From Publishers Weekly
The creative team behind Today I Feel Silly amiably addresses the challenges of being a five-year-old—especially the pesky problem of learning self-control. In the story's wry opening, the narrator observes, "It's hard to be five. I'm little no more. Good old days are gone. 'Bye one, two, three, four." Among the trials he faces are controlling his temper when dealing with his younger brother ("My mind says do one thing, my mouth says another"), avoiding dirt and starting school ("School seems so scary. School seems so strange. I'm only five. My whole world's going to change"). Curtis's singsong verse also focuses on some of the pluses of being five: though his brother is strapped into a stroller, the hero can walk by himself ("It's fun to be five! Big changes are here! My body's my car, and I'm licensed to steer") and school entails some entertaining activities ("At five I'm a worker—a bee among bees. I build things and grow things, say thank you and please"). Cornell's buoyant, teeming spreads and spot illustrations convey the boundless energy and changeable moods of this likeable five-year-old with on-target, hyperbolic humor. Though the narrative winds to a rather corny close, this cheerful book with its clever visual details will surely appeal to fans of the collaborators' earlier books as well as those looking for a reassuring, age-appropriate tale for the kindergartner in their lives. Ages 4-8. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1–This tongue-in-cheek look at what it feels like to be five will result in uproarious laughter from kids, smiles of recognition from parents, and a cause for pause for any adult involved in a youngster's care. The protagonist is aware of what he has been taught to say: " 'Would you ever so kindly please give me my wig back?'" but, "my mouth says, 'IT'S MINE!'" While waiting his turn on a car ride, the big brother's mind thinks, "It's been an hour and nine minutes. Might I have a smidge of a turn before we have to leave?" However, it comes out, " 'MOM!'" Splashy, vibrant colors capture the typical surroundings through all of the exaggerated, larger-than-life phases of growing up, while the childlike, handwritten text draws viewers right in to the full-page, familiar busyness. Self-control, starting school, and independence–they're all here. Whether read aloud, shared one-on-one, or read independently, giggles and laughter will abound.–Wanda Meyers-Hines, Ridgecrest Elementary School, Huntsville, AL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist
PreS-K. Curtis is perhaps the best known of the celebrity authors, and along with illustrator Cornell has had several best-sellers. This one will get lots of publicity, too, but it is a convoluted offering. A five-year-old talks about his angst. "Little no more," the child has to learn how to control his mouth, go to school, and deal with outgrowing his clothes. An overly long text is punctuated with banal rhyme: "It's hard to be five / Parents want you all clean. / But washing my face makes me crabby and mean." Then it's "fun to be five! / Big changes are here! My body's my care / and I'm licensed to steer." Scratchy, simple line drawings mixed with occasional, interesting full-color artwork illustrate the story. Libraries will want to buy this if there's demand. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description

It's hard to be five.
Just yelled at my brother.
My mind says do one thing.
My mouth says another.

It's fun to be five!
Big changes are here!
My body's my car,
and I'm licensed to steer.

Learning not to hit? Having to wait your turn? Sitting still? It's definitely hard to be five. But Jamie Lee Curtis's encouraging text and Laura Cornell's playful illustrations make the struggles of self-control a little bit easier and a lot more fun!

This is the sixth inspired book from the #1 New York Times best-selling team of Today I Feel Silly: & Other Moods That Make My Day and I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self Esteem.


About the Author
Jamie Lee Curtis is a critically-acclaimed and best-selling author. Her most recent book, Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day enjoyed an extraordinary nine weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. It has sold over 750,000 copies to date. Other best-selling titles include Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born And When I Was Little: A Four-Year Old#146;s Memoir Of Her Youth. All of Curtis#146; picture books have been illustrated by the acclaimed artist, Laura Cornell. Her fourth book, Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery will be published in September 2000. Curtis has demonstrated her versatility as a film actress with starring roles in such acclaimed films as the blockbuster True Lies opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, for which she earned a Golden Globe Award, and Trading Places with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd for which she earned a British Film Academy award for Best Supporting Actress. Most recently Jamie starred in Halloween: H2O, which was the 20 year sequel to Halloween, #151;the now classic film which first brought her to the attention of audiences worldwide. Other memorable leading film role performances include A Fish Called Wanda, Fierce Creatures, Virus, Dominick And Eugene, Blue Steel, My Girl, My Girl Ii, Forever Young, Mother#146;s Boys, House Arrest and Love Letters. In television, Curtis co-starred opposite Richard Lewis in the acclaimed sitcom Anything But Love which earned her both a Golden Globe and People#146;s Choice Award, as well as TNT#146;s adaptation of the Wendy Wasserstein play The Heidi Chronicles which also earned her a Golden Globe nomination. More recently, Jamie starred in the CBS telefilm Nicholas#146; Gift for which she received an Emmy nomination. Curtis began her Hollywood career in 1977 when she signed on as a contract player with Universal Studios. She was a regular on the television series Operation Petticoat when she was cast in Halloween. That role lead to subsequent roles in Prom Night, Terror Train and The Fog. Jamie Lee Curtis is the mother of Annie and Thomas. She has been married for 16 years to actor/director Christopher Guest.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Bestselling author Jamie Lee Curtis once again teams up with Laura Cornell for another sure-to-be winner, this time to celebrate the agony and the ecstasy of being five. Complemented by Cornell's knee-slapping illustrations, which capture a frustrated boy learning to make sense of his changing world, Curtis zeroes in on the transformative age of five, when mouths have a mind of their own, clothes never fit, and of course, going to school for the first time is no picnic ("It's hard to be five. It takes Superman skill. Sitting in circles. Sitting so still"). But as fans have come to appreciate from Curtis, the author also shows the positive side of the coin: Being five also means responsibility, knowing yourself better, and recognizing that "I have my own mind and I have my own heart." In true form, Curtis and Cornell show childhood like it is, keeping the upbeat pace that readers found in their previous Today I Feel Silly and I'm Gonna Like Me. Five-year-olds will certainly cheer the voice that this duo lends them, while kids younger or older than five can reflect on how that age is an important door to identity and independence.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Learning not to hit? Having to wait your turn? Sitting still? It's definitely hard to be five, but Jamie Lee Curtis's rhyming verses and Laura Cornell's playful illustrations make learning self-control a little bit easier -- and a lot more fun! Whether it's learning to say please, or waiting in line, or walking on your own, It's Hard to Be Five shows readers that all children struggle with self-control. In the tradition of the duo's other best-sellers, this book explains that overcoming the hard things in life helps us to grow.

It's Hard to Be Five is the sixth book from this beloved team, whose previous book, I'm Gonna Like Me, spent thirty-seven weeks on the New York Times best-seller list.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The creative team behind Today I Feel Silly amiably addresses the challenges of being a five-year-old especially the pesky problem of learning self-control. In the story's wry opening, the narrator observes, "It's hard to be five. I'm little no more. Good old days are gone. 'Bye one, two, three, four." Among the trials he faces are controlling his temper when dealing with his younger brother ("My mind says do one thing, my mouth says another"), avoiding dirt and starting school ("School seems so scary. School seems so strange. I'm only five. My whole world's going to change"). Curtis's singsong verse also focuses on some of the pluses of being five: though his brother is strapped into a stroller, the hero can walk by himself ("It's fun to be five! Big changes are here! My body's my car, and I'm licensed to steer") and school entails some entertaining activities ("At five I'm a worker a bee among bees. I build things and grow things, say thank you and please"). Cornell's buoyant, teeming spreads and spot illustrations convey the boundless energy and changeable moods of this likeable five-year-old with on-target, hyperbolic humor. Though the narrative winds to a rather corny close, this cheerful book with its clever visual details will surely appeal to fans of the collaborators' earlier books as well as those looking for a reassuring, age-appropriate tale for the kindergartner in their lives. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

The jolly rhymes are written as if by a five-year-old, describing how hard it is to be past the "good-old days," to be in a time when so much more is expected of you; when you want to do what's right but just can't seem to. School is scary: "It takes Superman skill. Sitting in circles. Sitting so still." But it also sometimes fun to be five as well, with new skills and opportunities. "It's hard fun to be five..." "I'm here and I'm proud!" Kids can enjoy identifying with the mixed emotions as they learn to work their own control panel. Cornell's energetic, comic watercolor drawings demonstrate with gusto the frenetic actions of this normal kid. From the beginning end-papers with the "5-o-meter" flashing the "Panic" button through the many scenes with rhyming text plus all sorts of funny writing on book cover, back pack, in speech balloons, etc. she takes us on a frenetic romp guaranteed to wear out most adults while grabbing the attention of youngsters. On the back end-papers, the "5-o-meter control panel" is running smoothly at last. 2004, Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 4 to 6.

Kirkus Reviews