Review by Booklist Review
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.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
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 (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
