The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups: The Second File - Softcover

Wisniewski, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0060590173 ISBN 13: 9780060590178

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2004

Synopsis

Within these highly confidential pages lurk more of the real reasons why grown-ups want you to brush your teeth, eat your breakfast, and clean under your bed. The truth has been hidden for centuries, but the time of mystery is over. Caldecott medalist David Wisniewski has completed another daring raid into the top-secret vault of parental rules. . . .

About this title

Review:

"Don't jump on your bed!" "Don't bite your nails!" Parents sure seem to have a lot of rules. To make matters worse, the reasons behind the rules often don't seem to make any sense. Could there be other, secret purposes behind these perpetual parental pleadings? Such is the premise of David Wisniewski's The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups, which has the look of a top secret, classified folder. A radical departure from his Caldecott Award-winning Golem, this book is pure wackiness. Inside, kids will find the "real" reasons behind their parents' rules. And, as Wisniewski reveals, grown-ups have more information than they let on--information pertaining to national security--that makes these admonitions essential.

Wisniewski's illustrations are bright paper cut-outs, featuring crumpled, torn "Security Clearance Required" documents that look freshly pilfered from a government dumpster. Although the conspiracy theories may be over a few young readers' heads, many kids will love the sense of getting an inside scoop. Suspicious youngsters will be delighted to find out, for example, that when parents tell you to eat your vegetables, it's actually to prevent vegetables from regaining world domination. Parents may roll their eyes and say, "Nonsense," but then again, they would say that, wouldn't they? (Ages 6 to 10)

From the Inside Flap:

You are about to open secret files, heretofore hidden from kids for thousands of years. Steel your mind for the truth. Prepare yourself for knowledge never before held by America's youth. Get ready to learn the REAL reasons grown-ups tell you to do things!

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0060590173
• ISBN 13: 9780060590178
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Wisniewski David