Whatever
William Bee's Whatever will resonate with parents everywhere. In this funny story, Billy's father finds Billy impossible to impress. No matter what kind of extreme things his father finds to show Billy–small, tall, bouncy, etc,—Billy's response is the familiar, “whatever.” The use of repetition makes this a wonderful book in which to interact with young children who can provide the “whatever”s on almost every page. In the end, however, parents may just have the last laugh.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
William Bee, who wrote and illustrated Whatever lives in the United Kingdom. After reading the book, look closely at the pictures with your child for clues that hint that this story took place in the United Kingdom. Look for the United Kingdom on a map or a globe to show your child where you live and where the story took place. Encourage an interest in books from other countries by going to your local library and looking for books about other countries or set in other countries.
Encourage the families to read Whatever with the children's classic Pierre, by Maurice Sendak. Have the families compare the two books by talking about what is the same and what is different. Some families may want to write down their ideas on a graphic organizer. Also, have the families discuss the ending of the book. Encourage the families to brainstorm what would happen next if the book continued the story. Start the conversation with open-ended questions like, 'What would Billy's dad do next?" or "What would Billy say next?"