“A small child muses about the future as Mom guides the bedtime routine…Winning text and illustrations for bedtime.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The whimsical pictures fill every page with happiness and variety as Chen presents exuberant ideas for the big dreams and wishes of childhood.” —Booklist

“As a mother helps her young son get ready for bed…Mom assures him that the future is wide open, and ‘No matter what, I will always be there for you.’” —Publishers Weekly

A little boy shares with his mom his dreams of what he might be when he grows up in this tender picture book from Julie Chen the host of Big Brother and formerly the host of The Talk and New York Times bestselling artist and Caldecott Honor recipient Diane Goode.

One night while getting ready for bed a little boy starts to wonder what will life be like when he grows up. He could be a painter, a musician, a mountain climber, a mayor…

He tells his mother all about his big ideas…and all of the other things he wants to do. But when will he grow up? And why does it take so long?

About The Author

Julie Chen

Julie Chen is a mother, a television personality, and a producer. She is the host of Big Brother and formerly the host of The Talk and lives with her family in California.

About The Illustrator

Photo Credit:

Diane Goode

Diane Goode has written seven and illustrated over sixty beloved and critically acclaimed picture books, including the New York Times bestsellers Founding Mothers and Ladies of Liberty by Cokie Roberts. She illustrated several books by Cynthia Rylant including When I Was Young in the Mountains, a Caldecott Honor Book. She is also the illustrator of President Pennybaker and My Mom is Trying to Ruin My Life, both by Kate Feiffer. She lives in Watchung, New Jersey, with her husband, David, and their dog, Briggs. You can read about her at DianeGoode.com.

Why We Love It

This book really melts your heart. —Paula W., VP and Publisher on When I Grow Up

Product Details

Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (October 2, 2018)
Length: 32 pages
ISBN13: 9781481497190
Ages: 4 - 8
Lexile ® 530L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
Fountas & Pinnell™ L These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System

Raves and Reviews

Lighthearted watercolor illustrations from Caldecott Honor Book artist Goode offer some amusing answers to a child‘s universal question: “Mom, when I grow up, what do you think I will be?” “Funny or smart? A baker? An artist? A writer?” Things get a little crazy when he suggests that, if he’s mayor, he’ll let the kids run the town, or allow all the dogs to come to school. Each imaginative page expresses positive messages: a desire to make the world sweeter, more beautiful, and lovely. Detailed pictures are fun-loving: his cake has both foxes and frogs circling the tiers, dogs fly paper airplanes, unicorns jump over hot-air balloons, sunflowers smile, rocket ships zoom, and grinning treehouses touch the sky. Children will enjoy finding the lively dachshund that accompanies the boy everywhere as they sail sky-high on a dragon, whiz along on a flying carpet, or plant a garden. The whimsical pictures fill every page with happiness and variety as Chen presents exuberant ideas for the big dreams and wishes of childhood. — Lolly Gepson

– Booklist, Oct 15, 2018