Book Description
for Taro Gomi's Big Book of Verbs by Taro Gomi
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Calling all grammar enthusiasts, active bodies, and visual-puzzle fiends! Taro Gomi’s Big Book of Verbs is a book of action words, well, in action across a variety of familiar scenes. In a two-page spread showing a classroom setting, an offset pale-yellow border lists 34 verbs next to a corresponding enumerated dot. In the busy illustration, dozens of involved and animated children take part in classroom activities. What’s happening in the vignette labeled “25,” which shows a child in a cat mask chasing a frightened classmate? “Run,” says the legend. Dots “21” and “22” indicate that two children are using blocks to “build” and “scatter.” From the neighborhood to the farm, and from the ice rink to the amusement park, Taro Gomi’s colorful, stylized illustrations depict nearly 400 verbs, like “knead,” “hop,” “tickle,” and “vomit,” with humor and accuracy. The only way to improve this engaging picture book would be to make the jacket double as adhesive wallpaper.
CCBC Choices 2026. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison, 2026. Used with permission.

