Boy Wonders
Curious kid stars in fun, punny rhyming book.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the main character in this book has a lot of funny questions. This book's poetic language makes it great to read aloud -- and fun for new readers, too. Be prepared for some discussions about the questions -- and also to help your kids learn the definitions for some of the more challenging vocabulary words.
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What's the Story?
\"May I ask you something?
Are you ever perplexed?
Completely vexed?
Do you have questions?
Queries?
Odd theories?
You do? Me too!\"
So starts this book about a curious boy who has all sorts of questions about everything from taffy to toucans. His questions are funny and often absurd questions -- and span everything from giraffes to kiddy pools.
Is It Any Good?
This delightful book is a must for curious kids with a thousand questions. The questions are often silly and nonsensical -- "Would a happy toucan from the Yucatan become cantankerous up in Anchorage or the Yukon? -- but the puns, rhymes, tongue twisters, and frequent use of words that sound alike make the book fun to read aloud. Beginning readers especially will be tickled as they sound out the rhythmic passages slowly, and then more quickly. Wild, animated illustrations done in acrylics bring the text to life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of inquisitiveness. What is valuable about being curious and asking questions? Parents may even want to use this opportunity to talk about the related etiquette, like what kinds of questions are appropriate or why it's polite to raise your hand in class.
Parents may want to talk about some of the big words in the book, from gargoyles to garlic oils. Ask your kids: which words are new to you?
Book Details
- Author: Calef Brown
- Illustrator: Calef Brown
- Genre: Picture Book
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Atheneum
- Publication date: June 28, 2011
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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