From Head to Toe Board Book [Board book]

Eric Carle (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up

What does an elephant do? It stomps its foot. Can you? From the creator of such beloved classics as The Grouchy Ladybug and The Mixed-Up Chameleon comes this interactive story that invites kids to imitate animal movements. Watching giraffes bend their necks or monkeys wave their arms is fun, but nothing could be better than joining in. From their heads down to their toes, kids will be wriggling, jiggling, and giggling as they try to keep up with these animals!Alligators wiggle, elephants stop, gorillas thump, and giraffes bend. Can you do it? ‘ I can do it!’ is the confidence-building message of this fun-filled interactive picture book. A variety of familiar animals invite young children to copy their antics, and as they play, they will learn such important skills as careful listening, focusing attention, and following instructions. Just as alphabet books introduce the very young child to letters and simple words, From Head to Toe introduces the basic body parts and simple body movements. And in the same way that children progress from understanding simple words to reading and writing sentences and stories, so they will progress from simple body movements to dancing, gymnastics, and other sports and activities, with confidence and pleasure.

Eric Carle's colorful collages have delighted children for more than a generation. Each book provides hours of fun while encouraging them to stretch their imaginations. His matchless words and illustrations now send out a new challenge:
Are you ready?
Here we go!
Move yourself
From Head to Toe.

A Main Selection of the Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As the artist's collages emulate animal movements, children will "eagerly clap, stomp, kick and wriggle their way through these pages," said PW. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreS. Animals and multiethnic children illustrate various body movements on large, double-page spreads. A giraffe bends its neck, a monkey waves its arms, etc. The repetitive text has the animal stating the movement and asking, "Can you do it?" Each child responds, "I can do it!" Carle's vivid cut-paper collages are striking and invite sharing individually or with a group. There is no story?rather the book is an invitation to get everyone moving. A nice addition to a toddler storytime, but it may get lost as it's cataloged in 613.7.?Lisa Smith, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Board book: 28 pages
• Publisher: HarperFestival; ZZZ edition (March 27, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0694013013
• ISBN-13: 978-0694013012
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Fitness
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( C ) > Carle, Eric
  • #16 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Baby-3 > Basic Concepts > General

More About the Author

Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for young children.


Eric was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, and moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old. After graduating from art school, he returned to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories, and found work as a graphic designer.


After seeing an advertisement designed by Eric, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask him to illustrate a story he had written. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, with its distinctive collage style, was the result of their collaboration. This favorite was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Eric was writing his own stories, developing a close bond with Ann Beneduce, the founder of Philomel Books, who would be his editor for nearly 40 years. In 1969 they published the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 30 languages. Since this beginning, Eric Carle has illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.


The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions. He says "I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born.
Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."


Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. He and his wife Barbara divide their time between Massachusetts and Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Eric Carle's best!, January 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: From Head to Toe (Paperback)

This is a fantastic book! The large, colorful pictures and the simple, clear text keep children bending and stretching right along with the animals! Still, unlike many of the reviewers who loved this for their one-year-olds, we found that this book didn't work for my active, not very verbal daughter when she was one (even though she sat for other books). We pulled it out again around the time she turned 2 and she LOVED IT. This book was a huge hit. Now at almost 4 it is still one of her favorites. Even if she's tired at bedtime she gets on the floor to do her donkey kicks along with the donkey! My older daughter also reported that this was one of her preschool teacher's favorite storytime books. I would say that for many children this book, despite it's deceptively simple pictures and text, is more appropriate for older children (age 2-4). This is a book I buy all the time for 2nd birthdays - It's always a hit! (especially good for active kids who prefer being "active" listeners!) This is an excellent choice for a book that will last kids for years!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Shower Gift! Book Interests Babies at Many Levels!, July 3, 2006

By 

Jennifer Juday "Working Mom & Cook" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Head to Toe Board Book (Board book)

I read FROM HEAD TO TOE to my baby, who is now 10 months old, and to a good friend's child, who is about 22 months old. Both enjoy it!

FROM HEAD TO TOE, like all of Eric Carle's books, offers multiple kinds of learning in one book. The first page shows a penguin saying "I am a penguin and I turn my head. Can you do it?" On the facing page, a girl has turned her heaed and answers, "I can do it!" We proceed through the book, going all the way down the body: head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, back, hips, knees, legs, foot, toes. At the same time, we meet an assortment of very appealing pictures of animals and learn their names: penguin, giraffe, buffalo, monkey, seal, gorilla, cat, crocodile, camel, donkey, elephant, and parrot.

I love that in the last pairing, the child takes action first: "I am I and I wiggle my toe. Can you do it?" This is followed by a parrot who copies the child wiggling his toe and says, "I can do it! I can do it!"

At our house, the 10-month-old is currently more inclined to enjoy the pictures, and is just starting to join in with the motions occasionally. The 22-month-old friend now joins in with many of the motions.

This is another great Eric Carle book, and will be a great addition to any child's early book collection.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an entertaining book...!, May 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: From Head to Toe (Hardcover)

My 16-month old daughter loves to turn her head, wave her arms, raise her shoulders, with the colorful animals in this book. Excellent book to teach children body parts, movements and animals. (She surprised us one day by thumping her chest when she saw a gorilla picuture somewhere else.) I also read this book to her classmates in a play group and they all loved it, too. Have fun "bending your knees" with your kids!