I Won't Give Up My Rubber Band - by Shinsuke Yoshitake (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Originally published in Japan in 2019 under the title Watashi no wagomu wa watasanai by PHP Institute Inc."--Copyright page.

Book Synopsis

An everyday object (the endlessly versatile rubber band) becomes an invitation to imagine new possibilities in the latest laugh-out-loud picture book from acclaimed author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake!

What can you do with a rubber band? You can do everyday things, like keep it close when you sleep or bring it along at bath time. And you can do exciting, unexpected things, like use it to bungee jump out of a plane or to grab a snack. With a special object of your very own, the possibilities are as limitless as your imagination!

Acclaimed Japanese author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake (The Boring Book, There Must Be More Than That!, I Can Be Anything, The I Wonder Bookstore) delivers another laugh-out-loud experience in his latest picture book. With signature humor, wit, and boundless creativity, this charming story celebrates the potential of everyday objects to become catalysts for curiosity and play, at once honoring a child's attachment to favorite objects and opening the door to a world of exciting new objects and experiences.

SHINSUKE YOSHITAKE IS A STAR: Fans of the critically acclaimed picture books The Boring Book and There Must Be More Than That! will immediately recognize Japanese author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake's signature art style, humor, and imaginative sensibility!

ENCOURAGES CREATIVE THINKING: Imaginative play is on full display in this smart and silly picture book about finding joy in an everyday object that others might overlook. Even the smallest of items offers a portal to possibility and play--all you need is a little humor and lots of imagination!

EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR STORY TIME: The tone and antics in this picture book are just right for the three-to-five age set, and the quirky, thought-provoking scenarios are fodder for laugh-out-loud moments. Parents and kids alike will enjoy reading this fun and funny tale out loud together!

IDEAL FOR RELUCTANT READERS: With a comic-esque style, unique narrative approach, fast pace, and charming voice, this humorous offering packs lots of reluctant-reader appeal.

Perfect for:

- Fans of Shinsuke Yoshitake
- Fans of Japanese picture books
- Parents, grandparents, and caregivers
- Teachers and librarians
- Gift-givers looking for a unique and funny present
- Lovers of thoughtful, humorous, and imaginative children's books

Review Quotes

"In this endearing picture book, a little girl is thrilled when her mother lets her keep a discarded rubber band...Yoshitake's expressive, humorous illustrations capture the full range of the girl's emotions...[I Won't Give Up My Rubber Band is] simple, childlike, funny, and even a bit profound." -The Horn Book Magazine

"[H]umorously plumbing philosophical depths just hinted at by a brief text and minimally detailed art, the author of The Boring Book (2017) and There Must Be More Than That! (2020) takes readers on a journey that illuminates both a child's fertile imagination and our own understanding of what does, or should, matter in life. . . . A message to savor, delivered with a light touch and contagious glee."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Yoshitake has created a story that takes readers into that dynamic chaos of a child's mind, and all with a simple rubber band. A winsome read-aloud that shows the expanse of a child's imagination."?-School Library Journal

"[I Won't Give Up My Rubber Band], translated from the original Japanese, captures the glorious imaginative play that ignites in the type of child who collects odds and ends and sees them as amazing. . . . Yoshitake's artwork is, as usual, minimalist and childishly simplistic. . . . The plot, spare though it is, includes sweet messaging about how treasure is personal, no matter one's age. . ."-Booklist Reviews

About the Author

Shinsuke Yoshitake is the author-illustrator of many award-winning picture books, including New York Times Notable Book There Must Be More Than That!, I Can Be Anything, New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year The Boring Book, and The I Wonder Bookstore. His books have been translated into more than 8 languages. He lives in Japan.