What do you think?
Rate this book
Off-Limits
Off-Limits
For every child who has ever felt that grown-ups have all the fun, here is a vicarious chance to slip behind the office door--and play with all the tempting things that are off-limits.
Dad's office is off-limits--which only makes it more intriguing to his curious young daughter. As soon as she sees an opening, she sneaks in to have a look around. After all, there's no harm in just looking, right? What she discovers is a magical wonderland of sticky tape, paper clips that make glorious strands, and a kaleidoscopic array of sticky notes. Who could possibly resist playing with those? In a joyful ode to office supplies, Helen Yoon leads a celebration of just-for-once breaking the rules--and offers a final, funny nod to adults who harbor a similar urge.
Dad's office is off-limits--which only makes it more intriguing to his curious young daughter. As soon as she sees an opening, she sneaks in to have a look around. After all, there's no harm in just looking, right? What she discovers is a magical wonderland of sticky tape, paper clips that make glorious strands, and a kaleidoscopic array of sticky notes. Who could possibly resist playing with those? In a joyful ode to office supplies, Helen Yoon leads a celebration of just-for-once breaking the rules--and offers a final, funny nod to adults who harbor a similar urge.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
2 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Helen Yoon
13 books30 followersHelen Yoon is a freelance illustrator and creative consultant operating in the greater Los Angeles area. Sheepish is her first picture book.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
June 24, 2021
Misbehavior is the backbone of children’s literature. Think of the great works of picture book literature. The apex of it all, Where the Wild Things Are is entirely ABOUT misbehaving. The Very Hungry Caterpillar climaxes with the caterpillar eating foods that are not good for him. Goodnight Moon is completely lacking in misbehavior (not even the kittens go for the seemingly suicidal mouse) so there’s nothing for it but to go to sleep. And don’t even get me started on Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. To set up the rules and norms and then to break them with some kind of magnificent chaotic fiasco, people of all ages appreciate that sort of set-up and payoff. Helen Yoon? She gets it. And she’s made this picture book that somehow manages to set up and upset expectation consistently while also placing the book in this strange COVID/post-COVID world. Writing, timing, art, and humor. What's not to love? I’m circling this book like a cat with a strange new toy, because I can’t quite figure why it entrances me as much as it does. One thing’s for certain, though. Kids absolutely adore it, and that’s not the kind of thing you can fake.
As a father leaves his home office for the kitchen he tapes a simple sign on the door. “OFF-LIMITS”. Seems pretty straightforward. Little does he know that his daughter is sneaking her way in. It all starts off so innocently too. “…I don’t think anyone would miss one piece of tape. Just one little teeny-tiny piece.” Next thing you know the lamp has a “lovely scarf” of tape, the paper clips and binder clips are doing a dance worthy of Busby Berkley, and the Post-It notes are going boldly where few Post-It notes have gone before. All of a sudden our heroine freezes, realizing what she’s done. Punishment is surely close at hand, as she slinks off to her own room. Only what she finds there isn’t at all what she expected to see.
It is a common misunderstanding that simply because a person draws well, they will automatically have the ability to make a good book too. I’m sure we’ve all seen the picture books by storyboard artists that look more like they took sketches from a wall, slapped a binding on the lot, and tried to call that monstrosity a book. I did a little research into Helen Yoon since the first thing her bio says is that she’s a professional illustrator out in L.A. Turns out, the lady’s got a big range. When you go to her website and take in the levels of intricacy and detailing on some of her art, then turn back to look at Off-Limits you can develop an appreciation for this new simplicity. Yoon scales herself way back with this title. Look at the precision of her line. The angles, once you begin to notice them, are such a sheer delight. Then too, consider her characterizations. I think I could write whole essays on the way in which Ms. Yoon uses her girl character’s pinky fingers or her father’s frozen eyeballs when he gets caught in a compromising situation (and did you notice that both she and he are caught in approximately the same place on the page, several pages apart?). And then, there are the details. I became quite interested in the fate of the daddy’s slippers as well as the fact that the pet dog at the end appears to be juggling. There's even an image on the back of the book that solves the big question of why the dad went to his daughter’s bedroom in the first place. The rare throwaway detail that actually advances the plot.
It was my daughter that pointed out to me that this is a pandemic-era picture book. Or, as my husband calls it, an excellent example of “stealth COVID” lit. I missed all of that entirely on the first read. It never occurred to me that the whole reason the daughter is home and that the man has this home office set-up could be because they’re suddenly being placed in close proximity with one another like never before. This is a book about what happens when parents try to set limits for their children but in the end there’s no bottling up your kid's creativity. When we find ourselves in the same spaces with the same people for a long period of time, something’s gotta give. For a kid, a wild unbridled Post-It Note frenzy. For an adult, a Bowie-esque performance complete with octopus cape and fabulous tutu.
But I’m sort of burying the lede here. While I appreciate the book’s humor, it’s subtle angularity, and its appreciation for a good binder clip, I discovered something about Off-Limits that far and away made it much more interesting to me. This book is a bit of a phoenix for one very simple reason: It’s a magnificent readaloud. When I did regular storytimes, I often found that my performances (because what is a storytime except a performance where the audience is liable to do anything at any time?) were best when I used picture books with a very specific perfect text and tone. If I like a picture book and find it works with a group, it is my best friend for life. Other teachers and librarians, who feel this way about their readalouds, heed my words. The charms of Off-Limits are vast and many but the readaloud potential is where you really need to concentrate. Somehow or other, Helen Yoon is that rare flower that can not only figure out how to adapt to a picture book format, but also write a book that I want to read out loud to everyone I know. Seriously. I will record myself reading this book right now if you ask me. It has delicious opening lines like, “Hello! I’m just looking. There’s nothing wrong with just looking…” which I read with a kind of Frank Nelson on Jack Benny energy. It has a song that you will have to make a tune for (I haven’t decided which one I like best, though I’m leaning towards the I Dream of Jeanie theme song’s tune. And that ending. Sometimes I love reading a picture book aloud that lets me act like a shocked and stuffy grown-up that is shocked SHOCKED at the actions of the characters in the book.
In the course of my research on Ms. Yoon I decided to take a gander at her Instagram page. And there, lo and behold, I saw nothing but office supply-related cartoons. Yep. Some were one panel. Others more. But all of them illustrated with real pencils, binder clips, pens, you name it. It is clear that Ms. Yoon has a penchant for all things Office Max. It is also clear that she has a preternatural ability to put together a picture book with equal parts flair and fun. This book would make for a marvelous deep dive study into what it is that makes picture books fun for kids. Mischief, sure, but also design, timing, good writing, fun characterizations, and an ending that sticks the landing. It reads aloud better than any other picture book I’ve encountered this year and you can read it over and over and notice something new each time you do. Professional illustrators don’t always stick with picture books, and it could well be that this is Ms. Yoon’s final title. I hope, though, that we are able to enjoy her magnificent presence for years to come. A future favorite of kids and adults alike. No limits.
For ages 5-9
As a father leaves his home office for the kitchen he tapes a simple sign on the door. “OFF-LIMITS”. Seems pretty straightforward. Little does he know that his daughter is sneaking her way in. It all starts off so innocently too. “…I don’t think anyone would miss one piece of tape. Just one little teeny-tiny piece.” Next thing you know the lamp has a “lovely scarf” of tape, the paper clips and binder clips are doing a dance worthy of Busby Berkley, and the Post-It notes are going boldly where few Post-It notes have gone before. All of a sudden our heroine freezes, realizing what she’s done. Punishment is surely close at hand, as she slinks off to her own room. Only what she finds there isn’t at all what she expected to see.
It is a common misunderstanding that simply because a person draws well, they will automatically have the ability to make a good book too. I’m sure we’ve all seen the picture books by storyboard artists that look more like they took sketches from a wall, slapped a binding on the lot, and tried to call that monstrosity a book. I did a little research into Helen Yoon since the first thing her bio says is that she’s a professional illustrator out in L.A. Turns out, the lady’s got a big range. When you go to her website and take in the levels of intricacy and detailing on some of her art, then turn back to look at Off-Limits you can develop an appreciation for this new simplicity. Yoon scales herself way back with this title. Look at the precision of her line. The angles, once you begin to notice them, are such a sheer delight. Then too, consider her characterizations. I think I could write whole essays on the way in which Ms. Yoon uses her girl character’s pinky fingers or her father’s frozen eyeballs when he gets caught in a compromising situation (and did you notice that both she and he are caught in approximately the same place on the page, several pages apart?). And then, there are the details. I became quite interested in the fate of the daddy’s slippers as well as the fact that the pet dog at the end appears to be juggling. There's even an image on the back of the book that solves the big question of why the dad went to his daughter’s bedroom in the first place. The rare throwaway detail that actually advances the plot.
It was my daughter that pointed out to me that this is a pandemic-era picture book. Or, as my husband calls it, an excellent example of “stealth COVID” lit. I missed all of that entirely on the first read. It never occurred to me that the whole reason the daughter is home and that the man has this home office set-up could be because they’re suddenly being placed in close proximity with one another like never before. This is a book about what happens when parents try to set limits for their children but in the end there’s no bottling up your kid's creativity. When we find ourselves in the same spaces with the same people for a long period of time, something’s gotta give. For a kid, a wild unbridled Post-It Note frenzy. For an adult, a Bowie-esque performance complete with octopus cape and fabulous tutu.
But I’m sort of burying the lede here. While I appreciate the book’s humor, it’s subtle angularity, and its appreciation for a good binder clip, I discovered something about Off-Limits that far and away made it much more interesting to me. This book is a bit of a phoenix for one very simple reason: It’s a magnificent readaloud. When I did regular storytimes, I often found that my performances (because what is a storytime except a performance where the audience is liable to do anything at any time?) were best when I used picture books with a very specific perfect text and tone. If I like a picture book and find it works with a group, it is my best friend for life. Other teachers and librarians, who feel this way about their readalouds, heed my words. The charms of Off-Limits are vast and many but the readaloud potential is where you really need to concentrate. Somehow or other, Helen Yoon is that rare flower that can not only figure out how to adapt to a picture book format, but also write a book that I want to read out loud to everyone I know. Seriously. I will record myself reading this book right now if you ask me. It has delicious opening lines like, “Hello! I’m just looking. There’s nothing wrong with just looking…” which I read with a kind of Frank Nelson on Jack Benny energy. It has a song that you will have to make a tune for (I haven’t decided which one I like best, though I’m leaning towards the I Dream of Jeanie theme song’s tune. And that ending. Sometimes I love reading a picture book aloud that lets me act like a shocked and stuffy grown-up that is shocked SHOCKED at the actions of the characters in the book.
In the course of my research on Ms. Yoon I decided to take a gander at her Instagram page. And there, lo and behold, I saw nothing but office supply-related cartoons. Yep. Some were one panel. Others more. But all of them illustrated with real pencils, binder clips, pens, you name it. It is clear that Ms. Yoon has a penchant for all things Office Max. It is also clear that she has a preternatural ability to put together a picture book with equal parts flair and fun. This book would make for a marvelous deep dive study into what it is that makes picture books fun for kids. Mischief, sure, but also design, timing, good writing, fun characterizations, and an ending that sticks the landing. It reads aloud better than any other picture book I’ve encountered this year and you can read it over and over and notice something new each time you do. Professional illustrators don’t always stick with picture books, and it could well be that this is Ms. Yoon’s final title. I hope, though, that we are able to enjoy her magnificent presence for years to come. A future favorite of kids and adults alike. No limits.
For ages 5-9
Read
December 28, 2021Who would have thought that the simplest office supplies could bring out such amazing creativity? Well this little girl certainly enjoyed herself only to find out that her Daddy knows a thing or two about fun as well.
An absolute delight! -Jen K.
An absolute delight! -Jen K.
November 11, 2021
I love this picture book. Humor, invention, joy, and surprise await both the main character and reader.
December 22, 2021
A little girl sneaks into her father's office--which is Off-Limits. She can't resist playing with the tape, paper clips, and sticky notes. But then she realizes her explorations might have gone too far.
The surprise ending makes this a good example for an ELA tie-in: sorting types of endings.
Lots of visual humor contributes to the success of this story.
The surprise ending makes this a good example for an ELA tie-in: sorting types of endings.
Lots of visual humor contributes to the success of this story.
November 28, 2023
Thanksgiving weekend family picture book read-aloud fun! (Book 11 of 13.)
A little girl gets up to mischief with office supplies when she trespasses in her father's home office. Her cute and endearing antics are trumped by a hilarious, unexpected ending.
A little girl gets up to mischief with office supplies when she trespasses in her father's home office. Her cute and endearing antics are trumped by a hilarious, unexpected ending.
September 6, 2021
Good golly, Miss Molly! What a surprise here! I can't say that I am familiar with Helen Yoon. But this book is something very special. Check it out. I believe it may received a 2022 Caldecott!
December 15, 2021
This was very much my work-from-home experience with Tim in 2020.
March 17, 2022
This book is utterly charming. The voice is clear and engaging, the exuberance contagious, and now I kind of want to throw a party with office supply decorations. Such a book responding to work-from-home difficulties of the pandemic with an eye to joy.
December 15, 2021
laughed out loud. great illustrations!
December 23, 2021
This made me laugh out loud.
December 21, 2021
So cute, and the illustrations are an absolute joy.
December 21, 2021
5 stars. One of the funniest picture books I've come across this year.
December 20, 2021
I liked the color scheme and art style, especially some of the more vast layouts
December 16, 2021
This is the cutest picture book, and perfect for anyone who loves the stationary section :) I love it!!
December 29, 2021
There's nothing wrong with just looking.
I don't think anyone would miss one little teeny-tiny piece of tape.
Tremendously hilarious illustrations!
I don't think anyone would miss one little teeny-tiny piece of tape.
Tremendously hilarious illustrations!
December 13, 2021
This is a hilarious book. The pictures are everything. A little girl sneaks into her dad's office which is off limits and just can't resist touching the fun office supplies. The results is predictable but funny and the ending is perfection.
December 15, 2021
Unique book for kids whose parents tell them to stay out of their office! When they go in, the fun begins! Really original& cute! Loved it!
December 28, 2021
Who would have thought that the simplest office supplies could bring out such amazing creativity? Well this little girl certainly enjoyed herself only to find out that her Daddy knows a thing or two about fun as well. An absolute delight!
March 25, 2024
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
January 25, 2022
Daddy's office is off-limits. But why does it have so much fun stuff to play with!? Tape and paper clips and post-it notes, oh, my! When "just looking" turns to "just one piece of tape" to festoons of paper dolls and office-supply-garland, our protagonist knows she's in trouble. But where is Daddy? Fabulous illustrations with energy and feeling, plus a laugh-out-loud twist ending make this a winner, adding some humor to the new work-from-home reality for many.
March 11, 2024
What a wonderful, fun book 😁 I love everything about it - the ‘story’ and the illustrations and the little twist at the end 😍😂
I am also weirdly in love with office supplies, so enjoyed that aspect 😁
I am also weirdly in love with office supplies, so enjoyed that aspect 😁
March 23, 2022
So fun and adorable! I loved it!
January 6, 2023
Such a fun story. Roles are reversed-
TARA
TARA
September 20, 2024
Kocak. Bapaknya lebih lucu.
January 4, 2022
Love it!! VERY Cute book!!
May 13, 2025
Good
Wxtvkh kn check ça
Wxtvkh kn check ça
January 17, 2022
I found this book hilarious, especially the ending.
March 25, 2022
A little girl is tempted by all the fun stuff in her dad's off-limits home office.
This book is so visually appealing. The little girl's facial expressions as she makes a mess in the office made me laugh out loud. I love the way the illustrator uses colors and patterns to portray the fun she has getting into office supplies and playing with them. Yoon takes a simple concept and really runs with it in a fun way.
I read this to my own kids, and they thought it was hilarious. I think a preschool or kindergarten audience would react similarly. The book is very visual, but there is just enough text to make it a decent read-aloud. I suspect that, on the heels of staying home during Covid-19, this book is also relatable to a lot of families where parents and kids were suddenly home together all the time. The ending also gives kids a fun laugh at the fact that sometimes, parents might want to get into kid stuff and play, too. That kind of joke always goes over well at story times with parents in attendance. This could be a fun one for Father's Day.
I wanted to be careful with this book with my own kids because we do have an office that is mostly off-limits and I don't love that there are no consequences for the little girl after the colossal mess she makes. But I do think my kids mostly took it as a fantasy story about what might happen and not as a suggestion for how to spend an afternoon. Despite my misgivings, I also found it really entertaining myself, and we'll probably hang onto it for that reason.
I received a finished copy of Off-Limits from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.
This book is so visually appealing. The little girl's facial expressions as she makes a mess in the office made me laugh out loud. I love the way the illustrator uses colors and patterns to portray the fun she has getting into office supplies and playing with them. Yoon takes a simple concept and really runs with it in a fun way.
I read this to my own kids, and they thought it was hilarious. I think a preschool or kindergarten audience would react similarly. The book is very visual, but there is just enough text to make it a decent read-aloud. I suspect that, on the heels of staying home during Covid-19, this book is also relatable to a lot of families where parents and kids were suddenly home together all the time. The ending also gives kids a fun laugh at the fact that sometimes, parents might want to get into kid stuff and play, too. That kind of joke always goes over well at story times with parents in attendance. This could be a fun one for Father's Day.
I wanted to be careful with this book with my own kids because we do have an office that is mostly off-limits and I don't love that there are no consequences for the little girl after the colossal mess she makes. But I do think my kids mostly took it as a fantasy story about what might happen and not as a suggestion for how to spend an afternoon. Despite my misgivings, I also found it really entertaining myself, and we'll probably hang onto it for that reason.
I received a finished copy of Off-Limits from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2024
When her dad takes a break, and leaves his office, a little girls breaks the rules, and sneaks into his office that has an off-limits sign on the door. What happens next is just what the reader expects to happen, but when she sneaks away, after realizing that she may be in big trouble, to hide in her room, the unexpected has happened. A fun artsy/crafty story.
August 12, 2022
Hilarious! What a clever revision of the old adage “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” In this version, the gosling definitely takes after the gander. Engaging illustrations show how much fun can be had when we let our imaginations run wild.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews