A Bucket of Questions

by Tim Fite

A hilarious picture book of curious questions with refreshingly quirky answers perfect for fans of Mac Barnett and Amy Krouse Rosenthal!

Why do kids lose their teeth?
Why do seals clap?
What is at the bottom of the ocean?

Artist and musician Tim Fite is here to almost-answer all your most important questions—and then some!—in this marvelously wacky, utterly imaginative, and irreverently playful picture book.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Fiction

56 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2023

Reviews

[Clara Levi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nightmare fuel.

[Trevor Abbott · Rating 1 out of 5]

This felt like a fever dream SAT and I’m definitely not getting into college

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is the delightfully silly A Bucket of Questions by Tim Fite, an exploration of some absurd answers to rather curious questions.

There are a number of questions that pop out of the titular bucket in this book, ranging from the understandable (“Why do kids lose their teeth?”) to the unexpected (“What kind of questions fill up a bucket?”). Readers are offered a multiple choice of possibilities, but here’s the thing – no definitive answer is given! Instead, this title’s audience must choose for themselves, or invent an answer all their own! After all, while the answers to our questions might be important, it’s far more important that we never stop asking about what makes us curious, and what sparks our imagination.

Wonderful! I love a picture book that breaks from the formula, and Fite’s ambitious debut does just that. With a narrative structure that encourages inquisitiveness, creative thinking, and laughter, Fite presents a few humorous answers to the book’s questions – including the dreaded “Where do babies come from?” – prompting young readers to consider their implausibility and, by leaving them unanswered, come up with unique answers of their own. An addition, the organized chaos of the black and white artwork supports this theme perfectly; there is as much to visually engage the audience as there is left to their imagination. The length is perfect for a storytime, and JJ and I had a ton of fun with this one; two of the “joke” answers, which I will not give away here, had her rolling with laughter, and we loved inventing our own ideas on the composition of hot dogs or why seals clap. Overall, a fantastically fun read that will spark the imagination, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to the Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

"A Bucket of Questions" is a delightful book written with charming monochromatic black and white illustrations by Tim Fite. The book is filled with silly and thought-provoking questions that will keep kids entertained for a good amount of time. The questions are presented in playful and witty prose that is sure to tickle young readers' funny bones.

The illustrations in "A Bucket of Questions" are simple but effective, with each question accompanied by a whimsical drawing that captures the essence of the question. The monochromatic style adds to the book's charm and helps to create a cohesive visual style throughout the book. One aspect of the illustrations that I loved was that they are so detailed. My kiddo spent so much time on each of the pages trying to find and point out the tiny details, like the tiny zebra hidden on one of the pages!

What makes "A Bucket of Questions" stand out is the author's ability to engage young readers' imaginations and sense of humor. The questions range from the absurd to the thought-provoking, encouraging kids to think creatively and outside the box. The book is also perfect for starting conversations and sparking kids' curiosity about the world around them.

Overall, "A Bucket of Questions" is an excellent book for kids who love silly and thought-provoking questions. The playful prose and charming illustrations make this book a joy to read and a great addition to any child's library.

[Jared White · Rating 1 out of 5]

For some reason, my library added this to the nonfiction wacky/fun facts section but it doesn't actually answer any questions correctly so it's better suited to the humor (though I didn't find it funny) section or somewhere else. Honestly, I didn't make it through the whole book...maybe it could inspire kids to seek out the actual answers elsewhere?

Side note: Wow, Goodreads, Love, Pamela came up as a read-a-like for this book? Y'all really need to work on your algorithm. That's not even similar to any other book I've ever added.

[Kiera Beddes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't get this. The author asks a series of questions but doesn't give any concrete answers. It's a lot of nonsense but there is a sort of visual narrative as each illustration builds on the last. It might catch the attention of a certain type of quirky kid, but I think most readers wouldn't invest the time in it.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fite offers humorous answers to the questions in this bucket while challenging readers to think for themselves. The black and white drawings support the text and pull readers in. I especially appreciate the final end page answer.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a feeling some of my students will find this book hysterical. And you can spend hours looking at the illustrations and spotting the little seals at the bottom of each page, but I was hoping for at least some real answers. I’ll add it to my library collection and see what my students think.

[Chelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this illustrations and the idea of the book, but I would have liked there to be one correct answer and then have my child choose the right one instead of being given only wrong answers. It was cute and funny, but missed the point of the book.

[Bunmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely ridiculous book, which is what made it so wonderful!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soulful, irreverent and an absolute joy to read with kids.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, wow. Super weird and super fun nonsense. Questions about the bottom of the ocean and where babies come from get no sensible answers, but the answers are hilarious.

[Jacqui · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best question and answer in the book…why are old people extra wrinkly? Each wrinkle is for someone they love.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story 3
Illustrations 3

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was nonsensical and delightful. I'm sure it won't match everyone's sense of humor but I thought it was so silly and fun. Very random and ridiculous. My jr high age patron loved it.

[Mariah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incongruous and generally sucky in an annoying way

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bunch of silly questions with multiple choice answers that are meant to be funny, but make absolutely no sense. Definitely not my cup of tea.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful art with silly questions and answers.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrifying.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly black and white art with the exception of the singing rainbow rooster-ha! Some kids will love the nonsense questions and answers. I just found it so so.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a nonfiction book... don't come looking for answers! Most questions, especially silly ones, lead to even more questions. The point in "almost" answering the questions is to celebrate kids' awesome imaginations while delivering a "never stop asking questions" takeaway.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.