Look What I can Do

by José Aruego

Things get out of hand when two buffalo try to outdo each other in this almost-wordless picture book from Jose Arguego.

“Look what I can do!” “I can do it too!” And so begins a lively contest between two water buffalo that ends up being a bigger adventure than either of them had imagined!

This simple, nearly wordless picture book is one that the very youngest children will be eager to “read” all by themselves.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

José Aruego was a Filipino children's author, illustrator, and cartoonist known for his lively animal characters and collaborations with Ariane Dewey. Trained originally as a lawyer in the Philippines, he later studied design in New York and became a successful cartoonist for magazines including The New Yorker. He created more than eighty children's books, including Whose Mouse Are You?, Leo the Late Bloomer, and Gregory the Terrible Eater, while also visiting schools to encourage children's creativity and drawing.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two buffalo get more than they bargained for when a game of "anything you can do I can do better" leads to unexpected consequences.

Cute story, with fun illustrations by the author.

[Chance Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes an unexpected turn and I GASPED.

[Sandra Sy]

"Look What I Can Do" by Jose Aruego was published in 1971 and is a wordless book that is great for 1st and 2nd graders. The story is about two buffalo who try to show off their talents and they embark on an unexpected journey. Wordless books are a wonderful tool for students to express their imagination and creativity. The illustrations are an outlet for students to tell the story from their own perspective. Students can read this book aloud to each other and then come together as a class to get everyone's ideas.

[Phoenix Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another book that is mainly pictures but also the child can tell their own story which teaches the child a proper way to hold a book and to read left to right on the page. The book also has very good illustrations that you can actually tell what is happening throughout the book.

[Cheryl A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can water buffalo dance? More to the point, *should* they? Let your little one 'read' this story, and then tell you what s/he thinks.

(btw, author counts for Philippines AAPI diversity)

openlibrary.org

[Zoe Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is extremely simple with a lot of pictures. It would be great for kids in preschool or even kindergarten. It doesn’t really have an overall main idea, but its a silly book that kids will love.

[Elin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jose Aruego is a drawing genius. Simple strokes but ample emotion. Love it!

[Eva Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I'd say I can read every word in this one but you know what? It's almost all pictures! HA! And it's got drawings too, of elks or something like cows with horns. But I DID read all the words. The best part was the cows jumping off the cliff into the river and swimming away. But when they try to be pushy at the end that's ENOUGH!

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wordless picture book for kindergarten at the start of the school year. Will help to build confidence and knowledge of how to readers build good habits. PreK-K

[Jessica]

Can't wait to read this with my 6 year old. It is a part of our "Teaching your Child to Read in a 100 Easy Lessons" curriculum.

[Angela Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, silly way to introduce a sensible moral.

[Rebeca Whitecotton]

This book is a wordless book. This would be good for students to help them take pictures from books and put them into words. This allows for students to be able to use their imaginations, and to build their stories however they want to as there is no right or wrong answer.

[Erika]

This picture book would be a good read for primary students. It was about these two oxen that were comparing their abilities and they were trying to do something that the other could not and they got so caught up in what they were trying to do better, that they fell off a cliff. Once they got to shore another oxen tried to show them what he could do, but they stopped him before he did. This just shows you that you need to be who you are and not try and compare yourself to others.