Young Jackie is on pace to earn more scout patches than anyone else in her troop, but she is about to discover exactly WHY we can’t always do it all… Jackie Does it All is a heartwarming story about a young girl learning a very human lesson about choosing priorities. In his wonderfully melodic book, author Fabian Ferguson allows us to discover with our children that sometimes it’s ok to say no in the most lovable of ways.
This is where Jackie’s mom steps in to deliver this story’s important central message about not over-promising and taking on too much, delivered in the book’s rhyming cadence: “To make people happy, I know how far you would go,/ but there often comes times you just have to say ‘NO!’” Even for young children, Jackie’s drive to be the best will be relatable, and Ferguson nicely highlights the stressful role that competition with peers can play in children’s lives. Jackie’s frustration and sadness at her perceived failings will also ring true with youngsters–and quite likely with overwhelmed older readers as well.
Ferguson’s rhyming, singsong prose is inviting, and the lesson about choosing priorities is increasingly valuable for kids growing up in a culture that frowns on resting, taking things slow, and carving out time for self-care. Alisa Aryutova’s distinctive, bright illustrations bring the story to memorable life: the pictures show friendly, wide-eyed Jackie hard at work on various projects and interacting with her friends, neighbor, and her mother as she learns that sometimes saying no isn’t about disappointing others–it’s about being true to herself.
Takeaway: An ambitious young girl learns that trying to make everyone else happy isn’t the best approach.
Great for fans of: Elizabeth Estrada’s I Choose To Try Again, Jory John’s The Smart Cookie.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
