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, NYCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 2^-4. Carle's signature strong collages are put to good use in this book about movement. In each two-page spread, a child is paired with an animal, and kids are invited to make the same movement as the duo. Usually, the movement is one that comes naturally to the animals--for instance, an elephant stomps its feet, and so does a girl with braids; a gorilla thumps its chest, and so does a young boy. (Sometimes the connection is more tenuous, such as the alligator wiggling its hips.) The oversize art set against expanses of white will intrigue young children, who will enjoy both seeing the art and doing their own movements. The book will work well in story hours: a bit of wiggling and thumping will make a pleasurable break in the listening. Most libraries will want to shelve this with picture books. Ilene Cooper

From Kirkus Reviews
Carle (Little Cloud, 1996, etc.) takes as his premise that animals don't have to go to the gym--their natural movements give them plenty of exercise. ``I am a giraffe and I bend my neck. Can you do it?'' asks the animal of the child. ``I can do it!'' is the invariable reply. If readers participate in the gestures shown on every page, they'll get something of a work-out, for the analogies are good: foot-stomping elephants, clapping seals, and shoulder-hunching buffalo are enticingly imitatable. The book's large size and bold, brightly colored animals make it ideal for story hours. Unusual for Carle--and highlighted by the emphasis on action--is the stiffness of the collages: Neither children nor animals convey a sense of motion, but appear locked into place. Linda Lowery's Twist With a Burger, Jitter With a Bug (1995) inspires similar participation, but is a more rhythmic and vivacious book. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Book Description
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

Language Notes
Text: Spanish (translation)
Original Language: English

Card catalog description
Encourages the reader to exercise by following the movements of various animals; presented in a question and answer format.

About the Author
Eric Carle is a virtuoso of picture books for young children, known especially for The Grouchy Ladybug, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, From Head to Toe, Do You Want to Be My Friend?, The Secret Birthday Message, The Mixed Up Chameleon, Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? and many others.Mr. Carle lives with his wife in Northampton, MA. Eric Carle comenta acerca de este libro: "Así como los libros sobre el abecedario presentan las letras y las palabras sencillas a los niños pequeños, De la cabeza a los pies les enseña, a través de un rítmico juego de preguntas y respuestas, las partes básicas del cuerpo y sencillos movirnientos corporales"."Y de la misma manera que un niñio progresa desde la comprensión de palabras sencillas hasta la lectura y la escritura de palabras más complejas, oraciones y cuentos, irá desde ejecutar sencillos movirnientos corporales hasta bailar, hacer ejercicios, gimnástica y participar con confianza y placer en deportes y otras actividades".

ANNOTATION

Encourages the reader to exercise by following the movements of various animals; presented in a question and answer format.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

I can do it! is the confidence-building message of this fun-filled interactive picture book. A variety of familiar animals, depicted in colorful collages, invites young children to copy their antics as they wiggle, stomp, thump, and bend across the strikingly designed pages.

The movements suggested in this book have been chosen carefully to provide healthful exercises for many parts of the body in sequence. And as they play, children will be learning important skills such as listening carefully, focusing attention, understanding the spoken word, following instructions, and accepting a challenge, as well as being able to move their bodies in a controlled manner.

Laughter and squeals of delight will abound as boys and girls ( and their elders, too!) participate in the action.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Dori Butler

I can do it! These words appear on every double-page spread of Eric Carle's latest work. Like Carle's many other books, this simple text is enhanced by colorful collage illustrations. Each page features a new animal and readers are asked to copy its movement. Raise your shoulders like a buffalo. Or wave your arms like a monkey. Basic body parts are presented from head to toe. This delightful book is a good tool for developing listening skills in young children. It s also a good confidence building book for beginning readers to read to themselves.

School Library Journal

PreSAnimals 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 storyrather 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

Kirkus Reviews

Carle (Little Cloud, 1996, etc.) takes as his premise that animals don't have to go to the gym—their natural movements give them plenty of exercise. "I am a giraffe and I bend my neck. Can you do it?" asks the animal of the child. "I can do it!" is the invariable reply. If readers participate in the gestures shown on every page, they'll get something of a work-out, for the analogies are good: foot-stomping elephants, clapping seals, and shoulder-hunching buffalo are enticingly imitatable. The book's large size and bold, brightly colored animals make it ideal for story hours. Unusual for Carle—and highlighted by the emphasis on action—is the stiffness of the collages: Neither children nor animals convey a sense of motion, but appear locked into place. Linda Lowery's Twist With a Burger, Jitter With a Bug (1995) inspires similar participation, but is a more rhythmic and vivacious book.