Originally published as Il libro dei perche, 1980.

Factual as well as whimsical, and humorously illustrated, this is the first English-language publication of the answers given by one of Italy's greatest and most beloved children's authors to children's questions about animals, nature, technology, and culture. Gianni Rodari is widely regarded as the father of modern Italian children's literature. A firm believer in the great intelligence of children, he worked both as a teacher and a journalist. From 1955 to 1958, children across Italy sent their questions to his weekly newspaper column--questions Rodari answered, most inventively, with rhymes and little poems. Why didn't he reply with facts alone? Because he wanted to provoke children into thinking about questions, norms, and language itself. The Book of Whys collects a selection of these questions--from "Why does an elephant have a trunk?" to "Why does a car need fuel?" to "Why are we born?"--along with Rodari's answers, which beautifully serve to highlight the complexities, simplicities, and absurdities of our world.