17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore, written by Jenny Offill; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore
Written by Jenny Offill; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
Schwartz & Wade; $15.99
32 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-0375835964

Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews

What kid hasn't had grand schemes, only to have them shot down by one or both of her parents (or other figures of authority) before implementation? It's frustrating. But with Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter's new book 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore, your child (and let's face it -- you, too, because I can't believe you can't remember what it was like to be a kid) can live vicariously through this exciting day in the life of a child.

One by one, this child recounts each and every single one of the 17 things she's done today, and then the repercussions of her actions:

"I had an idea to staple my brother's hair to his pillow.

"I am not allowed to use the stapler anymore."

From the time she gets up in the morning to the time she goes to bed, it's one idea after another, and one adult after another that thwarts her plans. From walking backwards to school to freezing a fly in the ice cube tray, from giving the (airbone) "gift of cauliflower" at the dinner table to running away from home (carrying a saw, no less!), kids will grin at this girl's creativity and cleverness, while we parents will thank the heavens above that our kid hasn't tried that yet. Although, I do confess that as soon as I started reading this with my own lively child, I had a fleeting thought that she might get ideas…

The final scene depicts mom's clearly bottomless well of love and forgiveness, while the youngster with a gleam in her eye all but has her fingers crossed behind her back -- it's clear that she'll keep following her bliss, and mom will keep loving her, no matter what. You know, like we all do.

Jenny Offill's name might be familiar to some moms; she co-edited The Friend Who Got Away: Twenty Women's True-Life Tales of Friendships that Blew Up, Burned Out, or Faded Away with Elissa Schappell. 17 Things is her children's book debut. Nancy Carpenter has also illustrated several other award-winning picture books, including Apples to Oregon and Sitti's Secrets.

The pen and ink and digital media illustrations that include photographs are whimsical and fun, very child-like yet sophisticated, and perfectly matched to the character of the girl telling the story. For example, as she recalls the report she was supposed to write about George Washington that ended up being about beavers (she thought it would be a good idea at the time), Carpenter's artwork includes a dollar bill upon which a ball point pen illustration of a beaver has been taped over the picture of George Washington, and beavers sit in a boat with an American flag crossing the Delaware.

The droll and matter-of-fact tone of the story heightens the humorous scrapes and illustrations, making this a great book for sharing with early elementary school-aged kids. It's funny, it's irreverent, and this child's staunch determination to stay true to herself is endearing and encouraging (even if we parents secretly shudder at the thought of our own kids pulling such stunts).