Summer Jackson: Grown Up: A Hilarious Picture Book for Kids (Ages 4-8) About Wanting to Be an Adult

by Teresa E. Harris, A.G. Ford (Illustrator)

Meet Summer Jackson, a smart, irresistible character who will appeal to to any kid who has ever wanted to skip straight to adulthood because it seems like SO much more fun. Summer is fairly certain she's ready to be a grown-up—right now. She wants to wear a blazer, read the morning paper, and boss around a few second graders. Grown-ups have it so easy! But wait, do grown-ups play on swings? Teresa E. Harris and AG Ford's hilarious #ownvoices story shows that being a kid might not be so bad after all. Perfect for fans of Fancy Nancy, Olivia, Eloise, and the Fresh Princess.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2011

Reviews

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

“So, I wish I was a grown up! That’s all I want to say” -Ella, 7.20.22

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story and nice depiction of an African American family, but there were a few holes in the message. For example, why are the grown-ups the only ones who clean up the dinner table?? Very relatable to kids, though, who would rather take a cell phone call than eat their vegetables.

[Deleasa Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! My 7 year old daughter loved it.

[Christabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it was funny. She wanted to be all grown up because she got too little ice cream, just two scoops. Hand puppets were not that funny and 8 o'clock was way too early for bed. She wanted to be all grown up so she could have as much ice cream as she wanted, stay up as late as she wanted and have whatever she wanted. Her 'to do' list was to call clients, give kitty a bath, talk to mom and dad, throw out toys, and that was it.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute view of a grown-up from a 7-year-old's eyes. From her eyes, it's about suits and sunglasses, eating all the ice cream you want and getting paid for decisions.

Her parents show her the other side of being a grown-up -- the responsibility.

This is basically a younger kid's Freaky Friday, but without swapping bodies. :-)

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

She's a little confused, but then, she's only seven. Her parents got to make their point in a fun way... if she were any closer to being grown-up, the lesson would have needed to be a bit harsher and the book longer.

I absolutely adore the OwnVoices rep.; lovely illustrations help give this universal appeal.

[Mrs Tupac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer parents really got their point across l0l.

[Nakia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an okay read for us. I had to explain a little more than I would have liked, so I think I will revisit this one again in the future.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

So if your little nugget is getting too big for her britches, you might use the same strategies that these parents used. But otherwise, this book is just so-so. No awful. Not excellent.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a little girl who just wants to be a grown-up. It had funny moments but in the end, I'm not sure it achieved the point it was trying to make.

[Natalie Browning · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really cute! Summer is a 7 year old who decides she wants to be a grown up, so she dresses and talks like one. Until her parents start making her do grown up duties and she realizes she would rather just stay a kid. This is just simple and fun so I would probably have it in my classroom library.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: In "Summer Jackson: Grown Up," author Teresa E. Harris brings readers to the attention of a girl who is sick of being seven. Summer Jackson is tired of the second grade. She argues that, "Two scoops of ice cream are not enough," and "eight o' clock is way too early for bed." Summer decides that she would rather be a grown up. She demands to have very high heels, get a cell phone, and wear sunglasses everywhere. She is excited to boss around her classmates and say "That's preposterous," when watching the news just like her dad. But is there enough time for fun as a grown-up? Is being an adult as easy as Summer thinks? Find out what this little girl discovers in her journey of acting as a grown up!

Appeal: This book is an adorable representation of how most children wish to be adults before they are ready. Instead of playing with her friends and enjoying her childhood of swings and slides, Summer is concerned with getting to boss people around, make money, and eat as much ice-cream as she pleases. She wants to be independent and do whatever she wants like most children who are seven. But she soon realizes when her parents cater to her act that being grown up is not fun when you have to clear the table or share your room!

Audience: I think this is a perfect book for first and second graders.

Implementation: I would read this book when discussing what children would like to be when they grow up. This book is a great way to emphasize to children that they should enjoy their childhood, but it is also a fun way to introduce the topic of thinking about their futures. After reading this book, I would have my students write about what they want to be when they grow up. I would then allow them to draw a picture of themselves working in their chosen job.

Bibliography: Harris, T. E., & Ford, A. G. (2011). Summer Jackson: Grown Up. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.

[Valerie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a grown up is not as easy as one might think
Summer Jackson is a seven year old girl who wants to grow up now. She doesn’t want to play games anymore, she wants to wear sunglass all the time, eat anything she wants, get a job, and take important calls on her cell phone. When Summer decides to start bossing around her classmates, her parents decide to let Summer be a grown-up. But Summer soon realizes that being a grown up means being responsible for more than she can handle and missing out on the fun things a child can do, like tag and playing on the swing set.
Harris does a good job of teaching children who want to grow up, but that being a kid has its perks too. Paired with the colorful illustrations of Muninger, Summer Jackson comes to life with all the attitude and posturing a seven year old child playing at being a grown-up can express. Summer Jackson Grown-Up is a cute read with a realistic moral.
Recommended for readers age 4-7. Summer Jackson is available in hardcover at major retailers, but is available exclusively in paperback at select Scholastic bookfairs.
Summer Jackson Grown-Up-Teresa E. Harris (Illustrator) A.G.Ford http://wp.me/p2E73h-cV

[Diressa Belcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Jackson thinks adult hood is about bossing people around, staying up late and eating tons of icecream! Boy is she wrong! In this hilarious comedy Summer abandons her seven year old life and places herself in the life of a career woman. Her parents treat her like she is an adult. They make her nasty food for dinner; they sleep in her bed; and they make her wash ALL of the dishes! Summer is fed up when she realizes adulthood is not all fun and games. She realizes it is good to stay a child as long as she can. This book can be a great literacy lesson. The teacher may pose the question, what would you like to be when you grow up? Students may respond to this question with a picture, poem, drawing, story, etc. This is a great activity for Pre-K-5th grade. Student's career goals will change throughout elementary school. It important to modify the writing activity for each grade. Pre-K may be expected to draw a picture; while a fifth grader may be instructed to draw a picture and write a one page analysis of their future career goals! I highly recommend this book for all readers. Students could also be asked to describe Summer's point of view in the story.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer decides she is tired of being a kid; she decides she is a grownup and she wants to be treated like a grownup. But Summer’s ideas of what a grownup does (wear sunglasses everywhere, get a cell phone that rings all the time, wear very high heels with very pointy toes) are quite different that the ideas Summer’s parents have of what a grownup does (clear the table, eating grownup food), and Summer decides it might not be so bad to be a kid after all.
Love the beautiful African-American family in this story. Very nice.

“When Mama and Daddy finish eating, they get right up. They don’t move their plates or anything! ‘Who’s going to clear the table?’ I ask.

Mama and Daddy shrug.

‘Someone has to do it or else we’ll get ants.’

‘I think we’ll leave it to the grown-up,’ Daddy says.

‘But---‘

I really don’t like ants. So I clear off the dinner table and put the dishes in the sink. This isn’t fair. I’m just a---grown-up! That’s what I am.”

[Megan Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every child has said or thought at some point in time, "Why does everyone treat me like a little kid? I'm not a little kid anymore!" Summer Jackson takes this thought to the extreme when she proclaims to her parents that she is no longer a child, but a grown up! Her parents show good humor and go along with Summer's charade. She puts on a blazer and heels, and she carries around a cell phone. At school, she acts as a consultant for her peers because that is what her mom does for people. Her parents decide to teach her a lesson. They let her eat as much ice cream as she wants, and she gets sick. They make her clear the table and do the dishes because that is what grown ups do. They even sleep with her in her bed! By the end of the story, Summer realizes that it's not so bad being a kid, for now.

[Anna Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Jackson Grown Up is a story of a little girl, Summer, who is tired of being seven and wants to be a grown up. After Summer gets a taste of what it is like to be a grown up and sees that there are responsibilities that come with it, she realizes that she misses the joys of childhood. This is a darling story with a great message. The central message is to enjoy being a kid and to not rush into adulthood. I think a lot of children would be able to relate to this book because rushing into adulthood seems to be a common theme in childhood. The story is told from seven year old Summer Jackson’s point of view. I love that Summer is full of spunk and life – such a fun character! This is a great book with a nice message that depicts a wonderful African American family. This book could be enjoyed by children of any age, but would probably appeal to very young children (ages 3-7).

[Doret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tired of being seven, Summer throws out all of her toys and stuffed animals. From now on she's a grown up. Summer now carries a briefcase, and wears high heels. The fun text along with Ford's perfect fit illustrations make this a great read aloud.

I meet with my clients during playtime. " So, what you're saying is you want to play soccer during recess, but you want to play basketball, and you want to poke bugs with a stick? Okay. Monday and Wednesday, soccer, Tuesday and Thursday, basketball and on Fridays you poke bugs with a stick. Get it? Got it? Good. That will be $2.50."

This is an excellent picture book debut by Harris. Fancy Nancy fans will love Summer Jackson. A 2011 favorite

[Brie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.

Summer Jackson: Grown Up is the cute story of seven year old Summer and her desire to not be a kid anymore. To Summer, adults have all the fun. It doesn't take long living the "adult life" before Summer decides that being a kid is a lot more fun than being a grown up. Quick, enjoyable read with beautifully detailed illustrations. I loved reading this to my girls', they found it especially funny and relatable. They also made note every few pages that their two year old sister is 'Winter' Jackson and how cool that coincidence was. I'll definitely be looking out for more books by Teresa E. Harris in the future.

[R.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Summer Jackson Grown Up" is a wonderful, light-hearted story about a seven year-old girl named Summer who wants to be a grown-up. This beautifully-illustrated book is narrated by the main character, Summer, who's a sassy, trendy seven-year old girl. The story leaves behind a great moral that kids should enjoy being kids because sometimes, being a grown-up is not all that it's cracked up to be. The author has done a great job in presenting such a great and fun book that can appeal to both kids and adults alike.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer Jackson is tired of being seven. Being seven means she can not eat all the ice cream she wants, going to bed far to early, and many other rules that grown up's don't seem to have to follow. Summer decides she is no longer a child, and it now and adult. Giving up all the silly things she enjoys in exchange for the "privilege" of being a grown up.

[Anjelice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teresa is the best!!!

[EL · Rating 2 out of 5]

cute pictures. choppy story line

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appealing, precocious character.

[Sarah Tomp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this sassy spunky girl!

[Girl Guides of Canada · Rating 5 out of 5]

We reviewed and recommended this book for our girls in Sparks and Brownies, ages 5 - 8.

[Abby Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute

[Shunta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would use this book when asking students what they would like to be when they grow up.

[Daniah]

I WONT TO READ

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book about a little girl trying to grow up too soon. Her parents play along....