I Can Explain

by Shinsuke Yoshitake

A laugh-out-loud picture book about bad habits from internationally acclaimed author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake.

Nose picking? Nail biting? Wiping dirty hands on clothes? Before you call them "bad manners," consider the compelling reasons that may be behind these behaviors. For instance, jumping on the bed is great practice for when the road becomes a trampoline! Not being able to sit still might actually be the chair's fault! And what better way to train for the International Straw Chewing Contest than by chewing on straws?

This hilarious picture book unpacks the reasons behind a variety of relatable behaviors. Clever and creative, it will inspire children and parents alike to expand their powers of reason and view their own habits in a new, humorous, and—most importantly—forgiving light. After all, there's an explanation for everything!

ENCOURAGES CREATIVE THINKING: This humorous picture book encourages readers to laugh at their “bad habits.” Kids will delight in the narrator's endless explanations, which are at once hilarious, thoughtful, and absurd.

A UNIQUE TAKE ON MANNERS: Manners matter, but we are only human! Thought-provoking scenarios make for fun (and forgiving) conversations about our silliest tendencies.

PERFECT FOR REPEAT READS: With a comic-esque art style, an engaging story, a fast pace, and a charming voice, this humorous picture book will have young readers asking to read it again and again.

FROM AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR: Fans of the critically acclaimed picture books The Boring Book and There Must Be More Than That! will immediately recognize author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake's signature illustration style, humor, and imaginative sensibility.

Perfect for:
Fans of award-winning author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake
Parents seeking a humorous book about manners
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Japanese Literature, Fiction, Japan, Family

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2015

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

[Dream.M · Rating 3 out of 5]

بسیار کیوت

[Maede · Rating 3 out of 5]

چرا دست تو دماغت می‌کنی؟
چرا ناخون‌هات رو می‌خوری؟
چرا غذات رو می‌ریزی رو میز؟

ببین راستش می‌تونم برات توضیح بدم. قضیه اینه که....

داستان راجع به پسریه که برای همه‌ی عادت‌های بدش دلیل‌ داره (می‌سازه). چون اگر برای کاری دلیل داشته باشی، انجام دادنش درسته، نه؟

کتاب رو می‌تونید از اینجا دانلود کنید
Maede's Books

۱۴۰۳/۵/۲۹

[Rana Heshmati · Rating 4 out of 5]

توی این کتاب، شینسوکهٔ بامزهٔ عزیزم، برای کارای کوچیکی که ممکنه بره روی اعصاب دیگران، دلیل‌تراشی‌های خرانه می‌کنه. :)))

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A boy tells his mother increasingly fanciful rationalizations for his bad habits and behavior.

The worst part of reading a bland book like this is to look up the forgettable author and realize that you've read another bland book by them before (see: The I Wonder Bookstore). Tricked again by my own bad memory and willingness to read books with little to no foreknowledge or research.

(Another project! I'm trying to read all the picture books and graphic novels on the kids section of NPR's Books We Love 2022.)

[Essareh · Rating 4 out of 5]

خیلی خیلی خیلی خیلی بامزه‌ست. باید بقیهٔ جلدها رو هم بخونم.
برای یاددادن دلیل‌آوری منطقی و غیرمنطقی به بچه‌ها خیلی خوبه.

ممنون که خوندید.💙

۳۱ شهریور ۱۴۰۴
تخت

[شهرزاد · Rating 3 out of 5]

چرا دست تو دماغت میکنی؟
ببین اجازه بده برات توضیح بدم. من در واقع دست توی دماغم نمیکنم بلکه....
اخه نمک!
چطوری همچین دلایل نمکی برای کارای بدت میاری.

[Narges Shegeft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheerful beams =))))

[Farjaneh_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

هو النور
این جلد رو دوست نداشتم

[Neftis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha parecido interesante porque trata el tema de las manías o 'malos hábitos' y de las razones que ponemos para tenerlos.
La madre de este niño es un poco asfixiante con él ya que no le pasa una y de ahí que se invente las razones para todo eso. Pero no solo los niños tienen manías, también los adultos tienen que aprender a controlarlas.
Me ha gustado, sobre todo por la imaginación del niño.

[Rohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, thanks library!

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shinsuke Yoshitake has the marvelous imagination of a child. I've loved his other books and this one is just as clever. For all of the annoying things a child does, he has an explanation for why he must do them. The child picks his nose because there's a button in the back of his nose that releases cheerful beams! He climbs on things to train for when he finds a cat stuck in a tree. Hahaha! And at the end the mom joins in with her own creative explanation which is perfect, reminding us all to connect with our own wild imaginations.

**I also love when the little boy is naked, he is drawn anatomically correct.

[Lisa Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

We go about our day fiddling, doing things we aren’t aware of doing, and why? I clench my jaws a lot but don’t realize it until I start to have a headache. I still can’t explain when I do that. I shake my legs when I’m nervous. I twirl my hair when I’m tired and am trying to stay awake. I bite my cuticles when I’m anxious and time is going too slow.

This book made me more aware of all of those things I do and maybe I will start being more aware of other things I do that I didn’t know I did and have an explanation for it.

Really good picture book for kids to read with their adults!

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO adorable, so cute!!

[DonutKnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so clever 😂 Although my mum would probably just call me a smart Alec 😂😂

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHAHAHAHA I LITERALLY LAUGHED OUT LOUD.

[Sha Mohamed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Memang comel sangat watak dalam buku ini.. Memberikan penjelasan untuk setiap tingkah laku beliau..

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

"-què difícil m'ho poses! sembla que tens raons per a tot!
-així és! i tu també m'ho poses difícil!"

[lammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

maybe im overly sentimental but this book is peak and i wish i had a 4 year old child to read this to but maybe i can wait 10 more years actually

[Lisa Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute. There is a little nekkid spot but I think we could still read it at storytime

[Emmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who is a bit of a fidget, I found this book incredibly stressful, but also very funny. I love this author, but this is not one of my favorites.

[Golden Ginkgo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Translated from its original Japanese, 我有理由 (I Have a Reason) by Shinsuke Yoshitake is a hilarious picture book, intended for preschool and younger elementary school children. In this book, a little boy tries to explain away his bad habits with very elaborate and very silly reasons. He has to pick his nose because there is a button inside his head. If he just presses this button endlessly he'll send out happiness beams that will make every person happy! So really, what choice does he have?

For more about 我有理由 check out my post: Mandarin Monday: 我有理由

For more book recommendations, including Mandarin Chinese titles, check out my blog: Golden Ginkgo Books

[Agel · Rating 5 out of 5]

full of imagination 🌈🧚‍♀️🛸

[CallmeJames · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 "𝐈 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧", 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞

👦🏻👩🏻🖍️🛼🎨🩹 "I Can Explain" is a masterful exploration of a child’s boundless imagination, where the mundane transforms into the extraordinary. This book invites readers into a realm where lost socks are not merely misplaced but are part of a grand conspiracy, and vegetables engage in nocturnal dance rehearsals. Yoshitake’s narrative is a delightful blend of whimsy and intellect, challenging readers to view the world through a lens of playful absurdity.

👦🏻👩🏻🖍️🛼🎨🩹 The narrative is both intellectually stimulating and delightfully eccentric. This book is a haven for those who revel in the unconventional, offering a sophisticated yet whimsical escape from reality. Yoshitake’s illustrations and storytelling are a testament to the beauty of embracing one’s inner oddball. For those who find solace in the peculiar, this book is a beacon, guiding you to a community of like-minded individuals who celebrate the weird and wonderful. Together, you will navigate the delightful chaos of Yoshitake’s world, finding joy in the shared experience of being just a little bit weirder. Embrace the eccentricity and let your imagination soar!

[Tompkins County Public Library Youth Services]

Cassie's Thoughts: Shinsuke Yoshitake has the marvelous imagination of a child. I've loved his other books and this one is just as clever. For all of the annoying things a child does, he has an explanation for why he must do them. The child picks his nose because there's a button in the back of his nose that releases cheerful beams! He climbs on things to train for when he finds a cat stuck in a tree. Hahaha! And at the end the mom joins in with her own creative explanation which is perfect, reminding us all to connect with our own wild imaginations. I also love when the little boy is naked, he is drawn anatomically correct.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the author of The Boring Book. First line: "I have a habit of picking my nose."

Appealing story (if you don't mind reading about gross habits). Utterly delightful art. I liked the creative kid, but I loved the beleaguered mom who apparently does nothing but complete housework, try to make her kid less of a wild animal, and stand there exhausted while he spins out wild story after wild story. If she ever has any fun—a spouse who loves her, a book club with her friends, a cute outfit, five minutes to herself—this book does not reveal it. Oh, wait, in the endpaper she sings off-key in the car. WHEW.

[Sadie-Jane Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 027 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Yes, yes, I get that it is a kid, but those are some foul bad habits.

What i am impressed by is the imagination to come up with the most incredulous reasons for his bad habits.

Looks like he takes after his mom in that sense, lol

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[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

I really like the sense of humor in Yoshitake's books. In this one, the parent is getting after the child for any number of irritating and questionable habits. Picking his nose, biting his nails, fidgets and spills and running around naked, and the like. Said child decides that these behaviors will not be so frowned upon if there is a reasonable enough explanation for them. Some of the impulses are explained better than others, but my favorite is when the parent is duly accused of twiddly, repetitive behaviors and must come up with her own explanation.

Note: brief child nudity.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why, this young lad has an excuse for everything! When his mum asks him to stop picking his nose, he explains the real reason for the act: the happy button in his nose sheds joy to those around him. And other bad habits like chewing his nails, noisy straw sounds, and dirty hand wiping for all he has an excuse, and even his mom, he points out, has some bad manners and habits. Some nudity in his bad habits.

[Indy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love Yoshitake's picture books, as they are really fun to read and meaningful. This one is about little bad habits in daily life which the mother would like to correct. Yet, the son came up with so many different creative and hilarious excuses for the bad habits. The way the mother dealt with it was so inspiring. Another great picture book for children and adults.

[Renee MA · Rating 1 out of 5]

As the boy is repeatedly criticized by his caretaker, he creates reasons for his totally normal quirks and habits. But let's be real, wiggling and nail biting aren't 'bad manners', as the caregiver calls them. While I get what the author was going for, the execution was poor. Even the cute art couldn't save it. (The naked kid was actually really funny, so it isn't that)