But Who's Counting?: 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore by Jenny Offill

She's definitely a naughty little girl, the heroine of Jenny Offill's 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore. Inventive, imaginative, creative--yes, all that, but also inconsiderate, obstinate, manipulative, and a bit of a showoff, that's our girl!

So why is this book so completely delightful?

I had an idea to tell the class I personally owned a hundred beavers.
I'm not allowed to say that I own beavers anymore.

I had an idea to pretend I'd been struck deaf when I heard "Go to your room!"
I'm not allowed to pretend I've been struck deaf anymore.

Well, Jenny Offill's sly, dryly humorous story lets her contrary little girl do the things we've all hankered to do at one time or another. Who hasn't wanted to flummox a younger sibling? Offill's big sister staples her sleeping brother's hair to his pillow, glues his bunny slippers to the floor, catapults "the gift of cauliflower" at him across the table, and freezes a dead fly in the ice cube in his drink. Who hasn't wanted to substitute a cool project for the boring old report her teacher assigns? Our girl does her George Washington report on beavers. Who hasn't wanted to send their vegetables back to the chef? Our mischievous girl tries to get Mom to make menu substitutions. Who hasn't wanted to to liven up the daily trudge to school? Our clever girl nearly gives her crossing guard heart failure when she walks all the way--backward.

What really lifts this book beyond wish fulfillment fantasy are the droll illustrations provided by artist Nancy Carpenter. Even the backgrounds of her illustrations are subtly matched to Offil's text. For example, in the two-page spread where our girl fork-flips her cauliflower off her little brother's head and into his plate, the text ("I had the idea to give my brother the gift of cauliflower") becomes the trajectory of the unfortunate floret, and the entire illustration is wrapped as a gift, complete with shiny green ribbon and fluffy bow.

Carpenter's devilish little girl has a wild topknot, innocent brown eyes, and such a knowing smile that you are sure she's the one to keep your eye on. Her expressions and those of the characters who put up with her--the perplexed dog, her long-suffering mom and teacher, her bemused classmates, and her guileless little brother--are priceless and will keep the giggles coming with every page. Move over, Eloise; you've met your match!