The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups: The Second File

David Wisniewski reveals all in a series of secret files! In the first volume, he disguises himself in various ingenious (and sometimes short-sighted ways) to find out the real reason grown-ups make you eat your vegetables (hilariously terrifying) the truth behind drinking milk (freaky but illogical) why you must comb your hair (truly terrifying) why you shouldn't blow bubbles in your milk (rather thin) why you shouldn't play with your food (a bit of a stretch and quite silly) why not to jump on your bed (very, very good. very, very scary) the horrible results of biting your nails (illogical) and why you should never pick your nose (a good one - gross and scary). There's a good mix of scary, silly, and gross. This would be a great one show more to read aloud to an elementary age group, especially in a crazy, dramatic voice. The sections make it easy to pick and choose for the reader or for a reluctant reader to browse. Wisniewski's illustrations are both frightening and humorous with the over-the-edge quality that perfectly matches the text.

The Second File...well, I'm afraid our intrepid reporter may have been captured and brainwashed by grown-ups. The reasons behind the rules are pretty thin and the whole book just doesn't have that wild and wacky scary/funny feel of the first story. While the first book is clearly just for fun, the reader gets a feeling that the second book is reaching for the fun but only makes it to silly justification of rules. Oh well. I think kids will still enjoy it, but it won't have the same pull and instant adoration of the first.

Verdict: The first is a definite must, the second is an additional purchase.

Secret knowledge of grownups
ISBN: 978-0688153397; Published April 1998 by HarperCollins; Borrowed from the library

Second file
ISBN: 978-0688178543; Published July 2001 by HarperCollins; Borrowed from the library show less

Well, I'm not the target audience. I found it dragged, and was so ridiculous it wasn't even amusing anymore. Also some of the 'hip' references are no longer current. But the art is wonderfully talented!

Very cute. It's a child's personal (silly) explanation for what grown-up say, but what the truth really is. It's delightfully silly.

I think it could be fun to use this book with students. It would be interesting to listen to their explanations to what the grown-ups say.

This is a collection of funny little stories. Children will like these stories, as it challenges why their parents tell them to do certain things. The stories are very silly and children will enjoy that fact. The illustrations are silly as well and are well suited for the text.