You Rule! by Rilla Alexander

The subtitle of this book is "A book of possibilities" and that is so true.

How ready are you? 

not at all; thinking about it; just another minute; preparing; ready and willing; on my way; almost there; enthusiastic; can't wait; fired up; rarin' to go

Take a look at these answers - now think about them as a sequence. Can you see how they move from not ready to go go go! To show this progression the author/illustrator uses font size and saturation of the font black from pale to bold. And above the words, the child from the cover with his huge ruler, is climbing up a set of stairs ready to open the door. His small caterpillar companion has his pencil. Meanwhile the dog is not ready because he is digging a hole and heading the other way. 

Turn the page - How big are you?

On this one the sequence is in reverse order from soaring and sky-high down to teeny tiny, sprouting and microscopic. 

The caterpillar stands on the nose of the dog and the boy uses his pencil to mark the height chart.

Turn the page - How strong are you?

This page has fabulous words such as tenacious, robust, indestructible, solid, unsteady, flexible and mighty.

The boy and his dog are playing tug-of-war, and the caterpillar is helping his friend. 

And so we continue - How fast are you? How happy are you? How kind are you? How brave are you? How much do you know? How much do you have? How much can you do? How long will it take? How far can you go? How much do I love you?

Meanwhile the caterpillar is changing until the butterfly arrives on the final pages but wait there is another character. Where did that tiger come from?

Do you love the cover? I do! Turn inside and yes, the end papers are brilliant - at the front is a caterpillar munching a leaf and at the back a tiny butterfly flies off the corner of the page. The full-color illustrations were rendered in rubber stamps and digital collage. And under the dust jacket there is a surprise. It would so be good to add this book to your school library. My friend paid AUS$37 for this book but I have seen it listed for AUS$27 too. Here in Australia, I also found a bargain copy for AUS$15 but you might need to act fast! If I had this book in my classroom, I would display each double page for a week and use it as a discussion starter. There are enough pages to do this for a whole term. And think about all the rich words your group will encounter - diminutive, unsteady, hustling, supersonic, exhilarated, ecstatic, considerate, obliging, heroic, defiant, vulnerable, gutsy, an abundance, and immeasurably.

Bookseller blurb: This is a wonderfully affirmative and aspirational book of possibilities and exploration, a fantastic linguistic calibration/celebration of bravery, kindness, love, and so much more. Within this bright and colorful picture book and energetic glossary of words, Rilla Alexander brilliantly succeeds in measuring the immeasurables of life.

The publisher page says:

• BUILDS EMOTIONAL LANGUAGE: This book provides the linguistic tools to describe and measure the widest possible emotions and qualities with a rich palette of words saturated in wit, whimsy, and empathy.
• THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUNG AND OLD: Whether you are shopping for a baby gift, a graduation gift, or browsing the library shelves for a book to soothe a child getting ready to start school, this book is for you!
• A GENTLE MESSAGE OF INSPIRATION AND IMAGINATION: Follow along as a boy and his dog tenderly care for a lost caterpillar until its transformation and release as a glorious butterfly.
• GORGEOUS, BOLD ILLUSTRATIONS: The author's bright, kid-friendly artwork makes an instant impression-a feast for the mind and the eyes!

Often, responses cavort playfully on pages so readers have to turn the book—or their heads!—to read text, as is the case with the question “How strong are you?” for which answers appear on a rope with which the child plays tug of war with a dog. ...  This unique, clever offering will enhance visual literacy and help readers develop vocabulary. How do you measure a terrific, winning book? By the learning and smiles it will surely generate. Kirkus

Based on the author’s nephew who she features in the book, children will realize that not everything in life can be measured or tracked. Kids like to use rulers to measure things. They like to see how far they can jump, how tall they are, or how far they can throw. But, you can’t really measure how kind you are or how much you are loved. Children's Book Review Sincerely Stacey

Rilla Alexander is an Australian designer, illustrator, and artist whose work has appeared on everything from toys and teacups to buses and buildings. She explores creativity, ideas, and language through simple characters, graphic forms, and bold colors, inspiring both children and adults through books and workshops. Her picture books include The Best Book in the World, You Rule!, Her Idea, The New Rooster, and The Thingamajig. She lives in Los Angeles, USA. You can hear her talking here. (17 minutes talking about how creativity works).

I am very keen to see her other books and I will add her board books to my wish list.