Book Review: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

There's no sitting still for this one. In From Head to Toe, Eric Carle's animals show off how they move their bodies, and then ask your child, "Can you do it?"

What it's about

Each page features an animal and a body part. A penguin turns its head. A giraffe bends its neck. A monkey waves its arms. A gorilla thumps its chest. Every animal asks if the reader can do the same, and a child on the page answers, "I can do it!" The pictures have Carle's classic bright, painted-paper collage style.

Why we like it

This book is perfect for toddlers who can't sit through a story, because it isn't really meant to be sat through. By the second page your child is up, moving and copying the animals. It's also a sneaky body-parts lesson: head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, hips, legs, knees and toes all show up.

We love ending the week on this one. It reminds kids that their bodies can do a lot of amazing things, which is exactly what All About Me is about.

How to read it with your little one

• Clear some space before you start. You'll need it.

• Let your child shout "I can do it!" each time.

• Swap roles: they make up a move, and you copy it.

Good to know

• Best for: ages 1–5

• Read time: about 5 minutes, plus a lot of moving

• Pairs with: Thursday's My Body Parts talk

Get the book:Get it on Amazon · It's also easy to find at your local library.

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Everything mentioned in this post, in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

• Shop everything for Week 1: All About Me

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our All About Me activities, Letter A activities and Number 1 activities.