Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups

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Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups (Reprint) Pub. Date: 7/28/2001 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups: The Second File Pub. Date: 8/10/2004 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
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Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups: The Second File (1 ED) Pub. Date: 7/28/2001 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups Pub. Date: 4/28/1998 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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The Secret Knowledge Of Grown-Ups (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Library Binding - THIS EDITION IS INTENDED FOR USE IN SCHO) Pub. Date: 3/1/2001 Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval

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Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups: The Second File (1 ED) Pub. Date: 8/28/2001 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups Pub. Date: 4/27/1998 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups (Library Binding) Pub. Date: 1/1/2001 Publisher: San Val, Incorporated

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Overview

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?

A humorous revelation of the real reasons why adults tell children to do things, such as "Eat your vegetables," "Comb your hair," and "Don't blow bubbles in your milk."

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Caldecott winner Wisniewski (Golem) spoofs conspiracy theories in this "confidential" volume, with a jacket designed to resemble a sealed manila envelope and illustrated with intricate cut-paper collages. "As a parent, I went along with it all at first: going to secret meetings... preparing for the day when my kids would want to know why this and why that. But not anymore!" confesses the narrator, whose typewritten words fill a crumpled sheet of brown paper. On the pages that follow, bulletins labeled "TOP SECRET" offer classified information. For example, "Grown-up Rule #31: Eat your vegetables" is followed by "Official Reason: They're good for you." This leads to "The Truth: You don't eat vegetables because they're good for you. You eat vegetables to k...." Here the document is torn as if by an enemy, and a turn of the page reveals, in oversize type: "to keep them under control!" A tyrannosaurus-style broccoli stalk marauds across the accompanying illustration, joined in its depredations by equally sinister carrots, radishes, etc. The engagingly silly formula repeats throughout, the text and the art consistent in their over-the-top humor and sure execution. The mock-official presentation gleefully contrasts with the utter ridiculousness of the "facts," just as the painstaking cut-paper technique contrasts with the loony wit of the compositions themselves. Yet, strangely, the findings seem to prove that young readers should comb their hair and stop blowing bubbles in their milk—could this exposé be the work of a double agent?

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From The Critics

The title is perched on a yellow cover that resembles a top-secret file. The back flap tells about the author with statements like, he's "old enough to know better, between 3'6" and 6'3". Inside, Wisniewski delivers on his promise when he reveals the secrets behind eight worn out adult sayings. For example, Grown-up Rule #31: Eat your vegetables. The Official Reason is that they are good for you. With a quick page turn, kids can learn the truth. You see, once meat-eating vegetables ruled the earth and now you've got to eat vegetables to "keep the little horrors fearful and demoralized and to protect modern civilization." Wisniewski trademark paper-cut collages are bright, colorful and as zany as the stories. This book will draw children like a magnet.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780064437530
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date: 7/28/2001
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 48
Sales rank: 40,724
Age range: 5 - 10 Years
Lexile: 0810L (what's this?)
Series: Secret Knowledge Series

Meet the Author

David Wisniewski passed away in his sleep, from an unknown illness, on September 11, 2002. Born in 1953, he had all-too-brief a life and leaves behind his lovely wife, Donna, and their two children, Ariana and Alexander.

Just this week David had seen the finished books for Halloweenies, and he was so happy with how it turned out.

He will, of course, be remembered as the 1997 Caldecott Medalist for his 6th book, The Golem. But perhaps even more, he'll be known for his off-beat postmodern humor, seen in Tough Cookie, The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups, and Halloweenies. Everyone who knew him loved his wit and his vibrancy; he was also quite an inspirational speaker. We will miss him.

In His Own Words:

My mom taught me to draw in first grade. Nothing fancy. Just how to put circles and ovals together for form "bubble men." It was a wonderful introduction to drawing and a terrific gateway to action and proportion. But third grade, I was one of the class artists.

That's when I started reading comic books, especialy the Marvel superheroes created by Stan Lee. My sketchpads became full of The Fantastic Four, Spider-man, The Mighty Thor, and X-Men. Comic books were also my first introduction to dynamic storytelling. Nothing's more dramatic than colossal struggles between good and evil with entire galaxies at stake!

This enthusiasm led directly to Classic Comics, simplified versions of fantasy masterpieces like Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. It wasn't long before I became an avid reader, willing to tackle the work of Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, and A.E. van Vogt.

During high school I became interested in the performing arts as well as the visual When I couldn't afford more than one semester of college, I signed up for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. After training for two months, I clowned with Ringling for two seasons (1973-74), then performed with the country's largest tent show, Circus Vargas, in 1975.

After the circus, I was hired by my future wife, Donna, to perform with a puppet theatre. We married in 1976 and started our own company, Clarion Shadow Theatre, in 1980. Shadow puppetry was our specialty, wherein flat, jointed figures move against a screen illuminated with rear-projected scenery. Although I didn't know it at the time, shadow puppetry trained me to do picture books. Cutting out shadow puppets and projected scenery taught me how to use an X-Acto knife. The shadow screen was the same shape as an open book. Adapting legends and folktales into scripts taught me how to write.

When our chidren - Ariana and Alexander - were born, touring became impossible, so I adapted my cutting skills to illustration. After four years of freelancing for newspapers and magazines, I created my first picture book. The Warrior and the Wise Man (1989) looks very much like a shadow puppet play.

My cut-paper style matured with ensuing books. I learned to construct more detailed people and scenery, plus how to layer the artwork, creating the shadows that give depth to the pages. Happily, my books have been well received, culminating in the 1997 Caldecott Medal for Golem.

After six epic adventures, I wanted to try something comedic that would draw on my circus and puppet theatre experience. The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups was the result, a silly conspiracy spoof about the real reasons why parents tell kids to do things.

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Anonymous

Posted October 2, 2007

TOP SECRET (SHH!)

this book was great with all the colorfulness but, I was sad when it was over so soon. The 'truths' were logical and I even believe that they may be real ok ok they definitely made me a little wary of my vegetables
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Anonymous

Posted May 2, 2006

Its spicy!

This book is funny because it has funny pictures. This story is about grown ups rules. This book has different stories about grown-ups. I like this book because it has funny sentences.
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Anonymous

Posted May 17, 2005

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I could I'd give The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups:The Second File 100 stars for children's books.It's got alot of funny jokes like don't swallow your gum.David Wisniewki is a great children's book writer.
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Anonymous

Posted May 12, 2005

outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I could I'd give The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups: The Second File 100 stars.I think that he's a great children's book writer.He does good jokes like 'don't swallow you'r gum.'
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Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups

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Overview

All Available Formats + Editions

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More About This Book

Overview

Related Subjects

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

From The Critics

Product Details

Meet the Author

Rating Distribution

TOP SECRET (SHH!)

Its spicy!

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!