Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Curiosity meets overconfidence in funny, epic face-off.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
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?
The entertaining characters here will be familiar to young kids (and their parents); even more fun is imagining the neighborhood peopled with costumed superheroes. Even the paperboy dons tights and a cape in illustrations evocative of comic books.
The mix of facts and fiction is funny, but somewhat unfortunate. Less-alert parents might not notice the misinformation -- for example, Benjamin Franklin of course didn't invent the electric guitar. The sight of adults fleeing a child's relentless questioning will get a chuckle from parents, but young kids might wonder why the grownups look so frightened. When reading this aloud to kids, parents should be ready -- as always! -- to answer questions.
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 :
- 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 : October 1, 2025
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