Do You Know What I'll Do?

by Charlotte Zolotow, Garth Williams

One day a little girl said to her brother...

Do you know what I'll do at the seashore?

I'll bring you a shell to hold the sound of the sea.

In a little girl's magical question-and-answer game, Charlotte Zolotow captures, with unerring childlike simplicity, a sister's special love for her little brother.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, African American, 1st Grade

30 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Charlotte Zolotow was a distinguished American writer, editor, and publisher who made a lasting mark on children's literature. Over her career, she authored around 70 picture book texts and edited works by prominent writers including Paul Zindel, Robert Lipsyte, and Francesca Lia Block. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, she studied writing at the University of Wisconsin Madison and later joined Harper & Bros in New York, where she worked her way up from secretary to publisher. Her own books were published by over 20 houses, and she became known for her poetic and emotionally insightful texts. Zolotow’s most celebrated works include When the Wind Stops, William’s Doll, and River Winding. Her story "Enemies" was featured in The Big Book for Peace alongside other notable authors. She lived for many years in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Her legacy endures not only through her own writing but also through the Charlotte Zolotow Award, established in 1998 to honor outstanding picture book texts. Her contributions helped shape modern children's literature with sensitivity, elegance, and enduring relevance.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl is imagining all the things she will do for her baby brother, how she will protect him, how she is looking forward to being a big sister and how she will help him and show him things. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful.

Read on openlibrary

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book written from a sister's perspective to her little brother is one I will always treasure! So beautifully written with gorgeous illustrations, this book is simply lovely! I read it to my littlest brother, and act out the last scene:

"Do you know what I will do when I am grown up and married? I will bring you my baby to hug, just like this."

Sweet sweet memories. <3

[Saffron Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rating is for the edition illustrated by Garth Williams.

[Callie]

Grade/interest level: Primary (K-2)
Reading level: Fountas-Pinnell J/Lexile 300L
Genre: Picture book/Realistic fiction

Main Characters: Brother and sister
Setting: N/A
POV: First person

Summary:
This is a story about the promises that a little girl makes to her younger brother about the future. She promises him flowers when it becomes Spring time, a shell from the beach to listen to the sounds of the sea, and to remember her dreams so she can share them with him, among other things. It’s a touching story that shows how strong a bond can be between siblings.

The illustrations are beautiful and unique. They are collages created using painted plywood, cloth, ribbon, dried flowers, and other materials. The illustrator brushes lines of yellow around certain aspects of the images to create definition.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Do You Know What I'll Do? a big sister talks to her little brother about the things they will do together, and the ways she will take care of him. I'm not sure this would have made me cry before I was a parent, but with all the talk in our house lately about being big sisters, it struck a pretty big chord. I'm a little disappointed that this book has been re-illustrated in recent years. Garth Williams was a brilliant illustrator and I find it disrespectful when publishers discarded allegedly "outdated" pictures and allow a new illustrator to reinterpret the text. I much prefer to read original versions.

[Rachel Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a bit confused this is the story i read and author, But the cover and illustration is different. All and all a good book About a sisters love for her little brother, I like the way she inter acts with him.

[Maggie Novak · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet story -- I think I liked it more than M, though.

[Joshua's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our copy was illistrated by Javaka Steptoe. I loved introducing my children to her artwork.

Sweet story about the bond between a brother and sister. Great message for my kids.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah! My library didn't have the version with Garth Williams as illustrator. It's a really sweet story but the abstract illustrations by Steptoe didn't do it for me. So make sure you get William's version - it pushes it up to five stars for sure.

Ages: 3 - 8

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[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I imagine Garth Williams' art made it more clear that the brother is very young. I'm not accustomed to seeing this kind of a bond between siblings close in age, as Steptoe's brother and sister are... I kept waiting for it to be one of Zolotow's 'deep feelings' books and the brother was very ill and couldn't do any of these things for himself, or something like that. But no, apparently (according to one blurb) the brother is just too young to do these things for himself.

Another possible interpretation is more cynical and negative. Because I was a self-important and even bossy older sister, I can easily see that kind of behavior in this story. At least, in this story as interpreted by Steptoe, again, because the brother may not welcome the smothering attention.

I would like to see Williams' original art.

Update - found some. The boy is clearly younger, but not as young as I'd imagine. So, um, yeah, imo this book in either edition is only likely to appeal to certain families, and not so much to other readers (including me). Sorry.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love many of Charlotte Zolotow's books and am thrilled this one was re-illustrated by Javaka Steptoe with two black children (another reviewer referred to the pictures as "abstract." They're not abstract at all, but they're definitely not Garth Williams' drawings.)

[Cana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very very sweet. In a good way.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story about the strong bond between a brother and a sister.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for older child getting a new sibling.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read the version illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, which we enjoyed.

[Illey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book. It shows the bond between sister and brother, and the illustrations are beyond amazing.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would look at the pictures in this book over and over when I was little. I'm so glad I found it again as an adult - it's a very sweet book and brings back so many memories.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh so sweet! I love Charlotte Zolotow.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

illustrations by Javaka Steptoe!

[Kristen McBee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the version with illustrator Javaka Steptoe.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great updated version!

[Angela]

If you'd like to take an interesting journey in children's booklandia, check out both the Garth Williams and Javaka Steptoe versions of Charlotte's text. Do some comparisons and internal evaluations about your perceptions and where children's publishing was at each of these two points on the timeline.

Who would illustrate this poem today and what textures, themes would be presented. Let's have a workshop!

Williams, 1958
Steptoe, 2000

[Becker Children · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-printing a book with new illustrations to show more diverse skin tones is great, but why do the new illustrations have to be so primitive and kind and of tribal? This goal could be met while sticking with an illustration style similar to Tasha Tudor or Garth Williams which is more authentic to Zolotow’s writing. I can hardly recall the story because I was so distracted by the ugly style of illustration and now I just want to find the older copy.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute, it would be a great book to read if you had a daughter and were having another baby.
I like the photos, especially the nightmare one. I thought her blowing the nightmare away was really creative.
Something that bothered me was that it feels almost like the little girl was being parentified, when it isnt her job to be her brothers parent.

[Allie Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a very good job of depicting how an older sister looks after her younger brother. She dreams about all the things she will do that she can give him. The illustrations do a good job of showing the culture behind the story.

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching and sweet, this one's a keeper. I love the message of thoughtfulness and generosity, as a little girl talks to her baby brother and imagines all the ways she will build him up and share joy and wonder with him. The Garth Williams illustrations are lovely and not to be missed.

[Madame Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations. Its a cute story about the love a big sister has for her little brother.

[Ammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reread for me and I liked it better the second time. It's all about the love for a younger sibling.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet vintage picture book, and I loved the illustrations by Garth Williams! They really bring this charming story to life!

[Henessy Tolliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for children because it repeats some of the words throughout the book. I strongly believe it make a easy reading for children.