Children's Nonfiction Curiosities & Wonders
Don't Touch That Toad and Other Strange Things Adults Tell You
- Publisher
- Kids Can Press
- Initial publish date
- Aug 2010
- Category
- Curiosities & Wonders, Boys & Men
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781554534548
- Publish Date
- Aug 2010
- List Price
- $14.95
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781554534555
- Publish Date
- Sep 2014
- List Price
- $9.95
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781771380737
- Publish Date
- Sep 2013
- List Price
- $5.99
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Where to buy it
Out of print
This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 7 to 10
- Grade: 2 to 5
- Reading age: 7 to 10
Description
True or false: “Eating too much sugar will make you hyper.” How about, “If you go outside with wet hair, you'll catch a cold.” Or, “A mother bird will reject her babies if they have been touched by humans.” Each of these “facts” that we've all heard before are actually false, and the real story behind each one is clearly told here in this intriguing and unique book. Poking mild fun at grown-ups throughout, author Catherine Rondina covers a range of warnings, advice and truisms children will be familiar with, and bases all of her judgments on hard science and research.
In order for kids to be able to test themselves without peeking, each “fact” is described on the right-facing page, and a page turn reveals the true or false verdict, along with a full explanation. Humorous black-and-white line drawings by Kevin Sylvester liven up the text. The children who love these kinds of juicy compendiums of information may choose to read this one straight through. Teachers will want to keep it handy on a nearby shelf to refer to in many types of science lessons. It also works for exploring the importance of critical thinking and research in order to understand the difference between what seems true and what is true. The “Parentisms: An Overview” at the back of the book offers a list of favorite parental expressions, which could be used for language arts writing assignments or other creative expressions.
About the authors
CATHERINE RONDINA is a columnist and reporter for publications such as City Parent, Good Times, Post City Magazines and Canadian Living. Her writing for children has appeared in educational anthologies, literacy workbooks for students, and she is the co-author of a guide to professional baseball for women. She lives in Richmond Hill, north of Toronto, with her husband and three children.
Catherine Rondina's profile page
KEVIN SYLVESTER est auteur laure´at, illustrateur, journaliste, animateur de radio, re´alisateur et documentariste. Il a e´crit les livres de la se´rie MiNRS et Neil Flambe´, ainsi que les livres documentaires Gold Medal for Weird et Sports Hall of Weird. Kevin est reconnu pour son habilete´ de faire un souper dernie're minute avec ce qui est moindrement consommable dans son frigo. Il peut aussi transformer des cercles en chats et des cornets de cre'me glace´e en dragons. Kevin habite a' Toronto.
KEVIN SYLVESTER is an award-winning writer, illustrator, reporter, radio sports host, producer and documentary maker. His books include the MiNRS and Neil Flambé series. Kevin's claims his superpower is that he can take a puck off the head and STILL finish a hockey game. He's also known for his ability to be able to make a last-second dinner from whatever smells reasonably edible in the fridge. And he can instantly turn circles into cats and ice cream cones into dragons. Well, cat and dragon cartoons anyway. He lives in Toronto, Ontario. Visit him online at www.kevinsylvester.online.
Awards
- Winner, Silver Birch Nonfiction Award, Ontario Library Association
- Winner, Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award
- Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre
Editorial Reviews
Gleefully providing ammunition for snarky readers eager to second-guess misguided beliefs and commands of grown-ups.
Kirkus Reviews
Rondina advocates for children, and does not hesitate to say that parents are sometimes completely mistaken.
Quill & Quire
Librarian Reviews
Don’t Touch That Toad and Other Strange Things Adults Tell You
Eat your bread crusts, they’ll make your hair curl! This book, which looks at some of the most common, yet crazy, things that adults tell kids, is filled with humorous insights and wacky illustrations. It also includes a section of “Parentisms” — the truly unexplainable things adults say to kids!Source: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Best Books for Kids & Teens. 2011.
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