The Day the Kids Took Over

by Sam Apple, Julie Robine (Illustrations)

A James Patterson Presents Picture Book



Kids can imagine a world where they're in charge -- and ask the grown-ups for help when they need to -- in this adorable and imaginative picture book.

The kids have some excellent turning the Grand Canyon into a ball pit, replacing all the sidewalks with trampolines.

But running the world is a tough job. After the kids build a massive house of candy and then immediately eat all of their own furniture, they begin to have second thoughts.

Will the kids give the adults one more chance to run the world?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 19, 2021

About the author

Sam Apple is on the faculty of the MA in Science Writing and MA in Writing programs at Johns Hopkins. Prior to his arrival at Johns Hopkins, Apple taught creative writing and journalism at the University of Pennsylvania for ten years. He holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Columbia University. Apple is the author of Schlepping Through the Alps and American Parent. His forthcoming book, Ravenous (Liveright, May 2021), is about the German biochemist Otto Warburg and new developments in cancer science. Apple has published shorts stories, personal essays, satires, and journalistic features on a wide range of topics. In recent years, he has primarily written about science and health. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Wired, The Los Angeles Times, The Financial Times Magazine, ESPN The Magazine, The MIT Technology Review, and McSweeney's, among many other publications. Schlepping Through the Alps was a finalist for the PEN America Award for a first work of nonfiction.

Reviews

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 4 out of 5]

An essential read for those kids who play the game of "no" with their parents like it's an Olympic Sport *glares at 4-year-old daughter*.

Reviewed by: Miss Kelsey, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library

[Olivia Kuyper · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the kids took over the world, Iris and her crew had some important changes to make, like turning the Grand Canyon into a ball pit and making it rain marshmallows. But being a leader is hard work and things don't always go right. Nearly all children dream of being the boss of the world at one point or another and this book, with it's wacky sense of fun, hits all the right buttons for little leaders.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Teaches kids why they need their parents, and being independent is hard. Not really the best lesson children should be learning. I understand what the author was trying to say, but execution was clunky. Illustration wise, they felt unsteady.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An essential read for those kids who play the game of "no" with their parents like it's an Olympic Sport *glares at 4-year-old daughter*.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iris helps the kids and parents reach an agreement and cohabitate together again.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely premise and started of strong… I feel what the kids did and learnt could have been a bit stronger…

[Nanny B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story!
Colorful illustrations