Glasses: Who Needs 'Em?

by Lane Smith

A boy is unhappy about having to wear glasses, until his doctor provides an imaginative list of well-adjusted eyeglass wearers.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Fantasy, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Lane Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but moved to Corona, California at a young age. He spent summers in Tulsa, however, and cites experiences there as inspirations for his work, saying that "[o]nce you've seen a 100-foot cement buffalo on top of a donut-stand (sic) in the middle of nowhere, you're never the same."

He studied art in college at the encouragement of his high school art teacher, helping to pay for it by working as a janitor at Disneyland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration, and moved to New York City, where he was hired to do illustrations for various publications including Time, Mother Jones, and Ms..

Smith is married to Molly Leach, who is a book designer and designed the Smith/Scieszka collaboration.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/lanesmith

Reviews

[Nabila Tabassum Chowdhury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glasses: Who Needs 'Em?

আমার একটা অদ্ভুত সমস্যা আছে। গরম কমে যখন ঠান্ডা পড়তে থাকে তখন চোখ হালকা ব্লারি দেখতে থাকি। শীত চলে আসলে চোখে বেশ কম দেখি। চোখের ডাক্তারের কাছে যাই, চশমা আর ড্রপ নিয়ে আসি। শীত কমে যখন গরম আসতে থাকে তখন চশমা পড়েও ব্লারি দেখতে থাকি। আবার ডাক্তারের কাছে যাই। ডাক্তার চশমা আর পড়তে হবে না বলে দেন। অবশ্য গতবছর থেকে নিজেই নিজের চোখের চিকিৎসা করছি।

সো, আই অলসো নিড গ্লাসেস, বাট অনলি সিজনাললি। :P

চশমা কারো লাগুক বা না লাগুক, ফানি বই। ব্লারি ড্রয়িংগুলো বেশ ইন্টারেস্টিং। এক সময় মনে হচ্ছিল, স্মিথ সাহেবের মাথায় গল্প আগে আসেনি, বরং এই ব্লারি ছবিগুলো আঁকতে ইচ্ছে হচ্ছিল বলেই তার সাথে মিলিয়ে একটা গল্প বলেছেন। তবে গল্পটা কিন্তু খারাপ নয়।

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the message hits the reader over the head with force, I like this book, and think it’s great for kids who need glasses or know those who do.

The illustrations are so creatively done. There are lots of fun things to view. Older kids will appreciate the inside covers illustrations.

The story is funny, especially the last two pages. This story is about a boy arguing with his eye doctor about not needing glasses because he doesn’t want to look “like a dork” and the eye doctor telling him about everyone (including some far fetched eye owners) who needs glasses. How the boy comes around is so cute and amusing, and true, sort of.

It’s a fun read aloud book and boys and girls should both enjoy this one.

I got my first pair of glasses at age 12, and was amazed how bright the colors looked when I tried them on. I didn’t wear them regularly though until I was in my early twenties, and I’m still wearing them as 2 attempts at contact lenses failed. I’d have appreciated this book when younger, especially since some of my classmates wore glasses at a very young age, the ages this book is geared for: 5 & up. Personally, I think even younger children can enjoy this book.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fun and imaginative story in which an insightful eye doctor (insert laugh/groan here) informs a young boy that he needs glasses--and explains to the reluctant kid that so many other creatures need glasses, too. It's all quite fanciful, but with a message that is so good for kids needing glasses, and I love the ending! What I did not love are the illustrations. They were just a little too surreal--and a bit scary with all those open mouths or grins with little sharp teeth--but this is just personal taste and I can see where others would really love them. They are definitely of creative and well-done. All in all, highly recommended for children who worry they will, "Look like a dork!" if they wear glasses.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's lots by Lane Smith that I like. This is not included. If you are bothered by the teasing you'd get for wearing them, you're way too sensitive, and have bigger problems.

Just be glad you can see now! I know I was thrilled to be able to see better, almost five decades ago - getting new glasses prompted celebration ... reading this would have prompted nightmares....

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worried about looking like a "dork," a young boy insists that he has no need of glasses in this madcap picture-book from Lane Smith, only to discover that his determined (and highly eccentric) optometrist has an endless string of examples - people, creatures and things - that wear their spectacles with distinction. Can entire planets wear glasses? What about little green men, pink elephants, and Hong Kong flu bugs, asks the boy? "Yes!, Yes!, Yes!," replies the doctor, leading the boy to conclude that he has been putting a little to much sugar on his cereal. His perspective changes quite a bit, however, when his new glasses allow him to really see the world around him...

With an amusing story - complete with humorous asides from the smart-alecky young narrator - and wacky illustrations, Glasses: Who Needs 'Em? is an entertaining look at the common childhood experience of getting one's first pair of glasses. Zooming straight into the surreal, the tale is oddly reassuring, presenting the idea that glasses open up new worlds for those who wear them in a fun and fantastic way. The artwork is vintage Lane, complete with all the quirky (and sometimes sinister) details that his fans have come to expect. Recommended to any child who hates the idea of getting glasses, or to fans of the Lane Smith.

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts off when a little boy has to get glasses requested by his eye doctor and the boy starts worrying about looking like a dork once he gets the glasses. The eye doctor assures the boy that wearing glasses is not so bad and that everyone wears glasses including the boy’s family, which the boy sarcastically tells the doctor that his sister wears green rubber bands in her hair and unicorn T-shirts. The eye doctor then goes on saying that even famous inventors and entire planets wear glasses and the boy starts thinking that the doctor is exaggerating a bit too far and the boy sarcastically adds that pink elephants and green men also wear glasses, which the doctor excitedly agrees with. The boy then starts thinking that the doctor is losing his mind when the doctor suggested that dinosaurs and potatoes wear glasses and the doctor eventually mentions that he wears glasses too. The boy then starts to get annoyed by the doctor’s craziness and is about to leave when the doctor stops him and gives the boy his glasses and... read the ending to find out!

This was an amazing book to read as we see a strange world where everyone wears glasses and I'm sure this will be a great book for everyone to read!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it would help my many kids who are getting glasses. I found it very disappointing. There was no talk of self-esteem, just an eye doctor listing what he sees in the very fuzzy illustrations. There was no big lesson, just a big let-down.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the surreal, very 199os illustrations and the oddball wackiness of this book. If you wear glasses (like me!) you'll find you are in very good company!

[Libby In Libraryland]

"'Well, if you're going to insist on rabbits wearing glasses, maybe we should give some specs to their carrots too!"

"Don't be rediculous," he answered. "Carots don't need glasses...

...potatoes however..."

"Oh brother, now I understand... you're a loony aren't you?'"

[Amberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Included a couple funny jokes I don't think kids would catch without them being explained. My ten year old declared it "weird".

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t like this book quite as much as I expected. The illustrations are a bit dark and not really my cup of tea. I did think that it was brilliantly funny how I’m a few places the words on the page are arranged to look like an eye chart. And there is a quite funny joke at the end about the little boy finally being able to see all of the zany creatures around him once he wears glasses. I definitely think that the topic of this book is important (encouraging kids to wear glasses!) but it was a bit too wacky for my taste. I think since I usually read with a 2.5 year old I thought that some of the illustrations might be scary…but an older reader would probably enjoy.

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm here for the awesome illustration of Lane Smith. I wasn't disappointed, although it dark and a bit creepy. As for the story I didn't enjoy it. Feels like Smith is just thrown something in the air hoping when it lands it will turn into a story. I like the plot but the executing is not good. Again, I'm here for the artwork of Smith. Pick this up for the collectability of Smith's book but not for the story.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a delightful book. The only caveat is that some of the images might be scary. A young boy needs glasses. He refuses to wear them because he thinks they will make him look like a geek, and will be made fun of.

The optometrist tells him he will be impressed with all the things he will like.
This optometrist shows the boy some of the things he will see.

[Kelly Wickham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whimsical book explaining why the little boy in the story needs glasses. A mad scientist-type Dr. talks to the kid about everyone who uses glasses from a cat to a robot. The boy isn't convinced until he tries on a pair and the world opens up to him—a fun book to read whether you need glasses or not.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kid is told he needs glasses by an eccentric optometrist. He thinks the optometrist is insane, but when he finally tries on the optometrist's glasses, he sees that the world is actually as crazy as the optometrist claims it is. It's an amusing story, one that kids would enjoy.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, but a bit spooky...

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the book a little weird and actually a tad scary. The doctor in my opinion is a LOONEY! Not sure this would encourage a young person to want to wear glasses.

[Ashlin Edmisten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Lane Smith's illustrations. They are a conversation piece on their own.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the art

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay.

[J.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermoso, gracioso, gruñón y contestatario.

[Aryehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Fictional Humor

A young patient refuses to wear glasses as suggested by his optometrist because "only dorks wear glasses". The doctor tries to persuade the boy by reminding him that parents, famous inventors, and "monster movie stunt people" wear glasses too (and don't look like dorks).When that doesn't work, he goes on to list more outrageous characters who might wear glasses such as whole planets, pink elephants, and giraffes. The short tale ends with the boy accusing the doctor of "seeing things" and the doctor replying that he would be amazed what he (the boy) is missing out on because he cannot see. I felt that the story was very relateable to children--especially those who find themselves needing visual or hearing aids who might wonder how it makes them look.

I included this short, fictional humor in a set of books designed to promote empathy and understanding of people with disabilities. I chose to include this particular tale despite its simplicity because visual impairment is probably the most common and relatable form of disability. I wanted children to consider the way wearing glasses compares to other students in my text set hiding their need for help/assistance due to shame or determination to "handle it themselves". The main character may not want to wear classes because of how it makes him look, but how does this relate to other children who might be embarrassed for being pulled from class to see specialists, use wheelchairs, braces, or have disabilities that make it hard to perform well on classroom tasks? I introduce this book with the intent of opening the minds of children in such a way that they address their needs and the needs of others with respect and understanding rather than stigmatization and shame.

While the plot is very simple, and the characters are rather exaggerated, I feel this book is an excellent way to begin teaching children that there is no shame in receiving help/aid. I loved that the pictures where blurrily drawn until the child puts on glasses to "see what he has been missing" .The last page includes all the things that the doctor described with sharper lines so that the reader can clearly see what had been fuzzy before. The illustrations defiantly help drive the point home and may be of some use demonstrating visual impairment to readers who don't share those sorts of experiences.

[Joseph Sarandrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glasses, Who Needs ‘Em by Lane Smith is a fantastic book for children who dread the thought of having glasses, due to the stigma that defines them as ‘nerdy’ or, as the young boy describes them, “dorky”.

The little boy in the book, who has a head just as large as every Lane Smith character, is complaining to the eye doctor about how he does not want glasses. The doctor responds by first listing off the boys family members who all wear glasses, and then follows with humorous glasses-wearing things ranging from planets to animals and even to a potato. As the doctor list off all the people and things who wear glasses and aren’t dorky, the boy responds with sarcastic responses, only to be told they wear glasses as well.

Smith ends the book with the child on a blank page saying he is leaving because the doctor is the one who needs glasses, followed by a full page spread of the doctors glasses on the child and all of the animals, people, objects, vegetables and, of course, planets all around him wearing glasses.

The story ends with the boy proudly putting on his new glasses.

[Jessie Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a silly book and it would be good for students who need to wear glasses. I love all the funny things that the doctor can see and he cant because he doesn't have glasses.

My summary,
The boy goes to the eye doctor to get glasses but he tells the doctor there is no way he would wear them. The doctor goes through a whole list of who wears glasses and its a pretty long silly list. The boy does not believe him and makes fun of him. In the end he puts the glasses on and sees it all.

[Alison Durbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who had to have glasses at a young age, I felt that this book perfectly encompasses what many children think when they find out that they need to have glasses. You may fee like you will look like a "dork" and you are going to stand out; fortunately, this book provides a sense of humor and it will let children know that there are a ton of people/things that have to wear glasses.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye doctor uses many reasons to convince a child to wear his new glasses. The boy thinks the doctor is making some of the reasons up until he tries them on and sees all the things he has been missing without glasses. This is my favorite "new glasses" book: wild and fantastical, illustrations a bit on the dark side, and Lane Smith's classic humor and illustrations.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book that my daddy would read to me as a child. So much fun to read to kids when babysitting! I also have learned to love it on a different level now as an adult... I suggest you all take a look. Great illustrations too.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This entertaining easy-reader consists of the humorous conversation between the protagonist, a little boy, and his optometrist, who tells him he needs glasses. It would be a good read for anyone who wears glasses already, or a child resistant to the idea that she needs to.

[Jamie]

Who needs glasses asked the little boy? His doctor goes on about all the different animals and people who need glasses. The little boy thinks his doctor is crazy. His doctor puts the glasses on his face and the boy is able to see. After all glasses are not so terrible.

[Rachel Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic artist!