I Can Do It Myself

VALORIE FISHER is the creator of the back-to-school favorite Everything I Need to Know Before I’m Five, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year; How High Can a Dinosaur Count?, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award winners My Big Brother and My Big Sister. She is also the photographer for the beloved Moxy Maxwell books by Peggy Gifford. Valorie lives in Cornwall, Connecticut, with her family and a colossal collection of tiny toys. Learn more at valoriefisher.com.

Pres-K—This book, with an apt title, is a checklist for preschoolers or kindergarteners. It begins with learning left and right, includes learning colors and shapes, and ends with making fresh lemonade. Illustrations demonstrate writing grips for both the right hand and the left, giving an easy-to-follow technique for holding a pencil. There are examples of how to form numbers and letters in which the order of the steps is color-coded. The book also includes simple words, shapes, and colors, as well as information on how to get dressed. Trouble comes when the book attempts to show how to tie shoes. There are so many more child-friendly ways to teach a youngster this skill ("bunny ears...") than the one used here. Making a bed is oversimplified, but this would be a good reminder for a child who has already learned the basics. Illustrations combine photographs of dolls, toys, and children. The photos of the children performing tasks are the most successful. Overall, this book tries to do too much for too many ability levels. While there are some useful sections, it is recommended as an additional purchase.—Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME