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Because: A Funny Picture Book About Childhood Logic and Family Humor for Kids
Even though Jack′s mom tells him that "because" is not an answer, Jack strongly disagrees. In fact, this almost-six-year-old thinks "because" is the perfect answer to any question!
Why did he cover himself in band-aids?
Why did he eat all the chocolate cake?
Why is the dog wearing a cape?
Because!
This endearing companion to ALMOST and WHY?, from acclaimed author and illustrator Richard Torrey, celebrates every child′s favorite answer to life′s trickiest questions.
4 - 8
Why did he cover himself in band-aids?
Why did he eat all the chocolate cake?
Why is the dog wearing a cape?
Because!
This endearing companion to ALMOST and WHY?, from acclaimed author and illustrator Richard Torrey, celebrates every child′s favorite answer to life′s trickiest questions.
4 - 8
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2011
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 11, 2011
I felt a little bit like Johnny Carson's famous character, "Carnac the Magnificent" when we read this book. Each page has an answer with a humorous illustration that helped us come up with the appropriate question. We enjoyed thinking up what could be asked and why the boy did the things he did. The situations were very amusing and we could relate very well with several of them. We enjoyed reading this book together.
July 5, 2013
Audience: Primary
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Book Talk:
Jack's mom may tell him that "because" is not an answer to every question. "Why did you eat all the cake?" "Why are you mad at the dog?" "Why is the cereal all over the floor?" His answer "because." If you like books that have the humor of the excuses kids make to their parents, you will love this book! This book reveals every child's favorite answer to life's trickiest questions.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Book Talk:
Jack's mom may tell him that "because" is not an answer to every question. "Why did you eat all the cake?" "Why are you mad at the dog?" "Why is the cereal all over the floor?" His answer "because." If you like books that have the humor of the excuses kids make to their parents, you will love this book! This book reveals every child's favorite answer to life's trickiest questions.
July 18, 2011
what it lacks in substance and story it makes up for with humor and cute redheaded boys. Simple text and bright illustrations might make this a good choice for story time. Would pair nicely with the "No David" books.
April 15, 2019
All around cute, from story to pictures, even the smirk on the mamas face. Byron loves this book!
February 10, 2019
The main character, Jack, argues that “because” is the perfect answer for any questions.
Page by page Jack answers to unknown questions in the text by starting with “because”. Readers could guess the possible questions in the given texts and illustrations. That is, illustrations support the unexposed questions which would be a great help for readers to pay attention to illustrations and decoding the meanings from them. As Jack said, I agree that “because” could answer many questions that mothers often ask to their children in daily communication.
Page by page Jack answers to unknown questions in the text by starting with “because”. Readers could guess the possible questions in the given texts and illustrations. That is, illustrations support the unexposed questions which would be a great help for readers to pay attention to illustrations and decoding the meanings from them. As Jack said, I agree that “because” could answer many questions that mothers often ask to their children in daily communication.
December 9, 2017
Its all just Because
May 29, 2024
Maybe a better fit for the target audience. But the answer "Because" is a lot different than the answer "Because a bee is trying to get us." And Torrey mixes them up as if there is no difference.
July 3, 2025
Follow the tale Jack, who, unlike his mom who tells him "because" is not an answer, thinks it's a perfectly good answer.
July 19, 2014
This was a fun book to read with my 4-year-old. The illustrations are cute and it was the kind of book with a lot of interaction. We were able to talk about what question we thought the little boy was answering on every page just by looking at the picture and hearing his answer.
It starts with a boy standing on a chair reaching the cereal on top of the fridge and says, "My mom says 'because' is not a real answer. But I think it is."
Turn the page and there's the little boy with the cereal spilled all over the floor, his dad standing with his hands on his hips, and the boy holding out his hand with a red car in it. It says, "Because THIS was in it!" (We decided the question would be "Why did you spill the cereal?")
It starts with a boy standing on a chair reaching the cereal on top of the fridge and says, "My mom says 'because' is not a real answer. But I think it is."
Turn the page and there's the little boy with the cereal spilled all over the floor, his dad standing with his hands on his hips, and the boy holding out his hand with a red car in it. It says, "Because THIS was in it!" (We decided the question would be "Why did you spill the cereal?")
December 15, 2011
This book was okay. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. I did enjoy though how it was almost written from a child's perspective. He uses the word because to explain certain things he does, but the explanations are kind of silly. I think kids would think it was funny and be able to relate to it, because everyone has done something silly and made up a silly excuse to go along with it.
January 30, 2012
It is always fun when the pictures in a picture book tell the story. This book looks at life through the perspective of a young boy. The limited amount of text is there to lead the readers to conclusions but doesn't give the conclusions away, that is left to the reader.
March 28, 2013
This book with fun illustrations encourages children to explain how each explanatory statement relates to the picture. It reminds me of Jeapordy, with my son searching for the question summing up each image.
June 17, 2011
Grades Pre-K to 1. When mom asks you why you did something, she says "because" isn't an answer. But this boy thinks it's okay. Because.
June 17, 2011
Funny, creative, and paired with great illustrations. Simple enough to make for a good read aloud and a fun choice for storytime due to its refrain of...because.
June 21, 2011
The band-aids are awesome! And the bees! Super cute!!
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June 30, 2011Narrative skills for storytime.
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July 5, 2011funny, why kids do things
July 21, 2011
Sweet. Just because.
August 19, 2011
Parents will find the humor in this one, as a little boy explains why the word "because" is the perfect answer to so many of his parents' questions!
August 26, 2011
Adorable
August 30, 2011
Three stars if you read this with "Almost" and "Why," not quite as strong on its own. The Band-Aid page rocks. The best pair: "Because you're big and I'm little / Because I'm little and you're big."
October 3, 2011
"Because" is an answer for this little guy. There is always a reason . . . looking forward to reading the other books by Richard Torrey (Why? and Almost)
November 2, 2011
Because why?
January 31, 2012
Because why?
October 12, 2012
Nice little story and illustrations, can see it used with a cause and effect lesson.
November 17, 2015
Could be used to help kids practice generating questions before working on a writing piece, but as a story it is not very engaging.
August 21, 2011
GREAT BOOK!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews