The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups

by David Wisniewski

Parents are always spouting these rules. Do they really care about nutrients and mattresses, or are they hiding something? Luckily, one fearless grown-up will risk his neck and his dignity to find out. Disguised as everything from a chocolate milk scuba diver to a giant nose, this counterspy uncovers the disturbing truth. And what he learns will shock you like nothing before. Startling suckface emergencies! Dangerous digit gangs! Powerful sumo cells! Those are just some of the secrets revealed in this book by Caldecott medalist David Wisniewski. But don′t let anyone catch you reading it-especially grown-ups. Who knows what could happen if they knew that you knew?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Comedy

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

David R. Wisniewski was an American writer and illustrator best known for children's books.

He attended the University of Maryland, College Park but quit after one semester to join the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, graduating in 1973. He worked for several years as a clown before moving to Maryland and joining the Prince George's Country Puppet Theatre where he met his wife Donna Harris. In 1980, they started the Clarion Puppet Theatre (later known as the Clarion Shadow Theatre) which toured in schools, theaters and at the Smithsonian. After his children were born, he become a full-time author/ illustrator, using layers of cut paper to illustrate children's books. His book Golem, won the 1997 Caldecott Medal.

In his acceptance speech, he said of himself: "I am a self-taught artist and writer who depends on instincts developed through years of circus and puppet performance to guide a story's structure and look."

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was ok; I thought I was going to be wild about it, but it’s not one of the memorable ones for me. The premise really appeals to me. I’d think my sense of humor had taken a vacation for the day, except that I’ve been thoroughly amused by the humorous parts of the young adult book that I’m also reading.

The first example (the “real” reason why adults tell children they have to eat their vegetables) was very funny and I was entertained. But then it got old fast for me; I didn’t think that the rest of the “reasons why” were written imaginatively enough. The illustrations and formatting are really interesting.

I think the best part about this book could be reading it to young kids and having them make up their own stories about the whys of why grown-ups have various rules for them and saying them out loud to the adult; that could be very funny.

I’ll have to test this book on some kids. I suspect the theme alone will be appealing enough for them to enjoy the book.

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Mommy's review from 5/12)

I guess I'm the only one not adoring this book. Honestly I found it stupid. I like the idea and once I knew that was the premise I was excited to share it with Julia and have both of us laughing. Instead of smiles there were grimaces.
The set up of the book is so totally off that it 100% takes away from any humorous parts. (Not that there are many, but a few.) It's all over the place and this is the kind of book that, IMO, should be just the opposite.
The whole 'secret knowledge' thing is a good one. It's a great one! Why add crap onto it? Kids would have been fine without the stupid jokes, the "date and times", the "page from the book". And the stupid vegetable costumes.
Maybe it's us. Maybe we were just not all there that day. Anything is possible. But, it's far more likely this is mediocre at best. Since my 6-year-old wholeheartedly agreed with me I know it's not just me being old.

[Caterpickles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ten-Year-Old doesn’t want me reading this book. Apparently the stash of secret knowledge it gave her about the reasons why grown-ups make up all those rules is too important to share with me. So you’ll just have to take her word for why you should read this book.

Why The Ten-Year-Old thinks kids should read this book:
“I liked that it was hilarious and had hilarious explanations for these normal rules. One of the rules doesn’t affect me, but it still made me laugh. I liked the way it described vegetables as gigantic carnivores that ate people, so people had to start killing the veggies and turning them into salad. Then people learned they liked salad, and so now we have to eat it. I also like the rule about the cows, but you’ll have to read that one for yourself.”

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a favorite of mine. I have 2 or 3 copies in my classroom as well as one at home. I read it every year to my class when I taught 3rd grade...it doesn't seem to go over quite as well in 2nd grade...they don't all really "get it". But I love all the details..the date and time and disguises, the silly stories, the great illustrations, every thing about this book!! In 3rd grade, I would have my students write more "secret knowledge". They would pick a rule that they had at home or school and write why the grown ups SAID they had to obey the rule and why they REALLY had to obey the rule. Some were quite clever. Love this book!!!

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is sure to appeal to a child's love of all things gross, as it features exploding cows, carnivorous vegetables, and regenerating toenails. Sadly, I lost interest about halfway through the book. Wisniewski's artwork is top-notch, however.



I honestly can't remember reading this to the boys, so I can't report on their reactions.

[Melissa Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great picture book for older grades. It takes "parent rules" and changes them to tell you the "real" reason behind the rule! My 5th grade students brainstormed other rules and then created a class book in a similar style. Loved it for higher level thinking!

[Kenzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a childhood classic whose hilarity lived up to memory!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups would be a read for middle school students. I selected this book based on the title I wanted to learn the top secrets of adults. The ideas of the book are fact versus fiction. The story covers topics discussed in a science classroom; relationships in an ecosystem, evolution, critical thinking, evidence-based discovery, fiction versus nonfiction, and what reliable resources are. Teachers could use this text to teach a lesson on fiction versus nonfiction by discussing whether nails do turn into fingers. A teacher can also use humor about the evolution of humans based on the evolution of broccoli used in the story. I love how the artist brought the pages to life. I enjoy how the book uses humor to explain why parents tell children to do the tasks they do instead of using facts, and how David Wisniewski uses exaggerations to answer questions.

[Robyn Templeton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it was a creative way to tell different stories about the rules grown-ups tell children. I think it's a book kids would enjoy and have fun reading because of Wisniewski's retelling of these rules and giving them bizarre explanations can get kids laughing and keep their attention for the whole book. I also enjoyed the post-modern element of a story within a story, where Wisniewski was on a secret mission to reveal the "Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups" and the real reason for the secret rules were also being told. This element is a great way to keep the story interesting and entertaining.

[Maddy Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Poetry
Date: 11-21
Grade Range: 3-6

This book is full of comical poems that are supposed to be "adult secrets" like 5 giant cows that produce all the milk or that mattresses are animals raised in Scotland. It is a comical twist for adult rules that kids may have questions about. This would be aimed at older kids since the poems are longer, but it is fun as they are divided up in to case files as if they are a big secret. The illustrations are comical and i enjoyed this book thoroughly.

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good children's book. Simple rules we are told about as children like "eat your vegetables" are uncovered and given a "true" reason behind the rule. I thought it was funny, but the author uses a large vocabulary that most children wouldn't understand. Younger children might also believe in some of the things the book says that are meant to be funny: like ancient, killer vegetables. I'd say it's for older kids for this reason.

[Savannah Beckett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this book as a kid and I thought it was downright TERRIFYING. Looking back, it's not AS scary as I remember, but I still wouldn't subject any of the kids I work with to it. A lot of the stories range from "just plain silly" to "straight up terrifying". To be honest, it's concept is too silly for older kids, but too scary for younger kids. It might be good for the parents to get a laugh, though.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I applaud David Wisniewski for his brave undercover work to bring us this reavealing expose of the lies we adults tell children and the real, secret reasons behind them!

This book was adorable and silly, and would be so much fun for young readers and their parents. I also enjoyed the paper cut-out style of illustrations.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderfully fun book from this author.

I adore the laser-cut paper artwork.

My favorite was the bit about the finger gangs (that's gangs of fingers, so as to not have any odd misspellings). So funny!

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly reasons explaining why grownups want kids to do certain things like brush their hair, eat vegetables, don’t jump on the bed, etc. I could see parents who like to tease their kids sharing this one with them.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the first pages! Wonderful hook! Excellent word choice. Silly! Great humor! Better for older readers and adults. Does get extremely fantastical at times, but overall a fun read.

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and enjoyable. I great look at why people brush there hair and eat vegetables.

[Carolyn Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

Psst kids...Grown-ups have WAY cooler reasons for wanting you to do the things you do that what they are telling you.

[Darryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little book--esp. for boys.

[Laysha Daulton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best book I have ever read. Expected more from it.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book to inspire wildly imaginative writing. The premise was great but I kind of felt the book didn't quite hit the mark. Funny.

[Laila H · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting, funny, and weirdly convincing. This is great for kids that don't like to listen to their parents.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read aloud to fourth and fifth grade. Only read aloud selections to spark interest

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest picture book ever written

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the absolute BEST book for engaging writers!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of dumb. Some kids might like it, but I didn't find it clever at all.

[Marie Angus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute, fun book!!! My oldest (21 y.o.) read this with my youngest (then 10 y.o.) and my youngest wanted to read it to me.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a strange book...perfect for a middle school boy!

[Maia Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This post-modern book titled, "The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups," tells the secret tale of exactly why grown-ups tell their kids to do something that is deemed of high importance for them, such as eating their vegetables and not jumping on their mattresses. This book demonstrates the characteristics of a post-modern picture book in a fun and unique way.
For text, this book shows elements of addressing the reader, as it clearly directs the rule given to the child to them and only them. In addition, the reader is hit by each "actual" reasoning for these top secret rules by using the bold, black text used on the cover of the book. Where the text and message of this book are defined and playful, what makes this book extremely exceptional is its use of color and bold imagery for each of these rules.
The imagery in this book is both bold and playful and slightly graphic. This unique style brought "The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups" the 1997 Caldecott Medal. This prize comes with many of its artistic elements, such as its attention to detail and metafictive details. For example, this book uses immense typographic experimentation and fusion of images and text. This makes the reader capture the text in a fun yet complex state of mind.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this book in the genre of post-modernism because it makes the readers look beyond the silly message of this book. It is fun, yet uniquely complicated and sophisticated way. A reader of many ranges of reading and comprehension abilities will find this book a joy to read.