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Why?
Wordless book which shows the meeting of a frog and a mouse. What begins pecefully evolves into full scale warfare with manyother participants on both side. When the war is over only the orignal mouse and frog have survived
hardcover picture book
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
October 15, 2020
A frog and a mouse go to war over . . . well, does the reason ever really matter?
Popov makes a fine commentary on the futility of war without ever uttering a word.
The Russian author, who survived Nazi bombardment of his little town as a child, recalls the incident, and how it influenced his later philosophy in a stirring author's note at the end of the book.
Popov makes a fine commentary on the futility of war without ever uttering a word.
The Russian author, who survived Nazi bombardment of his little town as a child, recalls the incident, and how it influenced his later philosophy in a stirring author's note at the end of the book.
November 21, 2021
This book has been around for decades, yet I can't recall ever hearing about it. It's a wordless picture book featuring a frog who's just minding his own business when a greedy mouse comes along and steals his flower. Things escalate from there as both recruit their friends to participate in battles that leave the landscape scarred. Nobody wins.
The allegory is clear and can probably be understood even by very young children. The illustrations are almost luminous, showing the ingenuity with which the critters come up with ways to destroy one another. If only they'd put their talents to use in a more constructive way!
It's kind of a sad book, but it carries an important message.
The allegory is clear and can probably be understood even by very young children. The illustrations are almost luminous, showing the ingenuity with which the critters come up with ways to destroy one another. If only they'd put their talents to use in a more constructive way!
It's kind of a sad book, but it carries an important message.
May 28, 2018
B E A U tiful! Great message showing children that war and violence is the not the answer.
October 26, 2018
This is amazing! My first experience with a wordless book. Powerful!
September 1, 2025
I thought it was a light book about frogs and their daily activities (yes, I didn't read the synopsis, was completely drawn in by the cover's illustrations!), but it wasn't.
It's an anti-war book about the senselessness of war and the futility of conflicts. It's beautifully illustrated which I believe also helps kids get the message about the importance of peace for everyone's win.
It's a deep and meaningful book and I'm thinking of buying the physical one to put on my bookshelf soon.
It's an anti-war book about the senselessness of war and the futility of conflicts. It's beautifully illustrated which I believe also helps kids get the message about the importance of peace for everyone's win.
It's a deep and meaningful book and I'm thinking of buying the physical one to put on my bookshelf soon.
April 11, 2024
«چرا؟»
جنگ میشه، و آیا کسی یادش میاد اصلا چرا؟
بیهودگی جنگ
جنگ میشه، و آیا کسی یادش میاد اصلا چرا؟
بیهودگی جنگ
October 5, 2018
Warning: I'm about to take a picture book way too seriously.
This is a picture book with no words that depicts the rising escalation of violence that can occur for seemingly no reason, and ultimately helps no one.
The book begins with a frog quietly and happily sniffing a flower. A mouse comes and beats up the frog and take the flower. The frog and mouse are sitting in a field with identical flowers. The frogs friends beat up the mouse and take his umbrella, filling it with flowers. So the mouse arrives with a shoe tank and shoots them. This of course leads to all out wars with both sides setting traps and attacking one another with shoe tanks. Eventually the war ends, and the frog and mouse sit in a field of mud with no flowers in sight.
The illustrations are great, and illustrate the stark horror of war, even though it does it with mice and frogs driving shoes at one another. It shows that if we try to take all the flowers for ourselves and don't let others have them we may in the end have no flowers at all.
The title is obviously the theme: Why? Why can't we get along? Why, when there are enough flowers for everyone must some hoard them and fight to the death to keep them? Why can't we all enjoy the flowers?
Why must we hurt each other?
Why?
This is not a subtle book. It is after-all a picture book for children. Subtly is overrated anyway.
This is a picture book with no words that depicts the rising escalation of violence that can occur for seemingly no reason, and ultimately helps no one.
The book begins with a frog quietly and happily sniffing a flower. A mouse comes and beats up the frog and take the flower. The frog and mouse are sitting in a field with identical flowers. The frogs friends beat up the mouse and take his umbrella, filling it with flowers. So the mouse arrives with a shoe tank and shoots them. This of course leads to all out wars with both sides setting traps and attacking one another with shoe tanks. Eventually the war ends, and the frog and mouse sit in a field of mud with no flowers in sight.
The illustrations are great, and illustrate the stark horror of war, even though it does it with mice and frogs driving shoes at one another. It shows that if we try to take all the flowers for ourselves and don't let others have them we may in the end have no flowers at all.
The title is obviously the theme: Why? Why can't we get along? Why, when there are enough flowers for everyone must some hoard them and fight to the death to keep them? Why can't we all enjoy the flowers?
Why must we hurt each other?
Why?
This is not a subtle book. It is after-all a picture book for children. Subtly is overrated anyway.
December 4, 2015
Why?
A violent war breaks out between frogs and mice over precious resources.
Implied reader
To gain the most from the text the read needs basic understanding and prior knowledge of warfare and how disagreements can begin and escalate quickly into some that was never intended.
Themes
War, dispute, sharing, violence, footwear, reflections, learning from mistakes, citizenship, history, understanding, environment, socio-political issues, geography, art, RE, feeling, emotional well-being.
What techniques?
Use of colour to emphasise the mood and events in the story. No words, allows the read to make their own interpretation. The implied reader. Fame of the story e.g. the gutter. Only one viewpoint. Double spread. End papers are both light green. Perhaps at the end to suggest hope?
A violent war breaks out between frogs and mice over precious resources.
Implied reader
To gain the most from the text the read needs basic understanding and prior knowledge of warfare and how disagreements can begin and escalate quickly into some that was never intended.
Themes
War, dispute, sharing, violence, footwear, reflections, learning from mistakes, citizenship, history, understanding, environment, socio-political issues, geography, art, RE, feeling, emotional well-being.
What techniques?
Use of colour to emphasise the mood and events in the story. No words, allows the read to make their own interpretation. The implied reader. Fame of the story e.g. the gutter. Only one viewpoint. Double spread. End papers are both light green. Perhaps at the end to suggest hope?
April 11, 2019
What did I understand from this book?
This book really opened my eyes to the political messages and power that books can display to children. Another view brought forward the idea that Why? is about Conflict and resolution. Something that is heavily politically and socially topical at the moment.
How might this be relevant to teaching and learning?
• Current events- For discussions activities in KS2- in order to help children understand or have a view on the events happening in the world now or that have happened through history. This book provides easy stimulus for people to talk beyond. All pupils are aware of the happenings of the world and it made make them all feel more settles if they can share and talk about everything.
• Conflict and resolution links to many of the global citizenship qualities, so Why? could be used as a starter activity to introduce a scheme on global citizenship. Pupils could reflect on their own conflicts in relationships and how these were resolved.
• English-The relevance of picture books can be applied across key stages as children interpret picture books and write narratives to go alongside the images- to their level of development.
• Art-Pupils can take their discussions or own experiences, along with inspirations from the illustration type and create their own page/s for the Why?.
This book really opened my eyes to the political messages and power that books can display to children. Another view brought forward the idea that Why? is about Conflict and resolution. Something that is heavily politically and socially topical at the moment.
How might this be relevant to teaching and learning?
• Current events- For discussions activities in KS2- in order to help children understand or have a view on the events happening in the world now or that have happened through history. This book provides easy stimulus for people to talk beyond. All pupils are aware of the happenings of the world and it made make them all feel more settles if they can share and talk about everything.
• Conflict and resolution links to many of the global citizenship qualities, so Why? could be used as a starter activity to introduce a scheme on global citizenship. Pupils could reflect on their own conflicts in relationships and how these were resolved.
• English-The relevance of picture books can be applied across key stages as children interpret picture books and write narratives to go alongside the images- to their level of development.
• Art-Pupils can take their discussions or own experiences, along with inspirations from the illustration type and create their own page/s for the Why?.
January 30, 2023
lo que más destaco de esta narrativa visual infantil es el uso brillante de la psicología del color para la construcción de significado. La evolución del verde, por ejemplo, que pasa de combinaciones análogas que evocan la paz propia de la naturaleza, hasta la combinación decadente del verde musgoso y seco asociado a la destrucción. Tiene mucho potencial para discusiones interpretativas muy ricas y reflexivas en torno a la violencia. Y qué buen uso del recurso textual al final, que queda suspendido en el aire, para contrastar con el absurdo de las imágenes anteriores: "¿por qué?". Totalmente desolador.
July 18, 2017
Spent some time in the Children's Literature Center today due to a suspicious vehicle outside of the library. My friend in the European division showed me the book saying, "it gets really sad" and oh my goodness. No words in the book but it depicts such violence, it could only be summed up as Russian. It would be interesting to have a child's perspective on the book, and if they would understand the unspoken.
December 30, 2022
One thinks that perhaps certain World-Order-Imposing leaders should read this book.
I highly recommend this one for purchase. Add it to your collection, and display it prominently.
A student read this for my class this past semester, and I couldn't stop thinking about it.
“Peace is a difficult thing to measure. It’s a bit like counting the people who didn’t die in wars that never happened. We give such importance to the word peace, but we don’t tend to notice it when it occurs.” - Neil Halloran - The Fallen of World War II
I highly recommend this one for purchase. Add it to your collection, and display it prominently.
A student read this for my class this past semester, and I couldn't stop thinking about it.
“Peace is a difficult thing to measure. It’s a bit like counting the people who didn’t die in wars that never happened. We give such importance to the word peace, but we don’t tend to notice it when it occurs.” - Neil Halloran - The Fallen of World War II
May 28, 2018
This book tells a simple story of war, which can be interpreted as the reader pleases. I was so moved by this book, I would love to use it with a range of year groups, perhaps during PSHE, and see the reactions.
November 12, 2018
A great wordless pictures that can be interpreted by the reader about the war. Can be use in the classroom to teach children about the different sides and how the war affected the different sides lives.
November 23, 2021
The futile wars of humans are satirized in this wordless picture book depicting a battle between mice and frogs for a patch of meadow that is increasingly destroyed, eventually rendering it uninhabitable for anyone. WHY? is a great title.
April 19, 2025
Buscando materiales para un club de lectura encontré este librito en versión PDF. Es increíble cómo las guerras escalan en pocos días y los ciudadanos siempre son los que pierden. No olvidemos nunca la futilidad de la guerra.
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February 18, 2024:( 3
February 3, 2024
Okay wow. I didn’t expect this book to go in this hard.
November 24, 2015
Why? by Nikolai Popov
Summary:
Popov was born in 1938 in central Russia, where war entered quickyly into his life. As a child Popov would play with his friends in a scene of war unknowningly. The book was created to provide children with understanding of the 'senselessness' of war and how anyone can be lead into a 'cycle of voilence'. Overall the author wants to address the futility of war.
The book has no words only pictures which allows for the reader to think about what is happening with nothing implied. War begins when a mouse wants to take the frogs Calla Lillie, even though there are many of the same flower in the surrounding feild. Other mice and frogs get involved and war begins between the two species. In the end the Calla Lillies are destroyed and both the frog and mouse sit in melancholy.
The Implied reader:
In order to access this picture book, anyone who reads may have little knowledge of war (facts). As this book has no words it can be used and accessed across age ranges. Children at almost any age could explore this book regarding their own understanding. It is useful when exploring the sensitive subject of war and voilence for any age.
Themes:
Futility of War - From the beginning of the book to the end the voilence and fighting is seen as unnecessary to most. The Mouse wanted to take the Lillie from the frog however there were many in the fields. This could get children and adults to think why War in the human world starts in the first place. This is where deeper understanding and knowledge can come in place. For a simpler response children can thinking about why disputes happen within school and their classroom and have a think about how it's all a bit unnecessary.
Nature- The Calla Lillie featured in the book represents death. The lillies fill the feilds which might imply that war is on it's way. The pastel tones of this book darken throughout which puts emphasis on how much war is destroying the beautiful nature at the beginning. At the end all the Lillies are destroyed and the only one left is in the mouse's pocket. Whilst the frog holds the Mouse's umbrella however it is damaged.
Picture book techniques:
Pastel colours darken as the scenes also darken in violence.
Pretty flowers get destroyed throughout the war.
Animals wearing human clothes to represent how human beings act in voilence for unnecessary reasons.
Summary:
Popov was born in 1938 in central Russia, where war entered quickyly into his life. As a child Popov would play with his friends in a scene of war unknowningly. The book was created to provide children with understanding of the 'senselessness' of war and how anyone can be lead into a 'cycle of voilence'. Overall the author wants to address the futility of war.
The book has no words only pictures which allows for the reader to think about what is happening with nothing implied. War begins when a mouse wants to take the frogs Calla Lillie, even though there are many of the same flower in the surrounding feild. Other mice and frogs get involved and war begins between the two species. In the end the Calla Lillies are destroyed and both the frog and mouse sit in melancholy.
The Implied reader:
In order to access this picture book, anyone who reads may have little knowledge of war (facts). As this book has no words it can be used and accessed across age ranges. Children at almost any age could explore this book regarding their own understanding. It is useful when exploring the sensitive subject of war and voilence for any age.
Themes:
Futility of War - From the beginning of the book to the end the voilence and fighting is seen as unnecessary to most. The Mouse wanted to take the Lillie from the frog however there were many in the fields. This could get children and adults to think why War in the human world starts in the first place. This is where deeper understanding and knowledge can come in place. For a simpler response children can thinking about why disputes happen within school and their classroom and have a think about how it's all a bit unnecessary.
Nature- The Calla Lillie featured in the book represents death. The lillies fill the feilds which might imply that war is on it's way. The pastel tones of this book darken throughout which puts emphasis on how much war is destroying the beautiful nature at the beginning. At the end all the Lillies are destroyed and the only one left is in the mouse's pocket. Whilst the frog holds the Mouse's umbrella however it is damaged.
Picture book techniques:
Pastel colours darken as the scenes also darken in violence.
Pretty flowers get destroyed throughout the war.
Animals wearing human clothes to represent how human beings act in voilence for unnecessary reasons.
May 4, 2012
When I came across this book I thought it was rather unique, l was drawn in by the title which is ‘Why?' l found it rather intriguing and wanted to find out more. This book is essentially a picture book with no wording, with interesting pictures which adds something different as well as the drawings which are rather detailed. I think this book could work well in promoting speech as children could look at the pictures and based on the imagery they see, they could then discuss what they think the story is about. The children can basically create their own stories and share their ideas and thoughts. I think it can promote good use of imagination as they can make up their own conclusions regarding what the story is about and interpret the story according to their level of understanding. The underlying focal message of this book is about conflict resolution, this book also illustrates the consequences of not resolving conflict. It could be used as a way of showing children that conflict can be pointless and that a resolution is usually better. It is quite a moving book, overall l would recommend it for younger children.
April 8, 2013
Why? is a fascinating book that focuses on how fights or wars can get started with unkind, selfish actions. The story deals with two sides - the frogs and the mice. The fight begins when a mouse with an umbrella decides to ambush a frog in order to steal the flower he is holding. The frog retaliates by stealing the mouse's umbrella. Before we know it, there are many mice and many frogs fighting each other, most likely not remembering why any of the fighting started. The story ends with the beautiful landscape completely destroyed - the umbrella and flower are destroyed also, and the mouse and frog sit dejectedly holding both of the ruined items. This fits in to my text set because it shows that often times, fights begin over something small and pointlessly grow in to a horrible mess that could have been easily avoided. This is another great story for students who are struggling to read or ELLs, because it has no words. It can spark great conversation about being careful how you treat people. Stealing to get what you want is one example of a poor choice, and also bringing up the point that it doesn't matter who started it, because both sides are negatively affected in the end.
February 12, 2012
This is a children's book with no words.
That allows the child to look at the pictures and create a story that matches them. The illustrations are beautiful and I like the idea of letting a child create the words they choose.
However, I'm not fond of the story. A frog finds a flower. A rat fights the frog and takes the flower. The frog takes the rat's umbrella and fills it with flowers. This progresses until there is an all out war between armed armies of rats and frogs until there's nothing left but a frog holding a broken and torn umbrella and a rat with a wilted, dirty flower in his pocket.
Okay, sure - you could use this sad little ending to discuss that war and violence are bad and no one wins. But first, that is an oversimplification of war, and second, I'm not sure that's what a kid would take away. I think what a kid would remember is the battle, especially since starts out rather funny and light. Perhaps I'll try it out on my niece and nephew and see what they think and update this review accordingly. They might surprise me.
That allows the child to look at the pictures and create a story that matches them. The illustrations are beautiful and I like the idea of letting a child create the words they choose.
However, I'm not fond of the story. A frog finds a flower. A rat fights the frog and takes the flower. The frog takes the rat's umbrella and fills it with flowers. This progresses until there is an all out war between armed armies of rats and frogs until there's nothing left but a frog holding a broken and torn umbrella and a rat with a wilted, dirty flower in his pocket.
Okay, sure - you could use this sad little ending to discuss that war and violence are bad and no one wins. But first, that is an oversimplification of war, and second, I'm not sure that's what a kid would take away. I think what a kid would remember is the battle, especially since starts out rather funny and light. Perhaps I'll try it out on my niece and nephew and see what they think and update this review accordingly. They might surprise me.
February 7, 2013
This is a beautiful book, but it really surprised me: I saw the pretty picture of a frog on the cover, and just thought it'd be a cute kids' book. It is full of beautiful illustrations - it turns out though to be allegory about the ravages of war. In this case, there is a devastating war between the frogs and the mice. Told all in pictures, the book is very effective.
An author's note at the end for adult readers explains Popov's history as a child in Russia when it was bombed by the Nazis. "I have created this book because it seems to me that if children can be understand the senselessness of war, if they can see how easily one can be sucked into a cycle of violence, they may become a force for peace in the future. I also hope that adults who share the book with children will reexamine their own thoughts on the futility of war."
An author's note at the end for adult readers explains Popov's history as a child in Russia when it was bombed by the Nazis. "I have created this book because it seems to me that if children can be understand the senselessness of war, if they can see how easily one can be sucked into a cycle of violence, they may become a force for peace in the future. I also hope that adults who share the book with children will reexamine their own thoughts on the futility of war."
November 24, 2015
Brief Summary
A violent war between mice and frogs over precious resources.
Implied Reader
To gain the most from the text the reader needs a basic understanding and prior knowledge of war fair and how disagreement can begin and escalate quickly into something that was never intended.
Themes
War, dispute, sharing, violence, death, citizenship, reflections,learning from mistakes, history, geography, politics
What techniques
Use of colour to portray emotions, all quite muted. Distinct difference in colour between frogs and mice.
No words in the story to allow reader to interpret own story using their prior knowledge.
The gutter splits the image into frogs one side and mice the other.
Not from one sides point of view, from both at the same time.
A violent war between mice and frogs over precious resources.
Implied Reader
To gain the most from the text the reader needs a basic understanding and prior knowledge of war fair and how disagreement can begin and escalate quickly into something that was never intended.
Themes
War, dispute, sharing, violence, death, citizenship, reflections,learning from mistakes, history, geography, politics
What techniques
Use of colour to portray emotions, all quite muted. Distinct difference in colour between frogs and mice.
No words in the story to allow reader to interpret own story using their prior knowledge.
The gutter splits the image into frogs one side and mice the other.
Not from one sides point of view, from both at the same time.
September 2, 2012
Why? By Nikolai Popov:
1. Wordless picture book.
2. Brilliant
3. Gorgeous illustrations
4. Powerful message
5. Generated 10 minutes of conversation with a 6 y.o. about pointlessness of war
6. Cannot wait to share this with others
7. Perfect provocation for PYP actions/consequences unit
8. Lovely author note that child requested to have read aloud to understand author intention better
9. I love this book and am so glad my new library assistant told me about it
10. I believe this will be my new “you must have this book” book.
1. Wordless picture book.
2. Brilliant
3. Gorgeous illustrations
4. Powerful message
5. Generated 10 minutes of conversation with a 6 y.o. about pointlessness of war
6. Cannot wait to share this with others
7. Perfect provocation for PYP actions/consequences unit
8. Lovely author note that child requested to have read aloud to understand author intention better
9. I love this book and am so glad my new library assistant told me about it
10. I believe this will be my new “you must have this book” book.
April 28, 2012
It is a word less picture book with detailed drawings. It allows children to expand their imagination by making up their own story.
Features of the book and how it can be used with younger children in the curriculum:
This book could be used in an English lesson because the children could make up their own storyline, it could also be used in art where the children could draw using the same type of techniques.
Features of the book and how it can be used with younger children in the curriculum:
This book could be used in an English lesson because the children could make up their own storyline, it could also be used in art where the children could draw using the same type of techniques.
September 19, 2009
I found this book to be a valuable way to open a discussion on the idea of what happens when we make assumptions without talking about our fears of unknown others. Years after I first saw the American edition, I saw an edition from another country, and was surprised to see that there was a complete story written in text whereas the American edition was wordless.
November 7, 2016
I'm not sure how I feel about this book, I found it quite hard to get into it. It is a very touching story with lovely illustrations. I think that this book can be used in a pshe lesson to teach children about friendship and being nice to others.
August 10, 2016
Senseless warfare is even sadder when it involves cute little animals who smile as they blow up the world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews