Book Review: Even Ninjas Eat Asparagus
This week, we asked the kids to share their thoughts on the latest Bobbledy book Even Ninjas Eat Asparagus, which has been landing in mailboxes everywhere over the past few days. I read it to the kids for the first time last night, because, even though we have a small army of focus group participants, we never seem to remember to seek their opinion early enough for it to still make a difference.
Ninjas is a series of vignettes that aim to help kids see that they are not alone in facing all of the awful things they have to do in their young lives: going to the doctor, cleaning up when they make a mess, making their beds, etc. Each vignette features a different adult figure doing the very think the kids don’t want to do.
For example, even doctors…
…have to go to the doctor.
And, even ninjas…
…eat asparagus.
At the end of the book, kids are informed of two things, one good, and one bad. First the bad: you’re going to have to do chores and other unpleasant things forever. But the good: you get to choose what you’re going to BE while you do these things (doctor, ninja, etc). Which leads us into the commentary of our tiny critics.
Kato: I’m going to be a “mewdishun” when I grow up!
Matthew: A musician?
Kato: No, a MewsDISHun! I want to do tricks!
Robbi: A magician?
Kato: That’s what I said.
Robbi: Let’s look at the book – what’s your favorite one from the book?
Kato: That one?
Robbi: The ninjas?
Kato: Yeah!
Alden: I like THAT one the best, because it has a butt in it!
Kato: I love the butt!
Kato: My silliest one is that one!
Robbi: The cat litter one? Why?
Alden: Because the cat is laughing him. And because he’s cleaning up the poop.
Kato: I like that one also. It’s my second silliest.
Alden: Because the president’s in his underwear.
Alden: I like this one too, because this guy’s like, “That’s mine!” and the beaver is like, “No, that’s mine.”
Kato: And I like this one.
Robbi: Why do you like it?
Kato: Because he’s like “Arrgh! I’m the monster of Chestertown.”
At the end of the book, there is a tutorial on how to be a better ninja:
Kato was quiet as we read through all the options. Clearly, he was taking mental notes.
When we finished, he said:
Kato: I’m not going to do that one.
(pointing to #2: “put away the silverware without making a single sound”).
Matthew: Why?
Kato: Too hard!
Matthew: I think you could do it.
Kato: Nope.
Matthew: What about the rest?
Kato: I can’t do that one, either.
(pointing to #1: “keep your ninja outfit clean”.)
Matthew: Why not?
Kato: Impossible!
And I start to protest before realizing that he’s probably right.
And then we got to the bios page, which features this photo:
Kato: Papa, why are you trying to…uh…kill mama?
Matthew: I’m not! I’m just throwing asparagus at her.
Kato:Whew!
Alden: I didn’t know you were ninjas.
Matthew: Well, we are.
Kato: Wow!
Alden (taking a closer look): Wait…no you’re not…you tooked a picture of your heads and drawed the ninja parts.
Matthew: I’m a ninja, I swear.
Alden: Not! Not! Not!
Robbi: Why don’t you show her?
And so I did.
Kato: I’m a ninja, too!
Alden: Me, too!
Apparently, it’s a family affair.
After much kicking, we settled back in on the couch.
Robbi: So…what DON’T you like about this book?
Alden: I like this book all. There’s nothing I don’t like.
Kato: I don’t like this one. Because he’s crying.
Alden: I like everything about this book. Because you and Papa wrote it! And because of the pictures.
Robbi: What about the doctor who has to get a shot?
Alden: I like it!
Kato: I don’t like that part or this part.
Robbi: Do you give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down?
Alden: I give it a thumbs up!
Kato: I give it one thumbs up and one thumbs down.
Robbi: Why?
Kato: Because I don’t like it and I do like it.
It’s hard to deny that logic.
Alden and I shared a respectful ninja bow, and we called it a night.
If you aren’t a Bobbledy Books club member but would like to have this book (or to send it to a ninja-in-training you might know) you can order it HERE. Enjoy! According to Kato, it’s only half bad!