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The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups: The Second File
David Wisniewski has completed another daring raid into the vault of parent rules. Within these forbidden pages lurk the real reasons why grown-ups want you to brush your teeth, eat your breakfast, and clean under your bed. The truth has been hidden for centuries, but the time of mystery is over. Grab a flashlight! Get under cover! It's time for ... The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups!
The Second File
The Second File
48 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
David Wisniewski
35 books17 followersDavid R. Wisniewski was an American writer and illustrator best known for children's books.
He attended the University of Maryland, College Park but quit after one semester to join the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, graduating in 1973. He worked for several years as a clown before moving to Maryland and joining the Prince George's Country Puppet Theatre where he met his wife Donna Harris. In 1980, they started the Clarion Puppet Theatre (later known as the Clarion Shadow Theatre) which toured in schools, theaters and at the Smithsonian. After his children were born, he become a full-time author/ illustrator, using layers of cut paper to illustrate children's books. His book Golem, won the 1997 Caldecott Medal.
In his acceptance speech, he said of himself: "I am a self-taught artist and writer who depends on instincts developed through years of circus and puppet performance to guide a story's structure and look."
He attended the University of Maryland, College Park but quit after one semester to join the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, graduating in 1973. He worked for several years as a clown before moving to Maryland and joining the Prince George's Country Puppet Theatre where he met his wife Donna Harris. In 1980, they started the Clarion Puppet Theatre (later known as the Clarion Shadow Theatre) which toured in schools, theaters and at the Smithsonian. After his children were born, he become a full-time author/ illustrator, using layers of cut paper to illustrate children's books. His book Golem, won the 1997 Caldecott Medal.
In his acceptance speech, he said of himself: "I am a self-taught artist and writer who depends on instincts developed through years of circus and puppet performance to guide a story's structure and look."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 19, 2017
Well, I'm not the target audience. I found it dragged, and was so ridiculous it wasn't even amusing anymore. Also some of the 'hip' references are no longer current. But the art is wonderfully talented!
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January 20, 2011"Each "secret" has its own solution. Use this book as a model for students as they learn to look past the obvious and come up with new ideas for creating their own "secret files." "
October 25, 2018
A wacky children's book about what grown-ups know and won't tell. Like, why they REALLY want you to clean your feet.
June 8, 2015
A clever, witty book, although its humour was too silly at times.
This book indeed looks like a file full of top-secret notes. It containes messages, supposedly obtained by the author in a very risky manner, that reveal all the secrets of adulds - why do they force their kids to brush their teeth, clean under their beds, avoid junk food, etc.
The pages that contain (or, at least, should contain) the answers to these questions are brilliantly designed. The readers are presented with a piece of torn, crumpled paper, on which there are the answers. Unfortunately for the readers, though, every single sheet of paper lacks a bottom on which the last, most important reasons for the adults' apparently foolish demands, were provided. Thus, the readers are held in a suspense.
The answers come at the following pages. These pages, however, are not appealing to me at all. They are overwhelming and overly detailed. They are also inconsistent in terms of the illustrating style - there is a collage, there are pictures drawn in crayons and in paints. Altogether, it looks a little bit messy.
The explanations of the adults' demands were supposed to be funny, I guess, but most of them is just superficial and silly. I think that young kids will like it, but to me it was nothing special.
Overall, the book is quite ok. It should occur fun to kids, and a bit of a struggle to parents.
This book indeed looks like a file full of top-secret notes. It containes messages, supposedly obtained by the author in a very risky manner, that reveal all the secrets of adulds - why do they force their kids to brush their teeth, clean under their beds, avoid junk food, etc.
The pages that contain (or, at least, should contain) the answers to these questions are brilliantly designed. The readers are presented with a piece of torn, crumpled paper, on which there are the answers. Unfortunately for the readers, though, every single sheet of paper lacks a bottom on which the last, most important reasons for the adults' apparently foolish demands, were provided. Thus, the readers are held in a suspense.
The answers come at the following pages. These pages, however, are not appealing to me at all. They are overwhelming and overly detailed. They are also inconsistent in terms of the illustrating style - there is a collage, there are pictures drawn in crayons and in paints. Altogether, it looks a little bit messy.
The explanations of the adults' demands were supposed to be funny, I guess, but most of them is just superficial and silly. I think that young kids will like it, but to me it was nothing special.
Overall, the book is quite ok. It should occur fun to kids, and a bit of a struggle to parents.
January 27, 2015
I choose this book because I was curious to see what "secret knowledge" grown-ups have. This book is meant for 3rd grade and above. There is a lot to read with only some pictures, it was even kind of overwhelming even for me. There is a lot of false history information that is silly enough that it could get stuck in their heads as truth.
July 23, 2016
So, you're back, huh? Be careful. Just like the first one, don't let anyone see you read this book. Other grown-ups will take it from you and destroy it. Other kids will want to share it with all their friends. So be careful where you read this. Pass it on when you're done. Be sure to check out the real reason to clean those dust bunnies from under your bed.
October 25, 2013
Clearly, I would like the reasoning of this book better if I were to read it during elementary school. However, I am impressed with the reasonings that the author gave to each and every "grown up" rules. Looking forward to read the next series of this book.
February 15, 2009
Very Funny loved it!!!!
November 23, 2009
ysabella: i think this book is a very funny but not so funny i8ts funny because it tells like the grown ups reason but in funny way it tells the grown ups reason to do thing in a funny way
May 17, 2010
Funny, but not brilliant. (2.5 stars.)
It's a great idea: telling kids the "real" reason why parents say you should clean under your bed, etc. But it wasn't a great book.
It's a great idea: telling kids the "real" reason why parents say you should clean under your bed, etc. But it wasn't a great book.
May 13, 2012
A great followup to the original. The stories are a little more outlandish, but overall they're great. The book still keeps the spirit of the original strong.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews