The World According to Kids

The World According to Kids

A Child's Eye View of Life, Love and Chocolate Cake

Kids tell it like it is. And they know some very useful stuff indeed. Such as the fact that you can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. Or it's never a good idea to try to baptise a cat. You just can't argue with these things.

Our children are bursting to share commonsense advice that will help us grown-ups get through the day with a smile on our faces. Smart, warm, telling and funny. THE WORLD ACCORDING TO KIDS captures a beautiful sense of the world seen from knee height.

Some of the contributors to this book have just learned to talk, others have been at it for a decade or so, but they all have something to say that will brighten your day. The sayings here will make you smile - and laugh out loud. Along with plenty of laughs there are grains of true wisdom about friendship and caring, pain and joy.

These quotes have been submitted by parents worldwide - because the wisdom of children is universal.

Review: Sometimes it's nice to appreciate the simple things in life, kids are great to bring you back to the easy way of thinking - 'The World According to Kids' is honest and adorable and makes a great table piece.

The World According to Kids
Harper Collins
Author: Sally Collings
ISBN: 9780732289768
RRP: $14.99

The World According to Kids

Ever tried to baptise a cat? Well don't!

Just some of the sage advice in Sally Collings' (Sophie's Journey, Positive) new book:
The World According to Kids
A child's eye view of life, love and chocolate cake

Our children are bursting to share commonsense advice that will help us grown-ups get through the day with a smile on our faces. Smart, warm, telling and funny, The World According to Kids captures a beautiful sense of the world seen from knee height.

Some of the contributors to this book have just learned to talk, others have been at it for a decade or so, but they all have something to say that will brighten your day. The sayings here will make you smile - and laugh out loud - accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Emma Magenta. Along with plenty of laughs there are grains of true wisdom about friendship and caring, pain and joy.

Says Sally: "To kids, most things adults do are pretty weird. It's all new to them, after all. They are not born knowing the rules. Such as that you shouldn't try to baptise a cat, or that women's upper arms get wobbly with age, or that mums are always right. But they learn…."

These quotes have been submitted by parents worldwide - because the wisdom of children is universal.

On vegetables
Mummy, I can't eat them because my taste bugs haven't grown up yet.
Olivia, 5

You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
Armir, 9

A Sweet Thought
Don't ever be too full for dessert!
Kelly, 10

Chocolate! It's yummy and it's got a little bit of milk, which is kind of good for you.
Holly I, 8

Forget the cake, go for the icing.
Cynthia, 8

Complete Pet Care
Never try to baptise a cat.
Eileen, 8

Never hold a dustbuster and a cat at the same time.
Kyoyo, 9

Sally Collings worked in book publishing in London and Sydney for almost twenty years. Now based in Brisbane and a mother of two, she is a freelance writer and editor. Her first book, Sophie's Journey, was published in April 2007 and became an immediate bestseller.
The World According to Kids
Harper Collins Publishers
Author: Sally Collings
ISBN: 9780732289768
Price: $14.99

Interview with Sally Collings

Why did you decide to put the book The World According to Kids together?

Sally Collings: I guess, I looked around and I was surprised that no one had done something quite like this before because the funny things that kids say always get a laugh out of people, whether they are your kids or not. I thought it would be a gorgeous gift book and then as I went on I realised it wasn't just about being funny, it's about some things being so true. Kids really come out with things that really hits to the heart. So, I increasingly thought this is a book that people will just delight in.

I have written a couple of fairly heavy duty emotional books before and so for me this was light relief, a real break away from writing something hard to something that gave me a lot of pleasure.


Where did the idea for The World According to Kids come from?

Sally Collings: Funnily enough a publisher approached me and said 'We'd really like to do a book about things kids say about love' and I said 'It's funny you should say that because I have been putting together a book an idea about that'. I have worked on similar books before as an editor, but nothing that linked in to what kids say. I was really aware that lots of magazines run columns and I just thought that would be a nice little book and I hadn't seen anything like that.


Can you share your favourite quote?

Sally Collings: Every day I change my mind! Sometimes the things kids say are pretty fruity and sometimes you can't include the more obscene ones! I really like, there was a little boy called Jasper who knocked over his block tower and he said "Oh! For Chucks Sake!" (laughing).

There is another one that says "Forget the cake, go for the icing." That really spoke to me, because when I was a little kid I always used to nick the icing. People would leave a birthday cake and I would eat all the icing!

What do you love most about the quotes from children?

Sally Collings: I guess it just feels up a picture of the world, for me. I say in the introduction to the book that kids are a bit like aliens; which might seem like a funny thing to say but, they are not familiar with the world and they don't know the rules and they don't know the things you should say, or shouldn't. I love the fact that they break all the rules and they don't even know the rules are there. Not that I would necessarily say all the things that the kids say, but I really like that it is completely fresh and out there. Sometimes things just surprise you so much when you are reading through it.