Why?

by Tracey Corderoy, Tim Warnes (Illustrator)

Overview

Otto is a curious rhino who wants to know everything. "Why does toast make crumbs?" "Why is milk splashy?" "Why do dropped things go SMASH?" Exhausted by all of Otto's questions, Mommy and Daddy decide that Otto might enjoy going to the museum. But now he has more questions than ever!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781589251687
Publisher:	Tiger Tales.
Publication date:	09/02/2014
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD470L (what's this?)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Tracey Corderoy lives near Gloucester in the Cotswolds with her family and a host of lively pets. Once an elementary school teacher, Tracey is now an award-winning writer. She loves visiting schools, libraries and bookshops, bringing her stories to life with bright, engaging events, and inspiring children to want to be writers.

Storyteller Tim Warnes has been writing and illustrating kids' books for 25 years. He's passionate about helping parents and caregivers nurture their children through stories worth sharing. Tim also enjoys playing the banjo, birdwatching, and wearing fancy hats. Learn more about Tim's work and the world of picture books on his blog, My Life in Books: www.TimWarnes.com.

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2014
PreS-K—While there's not much story here, this is an amusing account of a day in the life of a curious preschooler. Otto has a lot of questions, and they all seem to lead to big messes. "'Why do dropped things smash?'" "Why are there so many bubbles?'" When Mom and Dad take the young rhino to the museum, he asks even more questions. The colorful illustrations provide lots of funny details that will elicit chuckles and giggles, such as a young mouse running around with a dinosaur mask and a pig playing with a remote-control robot that resembles R2D2. The wide variety of questions, from "'Why is her nose so long?'" to "'Why aren't you up yet?''" also adds humor. Children and their parents are sure to relate to Otto.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY

School Library Journal

2014-06-30
More character sketch than story, this title will feel familiar to parents of curious children.Protagonist "Otto [is] a rhino with a LOT of questions." Most of these questions begin with the titular query as Otto wonders about the world, making messes and causing some upset along the way. His parents are wearied by his constant questions and decide a trip to a museum might provide him with some answers. Instead, the stimulation of the museum provokes even more questions—some about exhibits, but some are about the other museumgoers. "Why does that man have such big ears?" he asks about a bespectacled rabbit. "Why is her nose so long?" he wonders when he sees a lady anteater. Such questions make others look disapprovingly at the family, but rather than guiding him to more polite behavior, his parents simply shush him. Eventually, Otto's questions slow down because he is tired, and his parents take him home to bed. The next morning, however, he's wide awake and ready with the question "WHY aren't you up yet?" Sweet, cartoonish art in vibrant colors elevates the picture book's achievement, but on the whole, this ends up seeming more like an affirmation of adult perceptions of toddler behavior than a story for toddlers themselves.Look for a different title to entertain, rather than impersonate, young readers. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews