What’s That For? Review: Where Imagination Takes the Wheel

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

"She is incredibly lucky because her family always tells her the truth.... They tell her the absolute truest truths. The ones that no one else in the whole world knows."

If you’re on the hunt for a book that turns ordinary days into magical adventures, let me introduce you to What’s That For? by Vanessa Bergeron. This delightful children’s story is all about curiosity, creativity, and the wonderful worlds they can build just by asking questions.

Our little main character is Lulu, a curious girl who loves asking “what’s that for?” and listening to the creative answers the grown-ups in her life come up with. In Lulu’s world, a simple item can turn into something amazing in an alternate reality where kids are in charge. It’s a safe, fun story where imagination runs free, and children are encouraged to describe and shape their own worlds. I absolutely love how it invites young readers to dream up unlimited possibilities and turn everyday moments into something special.

The illustrations are lovely and the imaginative scenarios are so engaging. It’s the perfect book to pull out when you want to spark your child’s creativity or have a fun interactive read-aloud time. I also thought the ending was really sweet: Lulu passes on her love of asking questions and coming up with fun answers to her brother, passing the torch of curiosity along. It feels like a beautiful little nod to how creativity can be shared and grow from one child to the next.

Now, I’ll share a little perspective from my side as a teacher. While I loved the charm and creativity, I did find myself wishing there was a clearer point or deeper takeaway. The story is wonderfully fun, but once the answers are shared, it wraps up pretty quickly, and I wasn’t left with a strong sense of the narrative’s ultimate purpose beyond the initial joy. I would have loved to see these imaginative ideas tied together with a meaningful message or even a little bit of practical knowledge so kids could get both the magic of creativity and something valuable to take away from the story.

Overall, What’s That For? is a charming pick if you want to nurture your child’s imagination. It’s a great starting point for conversations and creative play, even if it leaves you wanting a little more substance at the end. 

Thank you to CrackBoom! Books and NetGalley for providing me with the review copy.