Book review: THE SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF GROWNUPS

Kari (our granddaughter who is in her first year of teaching 5th grade) told me about this book, & it's - let me see if I can think of an appropriate word/phrase - the epitome of twisted, but comedic, thinking. I'm not sure 5th graders are old enough to catch all the nuances, but I'm confident they'll enjoy it, as will adults. It was published in 1998.

Author David Wisniewski chooses eight rules (Eat your vegetables - they're good for you; Drink plenty of milk - it's good for you; Comb your hair - it keeps it neat; Don't blow bubbles in your milk - it's noisy, sloppy, & rude - Don't play with your food - it's messy and rude - Don't jump on your bed - you'll break it & you might get hurt; Don't bite your fingernails - it makes your fingernails look terrible; Don't pick your nose - it's gross and disgusting); that kids get drummed into their heads by grown-ups, &, while he doesn't totally debunk the standard reasons for the rules, he reveals the hidden purposes of the grown-ups. Believe me, they're fascinating! I defy anyone to guess the real reasons b/4 turning the pages.

If the author of this book had been given as Derek Thomas Burk, I would've had no trouble accepting that as the gospel truth; somehow, he seems to have inherited the genes of a person with a wry sense of humor. I'm positive his Grandma Burk is innocent: she's too nice.

Doing a little research on David Wisniewski, I found that he and his wife Donna - with whom he ran a shadow puppet theater - have two children; one can't help but wonder what rules he hands down to them & whether they have secret reasons.... His awesome illustrations he made with cut paper.

This is a book to delight a wide range of ages.

by BGK, official book-reviewer on Grambk's staff. Sept. 24, 2005