The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups

Crazy fun in this sophisticated picture book for older readers! The concept that adults have been misleading children for years, with all their tedious rules and sage advice, is sure to draw curious young readers. The humour is rampant - parents tell us to eat are vegetables because they are good for us - but the real reason is - to keep them under control! Wisniewski's intricate paper-cut illustrations are vibrant and full of sly asides, including several self-portraits of the author/illustrator and his family tucked into the pages. Specially dedicated to his own daughter and son, other children will just eat this one up, too!

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

This outlandish book is filled with goofy humour that is, at times, a bit over the top. However, I couldn't help but love its absolute zaniness! The two page spread illustrations are truely amzing in their bright, bold, warm colours. Wisniewski uses gorgeous intricate details in his trademark layered cut paper technique that give a 3-dimensional quality to his illustrations. A very fun and entertaining book!

I enjoy the cut out drawings. It fits well with the top secret file look. You wouldn't have drawings in there, so cut outs make the most sense. The theories on why parents ask their kids are hilarious. The reason we can't play with food is my favorite. For how creative it was, it did not amuse my nieces, which surprised me. I had to downgrade it for that reason.

One definitely needs to be in the right frame of mind for this. It's not silly - it's beyond absurd, absolutely ridiculous. I got tired of it by the end. But some kids will love every detail of every page. I really like Jenny's idea of having the kids write their own additional rules & explanations: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/280659176?book_show_action=false&page=.... I agree that this is better for grade 3 than for preschoolers.

This book really appeals to upper elementary students. It is a sort of insider look at rules and why kids have to follow them and how they came into existence. I find it clever and fun!
Curricular Connections-
*Brainstorm rules kids are expected to follow, then come up with the "real" reasons adults came up with the rule. Illustrate and collect into a book that mimics the file folder style of the picture book.
*Sample of cut out illustrating

This entertaining book is very creatively written and nicely illustrated. The pictures in this book definitely help to tell the story and enhance the entertainment value of the book overall. This book chooses a few rules that adults usually place upon children from a very young age. The author first states the given reason that adults usually state for necessity of the rule, then it gives this creatively imagined secret reason. The rules include eating your veggies or else they will grow into super veggies and attack us, not biting your finger nails because the nails grow into new finger gangs.