Grown-Ups Get to Do All the Driving

by William Steig

Book Overview

A humorous look at adult behavior from a child's point of view. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006205080X
• ISBN13: 9780062050809
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Di Capua
• Length: 42 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 8 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 4

Customer Reviews

Cartoon expressions of childhood "delusions"

This collection of cartoons about the "privileges" of being a grown-up will strike a chord in the hearts and minds of all children. When you are a child, the grown-up world seems so simple and the "boss of you" seems to have so much power over the world. However, that is largely a false front as what the child sees as a privilege is in reality a responsibility and a burden. For example, there are the cartoons with the captions "Grown-ups hate to pay taxes", "Grown-ups make you go to the dentist" and "Grown-ups like to punish people." While the child on the receiving end may not understand it, these are simply the burdens of being an adult and a parent. Therefore, the cartoons will also cause the eyebrows of adults to rise, as they will know the truth behind the childish "delusions."

hilarious illustrations, albeit a cynical view

I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this being a children's book that a child would read by themselves - makes adults look like old, tired fuddy-duddies that have zero fun. Obviously, we come off that way to young kids and this book reinforces all the negatives and there are really no positives. This is a fun book for story time with your child, however - to laugh with them and to ask them what their perceptions are, etc. In every illustration, the child is either bored, annoyed, angry or disgusted with the bafoon adults who get to control everything. As an adult, I got a kick out of this page-turner - reminds you of how you thought of the adults in your life when you were a child and how we all end up growing up to be just what we used to loathe - tired, grumpy, controlling know-it-alls without patience.

You've Got to Laugh at Yourself.

Grown-ups take themeselves too seriously. It's nice when you discover a book like this which forces you to laugh at yourself and your friends as you see yourselves in the pictures. This book is written like a children's book and kids enjoy reading it (they find many of the pictures funny), but it's probably adults who will find the book most funny and enjoy it the most.