The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups

by David Wisniewski

Book Overview

Now available in paperback, this book reveals the real reason behind familiar directives such as Eat your vegetables. Vivid and meticulous paper-cut illustrations perfectly round out this wacky and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688153399
• ISBN13: 9780688153397
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.3" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

The Secret Knowledge Of Grown-Ups

This book was a great book if you want some excitement and laughter. Of course it isn't true, although I had to question myself about that at first. The rules David Wisniewski (author) talks about in this book are rules you've probably heard your parents say a million times. Now, (if you read the book), you'll know the reasons why parents say these rules. The reasons David Wisniewski makes up are funny and seem so real. They'll make you laugh. The exciting part is that these reasons are parts of secret files that haven't ever been shown to kids before. Also, the illustrations are lively and colorful. They are interesting and the fun to look at. You won't be able to put this book down, and you'll never get tired of reading it. Every time I read it, it makes me laugh. (The author, David Wisniewski, is a Caldecott Medal winner.)

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups

I think The Secret Knowledge Of Grown-Ups is hilarious. The reasons make some sense, and sometimes it is hard to tell whether he is telling the truth or not. (Although the book is found in the fiction section). I think the book is great for laughs and after his reasons you might want to follow those rules. I got the book in nineteen ninety eight and probably did not read it until the year two thousand. Once I read the book I could not stop reading it until I memorized the basic reasons. Overall I think it is a great book.

I had to buy three copies

One of my children brought this home from the library and all of us were quickly convulsed with laughter. We had often joked with our kids about the "real reasons" that we asked them to do things, but David Wisniewski did a much better job of expanding and illustrating these types of fantasies. I decided to buy two--one for each of my office waiting rooms. However, my kids could not bear to part with one copy so I got three. Some of Mr. Wisniewski's scenarios get mentioned regularly around our dinner table, "Eat your vegetables so they won't eat you--I think I see a claw coming out from your salad!"Sometimes I use this book to illustrate more serious issues. Conflicting agendas: When a family has a problem, the parents and the children often define the problem differently and have different hopes for the outcome. Power differences: Young children may see adults as having secret information and mysterious conversations behind closed doors. This book helps parents and kids look at these issues gently and laugh about them. This may soften the way toward discussing a family's conflicts and differing points of view. The illustrations are excellent detailed cutouts. They are bold and dramatic. He makes use of multiple textures to give the cutouts a 3-dimensional fee. Some of the pictures are "gross." If you pick your nose, your brain may deflate. But the "gross-out" factor is funny, not scary or violent.I get the sense that the author must be a funny, kind individual. I wish he could come to my son's school to teach a class on cutout art.

The Real Reasons Behind All Those Rules.....

Have you ever wondered why your parents are always telling you to eat your vegetables or comb your hair? Is there really a sensible reason why you shouldn't blow bubbles in your milk, jump on your bed or bite your fingernails? David Wisniewski has gone undercover and after years of investigating has discovered the terrible truths to these and other age-old directives kids have blown off as just "parents being parents". Now the terrifying explanations are all here for the entire world to see and life as we know it, will never be the same..... With the clever look of a confidential, classified, top secret folder, Mr Wisniewski has written a zany, entertaining, over the top dossier that will have youngsters laughing out loud and rolling in the aisles. The hilarious, text, told in hip, kid-speak language is full of jokes and puns and complemented by bright, bold, wacky artwork. Kids will really love poring over these amazing, detailed illustrations. Perfect for youngsters 8-12, The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups is just pure fun and a book you don't want to miss.

Conspiracy theories and laughter

This book is remarkable on many levels. First, it is a whimsical and cute idea, executed beautifully. Second, it works as a satire on the conspiracy theories which surround the modern reader. Everyone I have shared this book with has loved it, even those adults who normally don't find anything useful or charming in children's books. Highly recommended for people of any age.