Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Insightful humor adds assurance to life's contradictions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Matthew McConaughey's JUST BECAUSE focuses on the moments in life where two seemingly contradictory feelings happen at once. Each page includes one or more scenarios where two things can be true at the same time -- being made fun of, but refusing to feel hurt, thinking you got the best gift because it comes in a huge box, but opening it up to a pair of socks, watching all your friends get party invites at school and not getting one... until you finally get one! The colorful art brings life to feeling nervous and confident, or that not telling the truth can be a good thing, or that you can be busy by sitting perfectly still. Life is complicated, and we are smart and deep enough to see different parts to a single situation.
Is It Any Good?
The short, rhyming sentences in this unique and lovely picture book can lead to meaningful conversations, giving readers young and old a chance to pause and think about the possibilities in their own lives. Just Because takes everyday moments and shows how multiple things can be true at the same time, a simple idea that opens the door to choices and opportunities. The illustrations capture facial expressions perfectly, bringing emotion to every scene and giving context to the words on the page.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about times when they've felt conflicted like some of the scenes in Just Because. When have you felt both nervous and skilled? Sad and happy? Noisy and quiet?
What can you do to help center yourself when you're feeling a mixture of emotions?
What kind of situations can bring out these conflicting feelings?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Renée Kurilla
- Genre : Picture Book
- Character Strengths : Compassion
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Viking Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 12, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 3, 2023
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