighting what each child likes to do and connecting this with a future career at their kindergarten graduation. The book ends extremely abruptly, and I strongly dislike the implication that people should identify their future vocation by the time they finish kindergarten. This is also more of a career book than a graduation book, because this doesn't do much to explain or dramatize the experience of a graduation.

[Kelly]

This was interesting because it could be for kindergarteners dreaming of future jobs, or it could be for college graduates going into their dream job. I guess maybe the story might not be interesting to college graduates, but it's a great way to show that you can love something and do that thing some day.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This celebrates the kindergarten graduation of four kids with big dreams to be a pilot, taking care of others as a doctor, nurse or emergency medic, a teacher, or a mechanic.
Easily expands all the possibilities of "what to do with my life."

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm confused by what this book was supposed to be. It didn't necessarily feel like a graduation celebration. In fact, I would say it felt more like a book for younger readers who are interested in different types of careers. Overall, it was extremely disappointing and ended quite abruptly.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the class graduates from preschool they forecast what they will be later in life.