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I Can Explain

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
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
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    • Reviews

      • Kirkus

        June 15, 2022
        A child with a free-wheeling imagination reveals the real purposes of gross or unconscious habits. As the child explains to a skeptical mother in Yoshitake's simply drawn cartoon scenes, it's all perfectly reasonable: Nose pickers are actually pushing a nasal button that releases "cheerful beams" that put everyone in a better mood; biting nails creates an inaudible sound that drives crows away from the trash bags piled outside; blowing bubbles with a straw sends a signal that "There's a lot going on, but I'm still okay." Similarly, fidgeting is the fault of an ill-tempered chair, a "Dash Bug" is to blame whenever the protagonist runs down a hall, and dancing around naked after a bath is just training for when evil, clothes-stealing aliens invade school. Nonetheless, a mild parental request to "try to be a little more mindful of having good manners" is received with equanimity--and the cogent observation that children aren't the only ones who exhibit such behaviors. The matching serious expressions on the faces of the two figures crank the drollery up an extra notch. Both the child and the mother have skin the white of the page. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An easy pick. (Picture book. 5-8)

        COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

      • Booklist

        August 1, 2022
        Grades K-2 It's not that he has bad manners, the little boy explains to his mother. He's not picking his nose; he's pressing a hidden button at the back of his nose that releases beams of cheerfulness. It's not that he can't sit still; he's communicating with an ill-tempered chair. Jumping in the bed is just training for when the street turns into a trampoline. And, of course, wiping his dirty hands on his clothes is simply because he'd feel terrible wiping his dirty hands on flowers or a swan. Award-winning author-illustrator Yoshitake yet again presents a highly original tale of children's behavior with a keen and cheeky insight into their brains. The humor and creativity translate beautifully from the original Japanese, and his simple line drawings in muted yellows and bubblegum pinks support the punch lines without pulling focus. Yoshitake provides a wholly original way for parents and caregivers to discuss good manners and healthy behavior with their children through the inventive lens of another creative (albeit fictional) child.

        COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    Formats

    • OverDrive Read
    • EPUB ebook

    Languages

    • English

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