Why?

by Lila Prap, Lili Potpara (Translator)

Presents both real and humorous answers to questions about animals, such as why zebras have stripes, why lions have manes, and why crocodiles cry tears.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Nonfiction, Childrens, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Born in 1955, Slovenian artist and children's book author Lilijana Praprotnik Zupančič, who publishes under the name "Lila Prap," studied architecture at the Ljubljana Academy of Architecture and Civil Engineering, and worked as a graphic designer for a number of years. Her debut title, Animal Lullabies, was published in 2000, and was soon followed by others. Her books have been translated into many languages, worldwide, and have made her one of Slovenia's most popular authors. Included in IBBY's honor list, Prap has been nominated for a number of international children's books awards, including the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, and the Astrid Lindgren Prize. In Slovenia, she has been awarded the Levstik Prize, the Most Beautiful Book Prize, and the Original Slovenian Picture Book Prize.

Reviews

[sAmAnE · Rating 4 out of 5]

به بعضی از سوالات در مورد حیوانات، هم به صورت طنز و هم جدی و علمی جواب داده بود. مثلا چرا اسب آبی خمیازه می‌کشد یا چرا شیر یال دارد؟

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in Slovenian as Zakaj?, Lila Prap's informative and entertaining picture-book uses a series of questions and answers to introduce young readers to fourteen different species of animal. Each question - Why do lions have manes? Why are zebras striped? - is answered in a variety of ways, first with a series of humorous answers, penned by Prap, who is also the illustrator, and then with a starred factual answer, provided by scientific consultant, Jelka Pogačnik. The artwork, done in earthy tones, has a whimsical style that adds to the reader's sense of fun and discovery.

Chosen as one of our November selections, over in the International Children's Book Club to which I belong, where we read a children's book from a different country each month, Why? is the first book I have read by author Lila Prap, and the first from Slovenia! Innovative and engaging, with a smart design, and appealing artwork, it is a book that ably fulfills its mission of informing young readers, and sparking an interest in the natural world in them. I found myself chuckling at some of the insouciant nonsense answers - Zebras have stripes because they're wearing pajamas! Or because they've escaped from jail! - and came away from the book with a desire to pick up more of Prap's work. If this is the kind of kid's book they produce in Slovenia, then we need to translate more of them!

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 4 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: چرا؟

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why? by Lila Prap. PICTURE BOOK. Firefly Books, 2018. $15. 9780228101222

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Each spread in this book includes a question about some animal behavior and then several answers that are silly or funny. Noted by a star is a scientific answer that answers the question.

This book is both fun and interesting. The illustrations are on the bland side, most in browns with a brown background. The font makes the text seem like it is for little readers, but I think slightly older kids will enjoy the information the most.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Madkropotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son read this book to me, most of the vocabulary was suited for him, I just helped him out with some difficult words.

[Tina Fazenbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes over common questions that children have about animals. They provide several humorous answers and then a real one (with stars to indicate that they are real).

I think this book is very cute. I want to share my favorite line because I think it will be self-explanatory why I love this book. "Why do walruses have mustaches? To tickle babies." Most of the book is like this. I also enjoyed learning facts about animals that I did not previously know.

I would use this in the class for curious children. I think a lot of children would like to read this so that they can know things like why kangaroos really have pouches.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has cute illustrations and the mixed up animal names on the inside of the front and back covers are entertaining. I did like some of the jokes and such, but many of them were not very humorous. I thought the format was a little hard to read as well-the question and the punchlines were all jumbled up. The best part of the book was the scientific explanations on each page that give the actual answers to the joke questions. Good information for kids about popular animals.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably for an older age group than my own (3 - 4), but I think I can simplify it while reading. Actually wishing that there were real photos though rather than the art even though I suppose that's supposed to be a part of it. I kind of like the idea of the silly answers and the real answers; it's clear which is which and might make the book a little more fun.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This informational book is perfect to captivate a young audience with funny misconceptions as answers to questions about animals. These questions are then followed up with the correct answer in the margins.

Age Level: K-2
Genre: Informational

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A humorous book. Includes answers to questions about animal features that would not be uncommon if you asked any random kid.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lila Prap's illustrations and text are so much fun! Why? answers a bunch of why questions about animals. Each question has a two page spread which includes a question, charming illustration, funny answer, and informational text. The answers neatly sidestep any hint of evolution. Prap writes in her native language (Slovenian?) and this text was translated.

Most of the information is provided at a level that is accessible for students in lower elementary school but there are a few exceptions. For example, in responses to 'why don't snakes have legs?" the answer includes this information: "Some kinds of snakes do have barely visible vestigial legs though, which are non-functioning." That might be a bit much for kids in elementary school.

Recommended for students in grades 1 - 3. Students will enjoy the jokes and appreciate answers to so many questions. This title has great teaching potential as well!

[L11-Mary Utterback · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this book. This is a book about wild animals and it asks "why" questions with some really humorous answers. For example: "Why are zebras striped? The answer is: zebras are horses wearing pajamas." After you have read through some of the humorous answers the scientific answers are there as well for the informational portion. Children will love to read this book and get a kick out of the illustrations and the jokes.

I would use this as a lesson on informational texts and as an activity for them to come with their own wacky answers. I think this book is enjoyable for all ages, but I would use it grades K-3.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is probably in my Top Ten of the books that I have read for this semester! WHY? :)
Lila Prap writes about some animals with mysteries that cause kids to wonder "Why?" Why is the giraffe's neck long? Why do camels have humps? Why does an alligator cry? I absolutely loved this book because Prap includes some funny "answers" to these questions that only kids could have came up with. But she also includes some nice, factual answers to the giraffe's neck, the camel's humps, and the alligator's tears. Great read with some cool information about different animals.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I found the text to be clever and engaging and even learned a couple of facts about the animals featured. Each page asks a question about an animal and then gives silly, serious and scientific answers. My favorite was the zebra...why are zebras striped? (My favorite answer: They just escaped from prison. Hee Hee.) My kids were arguing about who got to read it in the car this morning. Great book!!

[Kennedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great informational children's book. It keeps it really fun and exciting, but it also provides the information needed to teach children the different concepts. It goes through a variety of animals and asks a simple question about that animal, and then some funny answers are given along with the truth.

[Dolores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Lots of great questions about animals i.e. "Why do zebras have stripes?" with some silly answers (i.e. "because they just escaped from prison") that make kids scream "NO!!" while presenting the real reason on the right side of the page. Excellent for learning true facts about animals.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked the mix of silly answer and real (fact/science-based) answer, the way the questions were in different places on the page (sometimes to the right of the answer) drove me crazy. New readers and pre-readers who are just learning how print works might be confused by this.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each double-page spread has an bright, bold illustration of a stylized animal; there are 14 in all. On each spread, there is a question about the animal, with both silly answers, and a serious, scientific (though simplified) answer.

[Dest · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not particularly funny or clever, but a decent book about the peculiarities of some animals (i.e. why zebras have stripes).

[Leli · Rating 4 out of 5]

suka.
buat kado ponakans..

[Nicoll Blomquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

This popular book from Solvenia has been translated into many languages such as Spanish and Chineese. This book is recommeded for very young children.

[Amy Stipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for preK -2nd grade.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of silly animal questions and answers.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, interactive, informational and cute illustrations.

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

An FAQ of sorts for different zoo animals, some of the extra answers are pretty funny, and the scientific answers are concise and useful.

[Liz Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect--silly plus serious. Interesting, quick, and just right for K.