I Only Like What I Like [Hardcover]

Julie Baer (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

His full name is Dewey Jackson Braintree-Berg and he only likes what he likes. He only likes one certain black and white cat. He only likes an apple if it's red. And he only likes one particular yellow and white house. You'd think that a boy with such set likes and dislikes would hardly ever have any fun, wouldn't you? So on Monday, when Dewey, who will only eat noodles shaped like letters is invited for dinner and sits facing a bowl of squiggly green macaroni, what can he do?? And what are those wriggly green squiggles anyway?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Dewey Jackson Braintree-Berg only likes what he likes: round food in the morning, alphabet noodles, red apples, parents who stay home, his cat, yellow-and-white houses, and a bright light in his room at night. But each day of the week, one of his original notions is shattered as his list of what is acceptable grows. He discovers that rectangular waffles, squiggly macaroni, and even a different baby-sitter can be enjoyable. Jewish New Year at home and going to Grandma's for the Sabbath also help broaden the youngster's horizons. Baer bombards readers with unusual illustrations. She uses found images to create cut-paper pictures, achieving a panoply of designs that calls for hours of perusal. The collages are each framed, and the borders and backgrounds are filled with mosaics and shapes that often reflect the text, as when Dewey talks about his preference for noodles formed like letters. The colors and shadows on the characters' faces resemble what Chuck Close achieves using photography. An endnote states the publisher's aim to "make books that don't fall into the normal order of things," and this tour de force achieves that goal. Dewey Jackson Braintree-Berg is not the only one who discovers new things here. Readers do, too, among these extraordinary images.
Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community College, CT
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"CHILDREN BEWARE –will have you trying the untried, 'cause it's FUN! The collages fill you up to the eyeballs..." -- Rob Shepperson, illustrator for Newsweek, New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal.

...a nice title for teachers and media specialists in search of kindergarten stories at Rosh Hashanah. -- Childrenslit.com

A delightful story about the love between parent and child, and the beauty of nature all around us. -- Christina Lewis, KidsBookshelf.com

A very different book for 3-8 year olds, it is not a story like others. -- Joan Friedman, Shalom Newspaper, Reading, PA

Baer's unique illustrations... mark the book as extraordinary.... intricate cut-paper collages with hand-painted details. -- Janie Frantz, Myshelf.com

Funny and understanding of the ways of very young, this book will resonate very well with little children. -- Through the Looking Glass Children's  Book Review

Julie Baer presents us with a unique book. Her fantastic artwork depicts nature and people in a special way. -- Bookreviewcafe.com

The author has created a fantastic book about growth, self-discover, family, and love. -- Jennifer LB Leese, Picket News, Hagerstown, MD

What a great message for kids: try it, you might like it! Baer’s illustrations really make this book pop. -- Newpages.com, Denise Hill

distinctive style of color illustrations enhances this entertaining and very strongly recommended parable about learning to adapt to change. -- The Midwest Book Review, June 2003

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Bollix Books; 1 edition (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932188002
• ISBN-13: 978-1932188004
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #768,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent children's book breaks away from boring traditiona, April 27, 2004

By 

Richard File Muriel (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Only Like What I Like (Hardcover)

Written and illustrated by Julie Baer for children ages 3 to 8, I Only Like What I Like is the story of a young boy (Dewey), who, at first, is picky and closed-minded. During the development of the story, Dewey is faced with new foods, experiences, and challenges. The boy learns to adapt and expand his world view, realizing that there are different ways to interpret the world. The illustrations are excellent and encourage children to use their creativity to interpret them. I recommended this book with no reservations.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A recommended parable about learning to adapt to change, August 11, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Only Like What I Like (Hardcover)

Written and illustrated by Julie Baer for children ages 3 to 8, I Only Like What I Like is the story of Dewey Jackson Braintree-Berg, a young boy who is strict and severe in his personal preferences. Dewey only likes apples that are red, one certain black-and-white cat, noodles shaped like letters on Monday, and so forth. But sometimes Dewey is faced with new foods, new things, and new challenges that he has never seen before - what is a boy to do? A distinctive style of slightly discordant color illustrations enhances this entertaining and very strongly recommended parable about learning to adapt to change.