There Must Be More Than That!

by Shinsuke Yoshitake

A grandmother encourages siblings to explore all the good that the future might hold, in this tale about seeking a positive alternative to challenging situations.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Family, Growth Mindset, Japanese Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Associated Names:
* ヨシタケ シンスケ (Japanese)
* Shinsuke Yoshitake (English)
* 吉竹伸介 (Chinese)
* 요시타케 신스케 (Korean)
* ชินสุเกะ โยชิทาเกะ (Thai)

Shinsuke Yoshitake is the author-illustrator of many award-winning picture books, including New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year There Must Be More Than That!, New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year The Boring Book, I Can Be Anything, I Won't Give Up My Rubber Band, and I Can Explain. His books have been translated into more than 10 languages. He lives in Japan.

Reviews

[Arghoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

مفهومی که کتاب داشت درموردش حرف می‌زد، چیزیه که من توی کودکی که اصلا یاد نگرفتم هیچ، همین الان در بزرگسالی هم همچنان در حال یادگیریش هستم.
اینکه همه چیز دنیارو نمیشه بین دو تا طبقه‌ی خوب و بد تقسیم کرد. سیاه و سفید. آره و نه. میشه و نمیشه. میخوام و نمیخوام. هست و نیست. معمولا یه طیف خاکستری خیلی بزرگ بین این دوتا هست و دونستن و فهمیدن این قضیه و یادآوردنش توی لحظات مهم خیلی فشار رو از روی قفسه سینه آدم بر‌می‌داره... .

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

بله چه اصراریه به دسته بندی همه چی در دو بخش؟! حالات مختلف‌تری وجود داره. و درسته همون‌طور که می‌فرمایند آینده های خیلی متفاوتی میتونن پیش رومون باشند.
این رو حتما به بچه ها معرفی کرده و میدم بخونند.
مرسی نگین. ♡⁩
مهر ۱۴۰۴

[Farjaneh_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

هو النور
جالب بود اما یکم حالت از این شاخه به اون شاخه داشت، پیشنهاد میکنم اگر برای بچه‌ای تهیش میکنید دبستانی باشه که با مطالعه‌ی کتاب دچار سردرگمی نشه.
کتاب درباره‌ی آینده، احتمالات و انتخاب‌هاست.

[Melika Khoshnezhad · Rating 5 out of 5]

نمی‌دونم چطوری باید عشقم رو به این مجموعه نشون بدم. عزیز و ناز و زیبا با مفاهیمی ظاهراً ساده که از یاد رفته‌اند یا هرگز یادشون نگرفتیم.

[deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the fact that this book encourages the reader to go beyond the binary of good/bad and reimagine what their options could be. It's comforting and creative all at once, and opens to door for young minds to ask questions about things they might find troubling or that have been weighing on them. I think this one would be great for slightly older elementary or young middle school ages.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah... this book radiates attitude. I love it!!!! There is no yes or no choices, there are many choices and ME get to pick!!

[Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read was timely during our Covid pandemic. The question it poses is “What does the future hold?” And it teaches that it’s all about perspective, and wading past the bad to consider the possibility of good.
“Our future isn’t going to be all bad! .....[possible futures].... “A future where it’s okay to spend the day in pajamas.” I laughed out loud because it was 10 am when I read this .....still in my pajamas.

[Jeralynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Included on The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) 2021 Outstanding International Book List, There Must Be More Than That! addresses a child’s concern about what the future may hold. Japanese author-illustrator, Shinshuke Yoshitake, invites young readers to consider the future with a positive mindset through the eyes of a young Japanese girl who is at fist conflicted by her father’s weather forecast which did not come true and by the negative outlook presented by her brother. Through the wisdom of her grandmother, the young girl soon realizes that while we may not be able to predict the future, we can choose to adopt a positive outlook about what may lie ahead.

The cartoonish illustrations in bright primary colors are fun and engaging and bring a balance to the darker thoughts and themes used to express negative possibilities the future may hold such as plagues, alien invasions, bullying at school, and death. With this in mind, although the recommended reading age is 5-8, it would be best if a teacher or parent read this book with their child or students to help address any emotional concerns the story may trigger.

Having lived in Japan for many years, I enjoyed the representation of family and culture in the illustrations (e.g., grandma on her futon). I also appreciated the cultural aspects that come through the text even in translation such as the Japanese use of portmanteau, the combining of two words to create a new word (e.g., “love” + “hate” = “lovate”). However, I don’t believe these cultural nuances will impede a young child’s ability to understand the story’s message.

I can see this book being used in grades 2-3 to address social emotional learning, particularly as we continue to teach and learn in a pandemic environment. Kids are very aware of what’s happening around them and can worry as much as adults, if not more. This book could help foster an open dialog about the future, one in which there are many possibilities, good and bad.

[DEE · Rating 5 out of 5]

bagus banget lucuuuu udah gitu pesan yang disampaikan juga bagus aku suka. Dunia ini nggak melulu hanya hitam dan putih, baik dan jahat, nggak hanya dibatasi 2 pilihan aja.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Must read, especially for our current circumstances.

[Žahra Hamzeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

فکر کنم یکی از جدیدترین کتاب‌های این نویسنده ژاپنیه که تو سال ۲۰۲۰ نوشته، بعد از پاندمی کرونا و درمورد نترسیدن از آینده است و اینکه قرار نیست لزوما اتفاقات خیلی بدی برای ما بیوفته. از باقی کتابای یوشی‌تکه کمتر دوسش داشتم ولی خوندنش خالی از لطف نبود و از خیال‌پردازی‌‌های خاص خود نویسنده هم لذت بردم.

[athiathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was quite simple and sooooo cute!! I was laughed many times when I read it, the illustrations also just iconic. From this book, I learned that in this world there are many possibilities and it's okay to find something new in your own! 😆💛

[Carol Tilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't imagine a more perfect book for 2020. Seems best suited for elementary school and up.

[Irni Farid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childrens' books are for adults. too. Illustrated story of a young girl being motivated by an advice from her grandmother: "There must be more than that!"

[Noninuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this so much!
Looking into the possibilities of the future.
Taught the reader to be positive.
A very much needed for the current world situation.

[Lucyloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I FULLY laughed out loud at page one, and I really appreciated the whole book! A great book about anxiety. Excited to track down the other books by this author!

[Ghazaal B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

با شناختن شینسوکه و کتاباش، احساس می‌کنم دیگه برای روزهای تاریکم، یه ذخیره‌ای دارم.
آه از اینهمه زیبایی در عین سادگی. ♥️

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, any book that pretty much opens with an announcement that we're doomed is going to be an interesting one.

[Eric Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for any kid (or adult) anxious about the future.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to help younger children deal with and understand the existential threats from doomsayers.

[c · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5)

[Ham ‍J.Sohi · Rating 5 out of 5]

من که کلا عاشق این مجموعه شدم.
این قسمتش حتی الان پیشنهاد میشه برای بچه ها خونده بشه.
زندگی همیشه هر چیزی که آدم بزرگ های اطرافشون میگن نیست.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big brother comes home proclaiming to his sister that "our future in doomed" with examples of plagues, wars and invasions. Upset, she runs to her grandmother who wisely points out that the future holds so many possibilities that we haven't imagined yet. This is a serious and relevant topic for children that is handled with gentle humor and sensitivity. An empowering picture book that doesn't deny serious problems, but affirms that they can be faced with courage, creativity, and optimism.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a little girl's brother tells her the future is doomed, she gets a different perspective from her grandmother. The future will be full of good things and bad things, and she has lots of choices, not just one or two. The future is full of possibilities.

I tend to be a worrier, and can see the benefit of reading this book with a kid who also worries. I didn't love that so many of her future possibilities were "fantastic" rather than likely; her bully might be abducted by aliens, she can ban foods she doesn't like when she grows up, oh, and that there's an option other than her grandma dying - like living for 300 years or waking up as a teddy bear. While the ideas were sound, the expressions of examples were too far fetched.

Crossposted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Amanda Sithammavong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 2020, is an Outstanding International Book, has a 4.10 star rating and is a fiction book. This book was so cute and engaging. It tells the story about a little girl who tries to come up with different solution on how to stop the world from ending. It explores the idea that children have the ability to choose and make their own decisions. There are more decisions than those that are presented. I can use it to teach my students how to think outside of the box and be creative.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what a joyful, timely read. Why limit oneself to narrow, pessimistic views of the future when we can chose more creative, hopeful views? I love the humor of this wonderful read. So necessary for our current pandemic and political environment.

[Sahar S · Rating 5 out of 5]

#بیش_از_اینها_باید_باشد!

نوشته و تصویر: #شینسوکه_یوشی_تکه

ترجمه: #رضی_هیرمندی

نشر: افق (کتابهای فندق)

گروه سنی: +۶

امتیاز کتابستان: پنج از پنج ستاره
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


دخترک پشت پنجره به تماشای باران ایستاده و در حالی که متعجب است پیش‌بینی پدر از هوای آفتابی برای امروز غلط در آمده برادر از راه می‌رسد.
جناب داداش با خبری بزرگ آمده: «آینده‌ی ما تاریک است!»

دخترک که نمی‌داند اصلا «آینده» یعنی چه، امروز توسط داداشش که از دوستش و دوستش هم از یک «آدم بزرگ» شنیده می‌فهمد قرار است به خاطر زیاد شدن آدمها قحطی بیاید بعد هم جنگ و بیماری های همه‌گیر (مثل همین کرونا) و شاید حمله موجودات فضایی نیست و نابود شویم.

دخترک که حسابی ترسیده می‌رود سراغ مادربزرگ که در بستر بیماری است و این خبر را تکرار می‌کند اما مادربزرگها برای این هستند که درهای تازه بگشایند و …

#مفاهیم_اصلی

زمان/ آینده/ دور
پیش بینی / فرضیه/ نظریه
احتمال / ریسک / شانس
خبر/ فاجعه/ بحران
انتظار/ تحمل
کشف/ لذت
جبر/اختیار

#تکنیکهای_کاربردی

آینده‌نگری / آینده‌پژوهی / آینده‌سازی
بحران‌سازی/ فاجعه‌پردازی
مساله‌یابی/ آلترناتیو‌یابی
لذت‌سازی/ مشارکت‌جویی
بدبینی/ واقع‌گرایی/ خوش‌بینی
ارزش‌مداری



صفحه ۲۲ و ۲۳ کتاب «بیش از اینها باید باشد!» صفحات محبوب من هستند. زیرا در چهار خط اصول بنیادی #تفکرسیستمی برای کودکان عرضه می‌شود.

برای ما که در خاورمیانه‌ی بلاخیز به دنیا آمده‌ایم و خودمان و دنیای پیرامون را شناخته‌ایم نگاه #ارزشمدار_ دووجهی بسیار آشناست.
یعنی هر چیزی در جهان یا خوب است یا بد. یا زشت یا زیبا. یا خیر یا شر یا خدایی یا شیطانی، یا بهشتی یا جهنمی…

به سختی می‌توانیم مفاهیم را فارغ از ارزشهای مثبت و منفی ادراک کنیم. اما شینسوکه یوشی تکه باز هم گل کاشته و سراغ بینش «کل نگر و نگاه سیستمی» رفته است.

از زبان مادربزرگ به دخترک می‌گوید همواره «انتخاب ها، گزینه ها و احتمالاتی» هست که ما از آن بی‌خبریم پس امکان پیش‌بینی کامل آینده محال است.
ما در اکنون زندگی می‌کنیم و باید واقع‌بینی را با اندکی خوش‌بینی بیامیزم تا مسیرسازی کنیم.

تخم‌مرغی که در صفحات اول و آخر در دست دخترک است در فرهنگ ما شبیه «هندوانه در بسته» است که از درون و برون آن خبر نداریم و این تخم‌مرغ می تواند بچرخد و به اشکال مختلف عرضه شود: نیمرو، آب پز و املت و خاگینه و … «حق انتخاب» و «اراده تصمیم سازی» ما در آنچه برای تخم مرغ رخ می‌دهد دخیل است.
هرچقدر بیشتر دنیا را کشف کنیم و بشناسیم انتخاب‌های بیشتری خواهیم داشت و از رنج و جبر دنیا خواهیم کاست.

این کتاب جلد چهارم از مجموعه «فیلسوف کوچک» کتابهای فندق نشر افق است، کتابی کاربردی برای تسهیلگران فلسفه برای کودکان تا نگاه جزء به کل و برعکس را تمرین و فارغ از ارزش‌گذاری بتوانند جهان را با تمام رویدادهایش تحلیل کنند.
نقش خود در «درک جهان» را ارزیابی و به آینده و کارهایی که می‌خواهند انجام دهند بیندیشند.
اشکال اساسی که در این مجموعه یافتم بی‌نام بودن شخصیت‌ها است که احتمالا یوشی‌تکه با هدف جای‌گیری خواننده در دل این شخصیت‌ها چنین کرده و اتفاقا برای خردسالان و کودکان نقش عکس دارد. من دخترک را «کایا» و برادرش را «کوین» نامیدم تا بارها با بچه‌ها درباره این مجموعه و این دو شخصیت و سوالاتشان حرف بزنیم.

باز هم از رضی خان هیرمندی مترجم توانمند مجموعه سپاسگزارم که شینسوکه یوشی‌تکه را به فارسی زبانان معرفی و با زبان طنازانه خود رفیق نمودند، باشد که این مجموعه را به عنوان کتب کمک درسی دوره دبستان در ایران ببینیم.

امتیاز من به ایده و پرداخت، ترجمه و تصویر و کیفیت فنی نشر پنج ستاره درخشان است.
http://iranb4c.com/?p=1491
سحر سلطانی

[Picture Books To Grow - Shoshana Magnet · Rating 5 out of 5]

My partner and I have two kids who both tends towards anxiety. But really, anxiety does seem to be on the rise for any person who is awake during this very challenging time in the world. This book is perfect for people of any age who struggles with worrying about the future. It features a little girl who is racked with anxiety because her brother has just told her that the future is sure to be terrible, full of war, not enough food, and other terrible calamities. She dissolves into floods of tears and runs into talk to her grandmother. Her grandmother reminds her gently that we don’t know what the future holds, but “there must be more” than just a horrible future or a sunny dystopia. Explaining that nobody, not even grownups, can know what the future holds, the girl’s grandmother suggests many different futures: might there be a future where robots do our homework? Where Christmas is every Saturday? Where this is a zero-gravity switch in all of our bedrooms? Her grandmother reminds the girl that children are often offered a binary set of choices: a cat or a dog, the park or inside, but that the world is full of beautiful and endless possibilities which will only be revealed with time. I think this book is helpful for any person to remind themselves of the gentle aphorism that “worry is a rocking chair, it gets you going and it takes you nowhere” and that the future will only be revealed with time.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the illustrations and I love the concept of this book. As someone who was a perpetual worrier as a kid, and who finds it really hard to not catastrophize about the future as an adult, I think it's really important to address these fears of children. And to talk about possibilities! The cover itself, and the back section with the egg, was a really darling display of how there are more possibilities than we often realize. In general!

But while I really liked the young girl's somewhat relentless optimism and potential-seeking, the part that gave me pause was when she is talking to her grandma and saying that death is not the only possible outcome for her grandma. Like, I can get on board with maybe the future will have robots who come in and catch our strawberries before they hit the ground- sure, why not- what's the harm? But... I mean... not to be "that" person, but... is it really healthy to deny the inevitability of death? Grandma is definitely not going to live 300 more years. I think this could be a good book for worriers- it just may need to prompt more conversation about things that are possible vs. things that are likely.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picture book. This Japanese translation focuses on losing the black and white mentality, and not just to allow for shades of gray but indeed a whole colorful spectrum of possibilities. This discussion is sparked by an older brother who tells his sister that their future is doomed and shares what he has heard. The younger sister immediately turns to Grandma, who assures her that "no one really knows what will happen in the future!" She also emphasizes that grown-ups often present a choice between two things, but often times there are more choices. The girl starts brainstorming possible futures (a room with a zero-gravity switch! ) The futures she imagines are interesting, but as other reviewers have mentioned it is a bit disconcerting when the girl dismisses her grandma's claim that she'll probably be gone by then. While Grandma could still take a trip around the world, she's not going to wake up as a teddy bear or live for 300 years. Cute illustrations and a good overall message that may help kids prone to worrying. Amount of text makes this a better fit for elementary school readers rather than the younger crowd.