Question Boy Meets Little Miss Know-It-All
Curiosity meets overconfidence in funny, epic face-off.
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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 not all of Little Miss Know-It-All's facts are true -- a note on the back cover of this imaginative book points out some of her claims are "malarkey." This may not be obvious to parents reading the story aloud, and it's worth identifying the made-up assertions to kids -- before they confidently inform classmates that baby camels are "camelots."
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What's the Story?
As Question Boy encounters the everyday heroes in his town, he confounds them with questions. Garbage Man, Police Woman, Mechanic Man, Paperboy -- none can handle his relentless curiosity. Then he encounters Little Miss Know-It-All, who not only answers his every question but nearly subdues him with a shouted barrage of facts (some true, some not). He's just about to give up, but then thinks of one more question: \"Why?\" She answers with every parent's exasperated, end-of-discussion retort: \"Because I said so!\" The two heroes, tired and worn out, shake hands and walk away friends.
Is It Any Good?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about asking questions and finding the answers. Why do so many "heroes" run away from Question Boy? What's the problem? Do you think they mind answering just a few questions?
Little Miss Know-It-All seems smart -- but is she really? Parents can talk about the importance of not believing everything you're told, and thinking for yourself.
Families can talk about good ways to find answers to questions. Help kids do a little research in a children's encyclopedia or nonfiction book, or guide them with some online research.
- Parents can talk with kids about how to have polite conversations. Question Boy doesn't know when to back off, and Little Miss Know-It-All has an answer for everything -- and a tendency to dominate the conversation. When you first meet the characters, are they very likable? How about at the end?
Book Details
- Author: Peter Catalanotto
- Illustrator: Peter Catalanotto
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Atheneum
- Publication date: February 7, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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