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Just Because
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2019)Curious minds are rewarded with curious answers in a fantastical bedtime book by Mac Barnett and Isabelle Arsenault.
Why is the ocean blue? What is the rain? What happened to the dinosaurs? It might be time for bed, but one child is too full of questions about the world to go to sleep just yet. Little ones and their parents will be charmed and delighted as a patient father offers up increasingly creative responses to his child’s nighttime wonderings. Any child who has ever asked “Why?” — and any parent who has attempted an explanation — will recognize themselves in this sweet storybook for dreamers who are looking for answers beyond “Just because.”
Why is the ocean blue? What is the rain? What happened to the dinosaurs? It might be time for bed, but one child is too full of questions about the world to go to sleep just yet. Little ones and their parents will be charmed and delighted as a patient father offers up increasingly creative responses to his child’s nighttime wonderings. Any child who has ever asked “Why?” — and any parent who has attempted an explanation — will recognize themselves in this sweet storybook for dreamers who are looking for answers beyond “Just because.”
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2019
20 people are currently reading
4911 people want to read
About the author
Mac Barnett
92 books1,338 followersBorn to non-farmers in a California farming community, Mac Barnett now lives near San Francisco. He's on the board of directors of 826LA, a nonprofit writing center for students in Los Angeles, and he founded the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
November 9, 2019
This book is full of imagination! When my youngest daughter and I started reading it, I wasn't sure about it because as the child in the story asks questions, her father gives her absurd answers in return. But then we were laughing...and then we were talking...and then we were reading it all over again.
Child: "What happened to the dinosaurs?"
Father: "Millions of years ago, thousands of asteroids fell on the earth. But the dinosaurs had planned for this. They fastened themselves to big balloons, floated up to space and stayed there."
This turned out to be a real conversation piece and one that adults can enjoy right along with children. The illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault are perfect.
My only complaint is that I wish it were longer.
5*****
Child: "What happened to the dinosaurs?"
Father: "Millions of years ago, thousands of asteroids fell on the earth. But the dinosaurs had planned for this. They fastened themselves to big balloons, floated up to space and stayed there."
This turned out to be a real conversation piece and one that adults can enjoy right along with children. The illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault are perfect.
My only complaint is that I wish it were longer.
5*****
November 23, 2019
For me, the best thing about this book was the adorable dog on every page. So cute!
I have enjoyed many Mac Barnett books, especially Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem, and I do often like quirky, odd books, but I wasn’t wild about this book.
When I saw that this was about a child asking “Why” and other questions, I thought that this would be a great book for 6 and 5 and 4 year olds. Maybe it’s my adulthood showing but I didn’t like the answers. I wanted the truth, not dreamily fantastical answers.
The whole idea of this book is it’s a bedtime book and the last page is sort of cool. I did like the answer to that question but not the rest of the “story” so much.
I did like the illustrations a bit better than the text. The big colored buttons with the questions and answers were okay and many of the pictures were okay too, though some didn’t seem very soothing for bedtime, and it was only the dog I loved.
Dog = 5 stars
Last page question & answer = 4-1/2 stars
Illustrations = 3 stars
Answers to the questions = 1 star
Premise?: 3 stars, I guess
Total from me: Just 2-1/2 stars
I feel like a curmudgeon but while I can thoroughly enjoy fantastical stories, if the premise is a child asking honest questions I want honest answers.
I have enjoyed many Mac Barnett books, especially Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem, and I do often like quirky, odd books, but I wasn’t wild about this book.
When I saw that this was about a child asking “Why” and other questions, I thought that this would be a great book for 6 and 5 and 4 year olds. Maybe it’s my adulthood showing but I didn’t like the answers. I wanted the truth, not dreamily fantastical answers.
The whole idea of this book is it’s a bedtime book and the last page is sort of cool. I did like the answer to that question but not the rest of the “story” so much.
I did like the illustrations a bit better than the text. The big colored buttons with the questions and answers were okay and many of the pictures were okay too, though some didn’t seem very soothing for bedtime, and it was only the dog I loved.
Dog = 5 stars
Last page question & answer = 4-1/2 stars
Illustrations = 3 stars
Answers to the questions = 1 star
Premise?: 3 stars, I guess
Total from me: Just 2-1/2 stars
I feel like a curmudgeon but while I can thoroughly enjoy fantastical stories, if the premise is a child asking honest questions I want honest answers.
November 25, 2019
My family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books every year. This is book #11 (of more than 20) of 2019, and we collectively thought it was probably the best book of the year of the award event (though I really like Mac Barnett and Isballe Arsenault but don't think this is one of either of their best books). I read it myself a couple of months ago and include my full review below.
Hank (13): 3.2. Good drawings are the best part. One of the best ones. But you know, that Dad is a big, big liar. ["What is the rain?" "The tears of flying fish."]
Harry (14): 4.5 Good drawings but it was weird with the dinosaurs.
Tara: 4.5 Personally my favorite so far. And mainly because it was NOT just because.
Dave: 4. "Why do we have to sleep?--little girl, in Just Because (See key at the end for answer! )
Isabelle Arsenault is one of my favorite illustrators and I have liked a couple of Mac Barnett's picture books, too, because he takes an unconventional approach to writing for children, but this is not my favorite work from either of them, as unconventional as it is.
The set up is a girl ready to go to sleep who asks her father questions most adults find difficult to answer (without Siri, that is): Why is the sky blue? Where happened to all the dinosaurs?
While it is important to take kids seriously when they ask such questions and encourage their curiosity about the world, instead of giving the glib, I'm-tired "Just because" answer from the title, Barnett has the father give fanciful/clever answers that have nothing to do with facts:
"What is the rain?"
"The tears of flying fish."
"What do birds fly south in winter?"
"To fetch new leaves for trees."
Could these answers be seen as glib or disrespectful of the girl? Possibly. But I side with the view that he is just having fun, and opening up the world of absurdity and silliness and imagination for her. And Arsenault's drawings support that claim. I like it quite a bit.
Answer: "Because there are some things that we can only see with our eyes closed"--Dad
Hank (13): 3.2. Good drawings are the best part. One of the best ones. But you know, that Dad is a big, big liar. ["What is the rain?" "The tears of flying fish."]
Harry (14): 4.5 Good drawings but it was weird with the dinosaurs.
Tara: 4.5 Personally my favorite so far. And mainly because it was NOT just because.
Dave: 4. "Why do we have to sleep?--little girl, in Just Because (See key at the end for answer! )
Isabelle Arsenault is one of my favorite illustrators and I have liked a couple of Mac Barnett's picture books, too, because he takes an unconventional approach to writing for children, but this is not my favorite work from either of them, as unconventional as it is.
The set up is a girl ready to go to sleep who asks her father questions most adults find difficult to answer (without Siri, that is): Why is the sky blue? Where happened to all the dinosaurs?
While it is important to take kids seriously when they ask such questions and encourage their curiosity about the world, instead of giving the glib, I'm-tired "Just because" answer from the title, Barnett has the father give fanciful/clever answers that have nothing to do with facts:
"What is the rain?"
"The tears of flying fish."
"What do birds fly south in winter?"
"To fetch new leaves for trees."
Could these answers be seen as glib or disrespectful of the girl? Possibly. But I side with the view that he is just having fun, and opening up the world of absurdity and silliness and imagination for her. And Arsenault's drawings support that claim. I like it quite a bit.
Answer: "Because there are some things that we can only see with our eyes closed"--Dad
January 9, 2020
Another beginning book for young children. This one is cute. I can’t tell if the kid is asking the questions or if the parent is asking questions of the kid. The kid is going to bed and a ‘why’ question is asked like “Why do birds fly south for the winter?” Then a very imaginative answer is given. Etc, birds fly south for the winter to get leaves to bring back to the trees in spring.
It sounds like the child is answering the question. I don’t care for the book not being specific who is asking the question and who is answering. It seems like the kid is asking the questions, so the adult is giving fanciful answers. I do love the ending. “Why do we have to sleep.” It’s a great answer. I don’t love this book, yet it’s a decent story.
The nephew thought this book was boring. Nothing happens. He didn’t care. He was glad it was short and he gave this 1 star.
It sounds like the child is answering the question. I don’t care for the book not being specific who is asking the question and who is answering. It seems like the kid is asking the questions, so the adult is giving fanciful answers. I do love the ending. “Why do we have to sleep.” It’s a great answer. I don’t love this book, yet it’s a decent story.
The nephew thought this book was boring. Nothing happens. He didn’t care. He was glad it was short and he gave this 1 star.
October 22, 2019
Though this might look like a book for children, it's not. It's for adults, aimed at those who already know the answers to lots of basic questions and can appreciate the creativity of the answers in this book. Children are often credulous. A book like this will only serve to confuse.
A little girl is going to bed, and she asks all sorts of questions of her father. His answers are fantastical and imaginative... but they're not truthful. I can just imagine the embarrassment and feeling of betrayal when a child tries to tell their teacher, "My dad says the ocean is blue because fish sing sad songs and cry blue tears," and is subsequently told that daddy lied.
The illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault are kind of fun (especially for fans of her work). The limited colour palette is kind of an odd choice here, though, since the story is dealing with such... well, colourful ideas.
I don't think I could recommend this as a children's book. If adults want to read it, they might get more out of it. But I think it would be confusing as heck to many children.
A little girl is going to bed, and she asks all sorts of questions of her father. His answers are fantastical and imaginative... but they're not truthful. I can just imagine the embarrassment and feeling of betrayal when a child tries to tell their teacher, "My dad says the ocean is blue because fish sing sad songs and cry blue tears," and is subsequently told that daddy lied.
The illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault are kind of fun (especially for fans of her work). The limited colour palette is kind of an odd choice here, though, since the story is dealing with such... well, colourful ideas.
I don't think I could recommend this as a children's book. If adults want to read it, they might get more out of it. But I think it would be confusing as heck to many children.
February 8, 2020
"Why do we have to sleep?"
"Because there are some things we can only see with our eyes closed."
Anything that encourages a child to wonder and imagine all things scientific *and* magical is a-okay with me. If it also has creative illustrations to feed that wonder, all the better.
"Because there are some things we can only see with our eyes closed."
Anything that encourages a child to wonder and imagine all things scientific *and* magical is a-okay with me. If it also has creative illustrations to feed that wonder, all the better.
September 17, 2019
The illustrations are wonderful as always, but I've never not liked Isabelle Arsenault. The text leaves a lot to be desired, and it's kind of the inverse of My Little Book of Big Questions which some of my coworkers have been reading on desk lately. There are real questions that have real answers here and I'm not too keen on the parent's wild fabrications. Could you use it as a jumping off point to actually talk about these questions? Sure. But I would rather them be taken seriously from the jump.
November 11, 2019
The story of a father who lies to his child when she asks hard questions . . . not my thing.
November 17, 2019
Goodreads Choice Awards Project: Read as many of the Best Picture Book nominees as possible. 1 to go!
I liked the first few pages because it reminded me of the dad from Calvin & Hobbes (https://www.buzzfeed.com/maritsapatri...), and I have a personal tick about referring to fish randomly and nonsensically. But the book really had nowhere to go with the concept so they just ripped off the twist reveal from Unusual Suspects and limped out the last few pages.
I liked the first few pages because it reminded me of the dad from Calvin & Hobbes (https://www.buzzfeed.com/maritsapatri...), and I have a personal tick about referring to fish randomly and nonsensically. But the book really had nowhere to go with the concept so they just ripped off the twist reveal from Unusual Suspects and limped out the last few pages.
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January 21, 2025Mr Pourquoi cherche Mme Parce Que
Et ce n'est pas une blague, c'est presque sérieux.
Et ce n'est pas une blague, c'est presque sérieux.
September 1, 2020
I love children's books .. but unfortunately this isn't one of them.
While I agree that children "... are always looking for more than the answer "just because!" There is a problem with answering each question from this wonderfully inquisitive child with a fairy tale answer. In this book answers that could have been jumping off points for wonderful child age appropriate factual discussions/stories have become fairy tales instead.
The book answers questions like "Why is the ocean blue?", "What is rain?" and What happened to the dinosaurs?" without anything that resembles age appropriate fact based information ...... and then goes on to list many many questions that could be answered in this same way ... i.e. "Why do we sneeze?" "What is the wind?" etc etc ...
At the end of the book the father dismisses the child by saying - "It is time to go to sleep" as the picture shows a facial expression that to me looks like he is glad to escape the room -- as he ignores the child's question "Why do we have to sleep?"
There are so many missed opportunities to weave a story with facts that develop building blocks to learning.
I gave this book 2 stars only because the illustrations were good as was the quality of the paper the book was printed on, the cover and the dust jacket.
Because this book was won through a Goodreads giveaway I have read it, shared it with others - who on their own came up with the same concerns that I have put in this review.
While I agree that children "... are always looking for more than the answer "just because!" There is a problem with answering each question from this wonderfully inquisitive child with a fairy tale answer. In this book answers that could have been jumping off points for wonderful child age appropriate factual discussions/stories have become fairy tales instead.
The book answers questions like "Why is the ocean blue?", "What is rain?" and What happened to the dinosaurs?" without anything that resembles age appropriate fact based information ...... and then goes on to list many many questions that could be answered in this same way ... i.e. "Why do we sneeze?" "What is the wind?" etc etc ...
At the end of the book the father dismisses the child by saying - "It is time to go to sleep" as the picture shows a facial expression that to me looks like he is glad to escape the room -- as he ignores the child's question "Why do we have to sleep?"
There are so many missed opportunities to weave a story with facts that develop building blocks to learning.
I gave this book 2 stars only because the illustrations were good as was the quality of the paper the book was printed on, the cover and the dust jacket.
Because this book was won through a Goodreads giveaway I have read it, shared it with others - who on their own came up with the same concerns that I have put in this review.
October 15, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this book and people are definitely going to think I'm being super nit-picky. I thought the answers to the little girl's questions were creative and fun, however (and yes I know this is a fictional book) one of the things that makes me crazy in this world is when parents won't answer kids' questions honestly. So while yes, this book is a work of fiction and if was creative, it also reinforces the notion of not telling kids truths when they ask questions. To make it "fluffy" for them when our kids deserve honest answers so they can gain knowledge and perspective.
Yup. Call it nit-picky if you want. But that's how I feel. As mentioned, I thought the answers were creative and fun and I still love Mac Barnett. I just encourage parents to answer their children honestly with real facts if they asked questions like these. Yes, encouraging creativity and imagination is equally important and those can easily be tied in to follow up questions to make children think about what it might have been like if "rain really was the tears of flying fish"
Yup. Call it nit-picky if you want. But that's how I feel. As mentioned, I thought the answers were creative and fun and I still love Mac Barnett. I just encourage parents to answer their children honestly with real facts if they asked questions like these. Yes, encouraging creativity and imagination is equally important and those can easily be tied in to follow up questions to make children think about what it might have been like if "rain really was the tears of flying fish"
October 1, 2019
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A fun children's book, where a little girl doesn't want to go to bed, and so she asks her father questions. He doesn't know the answers, so he makes up something suitable.
The illustrations are good too, especially of the answers.
A fun children's book, where a little girl doesn't want to go to bed, and so she asks her father questions. He doesn't know the answers, so he makes up something suitable.
The illustrations are good too, especially of the answers.
November 9, 2019
Okay, I can see this both ways: the fact-lover in me was somewhat aghast that the answers the child was given to her legitimate questions were fantastical; but I also know that I loved the stories like this that my dad would give to me and my sisters when we were little. He would make up stories about our dog visiting the queen, and how the rabbit smoked cigarettes and so on. We adored him for that- and we knew, of course, that they were just fun stories. So while I totally get where people who object to the lack of straightforward answers are coming from, I thought it was fun and I liked it. The art is beautiful.
July 1, 2019
Instant classic
September 27, 2019
The dad in this book is either an idiot or trolling his child, but I didn't hate this "stupid answers to kids' questions" book as much as I thought I would.
October 8, 2019
Barnett is on a roll. I could almost have given five stars but, you know, back off, man, I’m a scientist.
September 19, 2019
I fell in love with this book after the first few pages. The sweet, calm fashion of this book had soon expanded and now, I was feeling the same way. The situation was all too familiar for me and if only I could turn back time, it could have been me in that room, answering those questions.
Everything in this book made it perfect for me. The way the book was laid out, its illustrations, and its text; everything had its proper place and time.
As I watched the adult male in the illustrations, I liked how his movements changed from one illustration to the next. I think his movements added a great deal to the book. There are other small changes that were taking place in this bedroom scene, changes that were very important, changes that our eyes noticed automatically.
The questions that the young child asked, reminded me of ones that my own children would inquire about when they were younger. The constant questioning, the layer-upon-layer of mindful thinking. When would they stop? The answers came back in a creative response. The adult even linked some of his responses together. With fantastic illustrations in mixed-media tones, the illustrations complement the tone of the text, and they make you stop and take notice of them.
A brilliant and sweet book, a book that I cannot get enough of. It’s definitely a book that you’ll want to share.
Everything in this book made it perfect for me. The way the book was laid out, its illustrations, and its text; everything had its proper place and time.
As I watched the adult male in the illustrations, I liked how his movements changed from one illustration to the next. I think his movements added a great deal to the book. There are other small changes that were taking place in this bedroom scene, changes that were very important, changes that our eyes noticed automatically.
The questions that the young child asked, reminded me of ones that my own children would inquire about when they were younger. The constant questioning, the layer-upon-layer of mindful thinking. When would they stop? The answers came back in a creative response. The adult even linked some of his responses together. With fantastic illustrations in mixed-media tones, the illustrations complement the tone of the text, and they make you stop and take notice of them.
A brilliant and sweet book, a book that I cannot get enough of. It’s definitely a book that you’ll want to share.
November 6, 2019
This picture book was so cute and the illustrations were absolutely wonderful.
As a child, have you asked an adult tons of questions only to be dismissed and answered with a simple, 'Just Because'? Or have you ever been bombarded by questions from a tiny human with no idea how to explain certain things?
Well, in this book, a little girl asks her dad a bunch of questions as he tucks her in at night. He responds with the most creative and fun answers.
For example:
While I typically prefer giving children factual answers, I really enjoyed the answers provided in this book. I think these answers can promote creativity and spark a child's imagination. However, I think it's also important for children to understand that these imaginative answers are meant to be fun and silly, and shouldn't be taken seriously as they are scientifically incorrect.
As a child, have you asked an adult tons of questions only to be dismissed and answered with a simple, 'Just Because'? Or have you ever been bombarded by questions from a tiny human with no idea how to explain certain things?
Well, in this book, a little girl asks her dad a bunch of questions as he tucks her in at night. He responds with the most creative and fun answers.
For example:
Why do birds fly south for the winter?
To fetch new leaves for trees.
While I typically prefer giving children factual answers, I really enjoyed the answers provided in this book. I think these answers can promote creativity and spark a child's imagination. However, I think it's also important for children to understand that these imaginative answers are meant to be fun and silly, and shouldn't be taken seriously as they are scientifically incorrect.
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June 2, 2019Had the privilege of hearing the author read his latest picture book aloud to close his keynote at SLJ Day of Dialog. I love it more with each reading. The art has retro feel that perfectly complements the unpredictable text. This should be a bedtime favorite.
November 15, 2019
My kid said he loved this and I asked him what he liked about it and he said, "Because it's about thinking." The parent in me appreciates the idea, and I'm glad my kid got it, but I didn't like it as much as he did.
Fantastic artwork though!
Fantastic artwork though!
September 16, 2019
A young girl asks a lot of life’s big questions right before bed and her father gets creative with this responses. This book is sure to be a children’s classic.
October 3, 2019
I love Mac Barnett but I was disappointed in this story. While a parent can tell “tall tales” , this child asked legitimate questions and I believe needed legitimate answers or at least dad could eventually come around to the truth. Enjoyed the illustrations. (Had a GOODNIGHT MOON feel)
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January 13, 2022A childrens book that feels like it can be better appreciated by adults. The whimsical and fantastical answers to some very comun questions that children ask, feel inadequate. The truth would probably have made this book better, that or I missed the point of it.
December 7, 2019
I loved the delightful creativity of this well-thought-out story, as a little girl asks her father question after question about the world at bedtime, and he comes up with imaginative, fanciful answers that will spark her dreams as well as the imaginations of readers young and old. The scenes between the two of them as she asks the questions were particularly sweet, as the illustrations in those scenes differed and seemed like a nostalgic homage to an earlier age of picture book illustration; they reminded me a bit of the styles of Norman Bridwell and Ludwig Bemelmans. A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book for 2019.
December 11, 2019
A beautifully illustrated book about the fantastical reasons certain things happen. It was on Goodreads' Choice Awards, so I felt the obligation to read it. Although I wasn't blown away by it, it's a cute book for all kids that ask "why?" and expect another answer than "just because."
P.S. I am in love with the illustrator, Isabelle Arsenault.
P.S. I am in love with the illustrator, Isabelle Arsenault.
December 7, 2019
This is a calm, very sweet picture book. A little girl asks her dad questions about the world, and his replies are filled with magic and humour. It was very delightful, and Arsenault's artwork is so perfect for Barnett's whimsical text. I would love to read this with a kid and then we could make up our own answers to these questions.
December 1, 2019
I’m a pretty matter-of-fact kind of person, so it might surprise you that I enjoyed this book about a father answering his child’s bedtime questions with increasing levels of whimsy, but I think stories and creativity are just as important as science, and the final page gives a great payoff. Plus, I’m a big Isabelle Arsenault fan.
November 28, 2019
This was a very cute read!
I really love the use of color and lack there of - was so impactful. The illustrations are simple but just right for this story.
I can see why this is a Goodreads Choice finalist for the Picture Book category!
I really love the use of color and lack there of - was so impactful. The illustrations are simple but just right for this story.
I can see why this is a Goodreads Choice finalist for the Picture Book category!
November 13, 2019
While perhaps not utterly perfect, I quite liked this book! I love how the imagery adds a deeper context to the story. It's not just a father answering his inquisitive child's questions with fun answers. The father's inventive imagination adds color to the child's world, enriching an otherwise simple reality.
It could easily be a story that factually answers each question - and I personally feel that the world, the cosmos is full of incredible, intriguing, beautiful, and amazing things that can reveal the very real magic of science and life quite on its own. But it's not about that. It's about making the point that a little imagination and creativity can enrich your world. Not everything needs to be stark, real facts. There is value in dreaming, imagining, playing, and storytelling - even if it just adds a little color.
How can we ever hope to build a brighter future if we don't dare to dream it outside the confines of "just how the world is."
It could easily be a story that factually answers each question - and I personally feel that the world, the cosmos is full of incredible, intriguing, beautiful, and amazing things that can reveal the very real magic of science and life quite on its own. But it's not about that. It's about making the point that a little imagination and creativity can enrich your world. Not everything needs to be stark, real facts. There is value in dreaming, imagining, playing, and storytelling - even if it just adds a little color.
How can we ever hope to build a brighter future if we don't dare to dream it outside the confines of "just how the world is."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews