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I Can Be Anything!

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When I grow up, what shall I be?

This exuberant book offers up everything from a paper plane folder to a puppy dog holder, from a silly joke teller to a snowball smoother.

Newbery-Award winning author Jerry Spinelli's simple and charming rhymes are accompanied by internationally-renowned illustrator Jimmy Liao's vibrant and fantastical illustrations. This book is an imaginative joyride about hopes and dreams, and a reminder of all the possibilities life has to offer. So, what do you want to be? Remember--you can be anything!

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2010

2 people are currently reading
329 people want to read

About the author

Jerry Spinelli

113 books4,028 followers
When Jerry Spinelli was a kid, he wanted to grow up to be either a cowboy or a baseball player. Lucky for us he became a writer instead.

He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and went to college at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published more than 25 books and has six children and 16 grandchildren.
Jerry Spinelli began writing when he was 16 — not much older than the hero of his book Maniac Magee. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets — all except Spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. When his poem was published in the local paper, Spinelli decided to become a writer instead of a major-league shortstop.

In most of his books, Spinelli writes about events and feelings from his own childhood. He also gets a lot of material from his seven adventurous kids! Spinelli and his wife, Eileen, also a children's book author, live in Pennsylvania.

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5 stars
146 (26%)
4 stars
187 (33%)
3 stars
188 (33%)
2 stars
31 (5%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
Profile Image for Laura.
1,521 reviews253 followers
August 15, 2013

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I Can Be Anything! by Jerry Spinelli captures the pure jolt and joy of life! Color, energy, and inspiration spill off the pages!

I forget sometimes that we can be anything we want in life. How do we forget that? From moment to moment and day to day—we can do and be anything. We can be "bubble gum poppers, cheek to cheek grinners, or deep-hole diggers"! And we can be all of these things at once. Don’t let the world put one label or job title on you. Be everything and anything you want all at once!

This beautiful, colorful, inspiration of a book will remind readers of all ages that life is filled with possibilities! Endless hope and possibilities!

I needed the reminder, so thank you very much Mr. Spinelli. I forget sometimes that I am an ambidextrous, leaf pile jumper with a book in one hand and a bubble wand in the other! :D

What are you?
Profile Image for Abigail.
8,038 reviews267 followers
March 13, 2020
Jerry Spinelli - author of such young adult favorites as Stargirl , and the Newbery Medal-winner, Maniac Magee - takes aim at a younger audience in I Can Be Anything, a charming inspirational picture-book in which a young boy imagines all the things he could be. From pumpkin grower to dandelion blower, puddle stomper to apple chomper, the list of possibilities is practically endless!

With a rhyming text that just begs to be read aloud, an triumphant ending that affirms the many possibilities open to the young child, and colorful illustrations that are so full of joyful motion, that they almost leap off the page, this would make a wonderful gift for the toddler in your life, and an ideal story-hour selection. I'm not sure I needed the little orange sticker (thankfully removable) on the front cover, informing me that I Can Be Anything is "Perfect for Graduation," but then, I doubt the author and illustrator had anything to do with that.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
4,796 reviews
April 28, 2010
While the variety of jobs that the child considers doing when he grows up are fun and the illustrations are certainly "chipper" this book just didn't inspire me, for some reason. Still, I could see enjoying it when I was a kid.
Profile Image for Cosette.
1,345 reviews12 followers
Read
March 31, 2016
And here I thought I liked books by any author named Spinelli!
Profile Image for Rebecca Johnson.
228 reviews23 followers
February 24, 2019
2019 // 024 | I Can Be Anything - Jerry Spinelli (@jerryspinelli1 ) and Jimmy Liao (@jimmy_liao_official ) | 2010 | 32pp

“When I grow up, what shall I be?
Of all the many, many jobs, which one will be the best for me?”

In this book, a small boy wonders what job he will have as an adult: dandelion blower? Puppy dog holder? Maybe a bubblegum popper? He considers all the wonderful things he is good at and tries them on for size before making his decision. This is a cute book about believing in your strengths, whatever they may be.

Why did I choose this book: I was looking for a different book on the shelf and released I’d never read any of Spinelli’s younger fiction.
50 reviews
September 20, 2018
This book has beautiful illustrations with pictures of the variety of jobs the main character, a boy, wanted to be. I can relate to him because there are times where I was not sure what I wanted to be when I grew up. Though, to be fair, if I can be a "puppy-dog holder", I would be pretty much set for life. I also liked the texts being involved with the illustrations as well. The book shows that there can be many things that children can do and that sometimes they do not have to choose between one or the other. I would read this book again.
61 reviews1 follower
September 10, 2017
This is a rhyming picture book for small toddler/ preschool age children. The book begins with a little boy questioning what will become of him when he grows up. He comes up with all these fantastically creative ideas that true, aren't technical jobs but allow children to be creative with what they would like to do with their futures. In the end, he exclaims that he can be anything he wants to be, just like his readers.
Profile Image for Courtney.
4,298 reviews
January 26, 2018
"I can be Anything" is a story that was given to my children at the completion of their summer reading lists with our local library. This story tells the typical 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' answers through the eyes of a typical toddler.

What do you want to be when you grow up? An astronaut, ice cream sells-man, plumber, teacher, or doctor? The answers are endless and everything is possible, especially through the eyes of a child so young.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
5,028 reviews60 followers
March 20, 2019
I loved the bright illustrations and the rhyming text and the overall enthusiasm of this book. Such a fun twist on the "What do you want to do when you grow up?" theme. None of the jobs are real jobs (e.g. tin-can kicker, ice cream licker, etc.) but it's great for getting the kids involved and could be a good intro to a book that's a little more realistic or specific.
79 reviews
March 29, 2023
A very cute and short book about random jobs that young students would come up with and want to be when they grow up! Some jobs include paper plane folders and mixing bowl licker. I wish it did include typical jobs so you could do a lesson with students about what they want their future careers to be.
Profile Image for Hằng Trần.
84 reviews7 followers
October 9, 2018
Lớn lên con sẽ muốn làm gì nhỉ? Con có thể làm mọi điều con muốn đấy bé yêu ạ, bắt đầu bằng việc tự chọn cuốn sách này đưa mẹ đọc là 2 mẹ con mình đã bước chân vào thế giới diệu kỳ rồi.
Nội dung và minh hoạ đều tuyệt vời, cả người lớn và người nhỏ nhà tôi đều mê.
50 reviews
August 28, 2019
I Can Be Anything! is a fun book that shows a young boy thinking about what he can be when he's older. Spinelli gives humorous options like a "puppy dog holder" or a "deep-hole digger". It is important for students to believe they have a world of options when they are older and are not limited.
18 reviews1 follower
January 28, 2020
A book that is an "imaginative joyride" that lists multiple possibilities of what the character could be when he grows up. This book is inspiring and reminds children that they can be anything when they grow up!
Profile Image for Pam.
9,975 reviews57 followers
September 29, 2017
All sorts of amazing jobs are considered when a young boy is lazing away a day in the sun.
Profile Image for The Brothers.
4,118 reviews24 followers
March 8, 2018
A little boys examines the many choices he can pick for what he wants to be when he grows up. All of them whimiscal and cute.

Illustrations also cute.
Profile Image for Jessica.
1,205 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2018
A wonderfully whimsical rhyming story with colorful and fun illustrations! Great message and addition to the classroom.
Profile Image for Eric Hinkle.
879 reviews42 followers
July 23, 2018
Read this one in the Hong Kong library because I love the illustrator, Jimmy Liao. Both the occupation choices and the illustrations are great. Really enjoyable book!
Profile Image for Heather.
118 reviews
May 11, 2020
How fun to imagine all the wonderful things you can be when you "grow" up. The pictures in this book are so fun!
139 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2022
Very out there! I love it since it isn’t obvious choices!
66 reviews1 follower
March 30, 2023
I LOVED this book! I think it is super engaging and does a great job of explaining that you can be anything you want to be. I will use this in my future classroom!
20 reviews1 follower
August 28, 2023
Giochi di parole sui lavori. Primaria: grammatica per desinenze, ed. Civica per visione sul futuro ed identità
Profile Image for Ms. B.
3,749 reviews80 followers
November 3, 2024
Cute little rhyming story about all sorts of jobs that you can be, no matter what your age.
42 reviews
September 15, 2013
Picture Book Soak #4

"One That Caught Your Attention"

This story caught my attention because it surprised me quite a bit. From the title, I was expecting to see many different "common" jobs that are introduced to young students: Teacher, firefighter, construction worker, artist etc. Instead, I was introduced to many other "titles/jobs."

Description: A young boy and his rabbit discover various fun jobs, including a "puppy-dog holder," a "mixing-bowl licker," a "baby-sis soother," etc. The pair decide that there are too many fun jobs in the world to just pick ONE! So they choose to be a part of every fun job there is when they grow up.

Classroom: In Kindergarten, there is an SOL about various job descriptions. I would use this book during this lesson, to show students that there are many "jobs" and talents that they can fulfill, and that the possibilities are endless! I would encourage my students to dream big, not necessarily sticking with the "typical" jobs they always hear about!

Visuals: Jimmy Liao, the illustrator, illustrates the story beautifully, carefully providing intricate images that portray each "job" in a magical way. The jobs come to life on each othe pages, and Liao is very talented with colors.

Overall Impression: I was impressed with the unusual yet extraordinary job descriptions that Spinelli "created" or rather pointed out that are often times over looked (due to their silliness) yet they are perfect for describing the different traits that human beings have and carry out, even including a love for lemonade. It is important to be reminded that your job title may not mean everything in your life, rather, the way you view life in general and how you appreciate it.. which is what I obtained from reading this story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews

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