David Ury

Everybody Dies is YouTube sensation Ken Tanaka’s children’s book for grown-ups—a macabre and darkly humorous look at mortality in the vein of the classic Japanese children’s book Everybody Poops, All My Friends Are Dead, and the mega-bestseller Go the F**k to Sleep.

In Everybody Dies, Internet icon Ken Tanaka explores the myriad ways in which we all can meet our fate. Echoing the grim fun of Edward Gorey’s beloved Gashlycrumb Tinies, he tells his simply illustrated story in 48 pages show more of saturated, full-color pictures featuring chunky letters and warm colors, and frank, pointedly sardonic commentary. From a surfing tragedy to being devoured by wild animals, the pestilence of war, and demise by convenience machine, he helps us face the stark reality of “the end” with dark humor and irreverent wit.

Unveiling the truth about living and dying, Tanaka offers cute drawings and little games that take some of the sting and scariness out of mortality, and help us accept the reality that death is a part of life. show less

A delightful reflection on mortality -- with fun activity pages to boot.

I must confess to total ignorance to the viral YouTube videos out of which this book was spun. Actor/translator/author David Ury apparently created a long-lost fictional twin brother, named Ken Tanaka, who was raised by adoptive parents in Japan and returns to the United States as an adult in search of his birth parents. That all seems odd, but it doesn't add or detract from the humorous truths on display in this little show more book about our inevitable deaths. show less

We just got this in at the library. We sat at the desk reading it and laughing. It brings humor to a not very funny situation, which is sometimes the only way to deal with it. It's quirky and great.

Meh. I didn't find this funny at all. For a death-related "children's book for grownups" try All My Friends are Dead instead.