Scan barcode
A review by mat_tobin
Just Because by Mac Barnett
3.0
A child cannot get to sleep at night because they have too many questions floating around in their head. When dad comes to ask them to try and get to sleep he is met by a barrage of questions. The conversations were almost uncomfortably similar to those between Calvin and his father in the unsurpassed [b:Calvin and Hobbes|77727|Calvin and Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes #1)|Bill Watterson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441227694l/77727._SX50_.jpg|2110010]. Instead of answering them logically, he presents answers that are quite ludicrous:
Child: 'Why is the ocean blue?'
Father: 'Every night when you go to sleep, the fish take out guitars. They sing sad songs and cry blue tears.'
And so the exchanges continue. As more questions are asked, dad comes closer to the bed and, smiling, joins their child enjoyably hooked into the exchange. I interject here to say that, again, Arsenault's mixed-media illustrations are just perfect. The story culminates in a final, wonderful exchange in which dad leaves with a beautiful refrain on the power of the imagination and the importance of always continuing to question.
It's a sweet picturebook but it's staying power and re-reading is thin at best.
Child: 'Why is the ocean blue?'
Father: 'Every night when you go to sleep, the fish take out guitars. They sing sad songs and cry blue tears.'
And so the exchanges continue. As more questions are asked, dad comes closer to the bed and, smiling, joins their child enjoyably hooked into the exchange. I interject here to say that, again, Arsenault's mixed-media illustrations are just perfect. The story culminates in a final, wonderful exchange in which dad leaves with a beautiful refrain on the power of the imagination and the importance of always continuing to question.
It's a sweet picturebook but it's staying power and re-reading is thin at best.