Review: Unstoppable by Adam Rex

UNSTOPPABLE

by Adam Rex

Illustrated by Laura Park

Chronicle Books

 Picture Book

56 pages

ages 3 to 5

A read-aloud gem about teamwork and togetherness from New York Times bestselling author Adam Rex!

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Well, what if the answer was: ALL OF THEM! When a bird narrowly escapes the clutches of a hungry cat, a nearby crab admires the bird's ability to fly, while the bird admits a longtime yearning for claws. And, just like that, they team up. Pretty soon, the team includes every animal in the forest who's ever wanted someone else's special trait. But how will these animals stop humans from destroying the forest for a megamall? It's going to take claws, wings, and Congress together to be truly Unstoppable! Laura Park's bright, comic illustrations pair with bestselling author Adam Rex's laugh-out-loud text in this hilarious and insightful picture book about celebrating the ways you're unique, and using all your resourcefulness—and just a smidge of politics—to save the day.

• Unstoppable! provides a timely lesson on the glories of diversity and the power of working together.
• Perfect read-aloud book for children interested in animals, the environment, and political action

For fans of Nothing Rhymes with Orange, Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, The Wolf the Duck and The Mouse, and Penguin Problems.

       

MY TIDBITS

Joining to work together flies on the wings of a more than unexpected adventure, which ends with a quirky, yet great message that leaves one wondering for days. In other words, a terrific read-aloud!

Bird hates being chased by cats and after a near-death experience, flaps into a crab, who's convinced bird's life must be wonderful. Bird immediately wishes he had claws, though. The two create an odd alliance and are as happy as can be until the next problem arises. Each time, there's a solution. Or is there?

While this book starts out somewhat logical enough, it snowballs into an adventure packed with imagination, friendship and a touch of odd twists. But it's the inspiration and advantage of working together, using each other's talents, which make this a gem. It's meaningful, it's funny, and it's oh-so fun to read. Listeners will wonder and giggle and even cheer this amazing group along. And maybe peer up in the sky, too.

The illustrations swing right along with the tale, rounding the entire thing off into a lovely read. The animals are impossible not to like and each moment is presented very clearly. It's fun to watch every page as the adventure (and silliness) expand and reach new impossible but all the more root-worthy limits.

I highly recommend this one as a read-aloud and believe young listeners won't get enough of it.


And here they are...

The Author...
Adam Rex is an author, illustrator, and author-illustrator known for his books including The Dirty Cowboy, School's First Day of School, and The True Meaning of Smekday, which was adapted into the DreamWorks film Home in 2014. He lives in Tucson, Arizona.

The Illustrator...

Laura Park is a cartoonist, illustrator, and enthusiastic baker from Chicago currently living in France.

Review: Pluto Gets The Call by Adam Rex

PLUTO GETS THE CALL

by Adam Rex

Illustrated by Laurie Keller

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

Pluto gets a call from Earth telling him he isn’t a planet anymore, so he sets out on a journey through the solar system to find out why in this funny and fact-filled romp that’s perfect for fans of The Scrambled States of America.

Pluto loves being a planet. That is, until the day he gets a call from some Earth scientists telling him he isn’t a planet anymore! You probably wanted to meet a real planet, huh? So, Pluto takes the reader on a hilarious and informative journey through the solar system to introduce the other planets and commiserate about his situation along the way. Younger readers will be so busy laughing over Pluto’s interactions with the other planets, asteroids, moons, and even the sun, they won’t even realize just how much they’re learning about our solar system!

MY TIDBITS

Planetary fun hits high orbit in this really cute book, which just happens to teach a few inter-planetary facts along the way.

Pluto wants to introduce you to itself but before it gets very far, it receives a phone call from Earth. And not a happy one. The scientists have decided to demote Pluto from a planet to... well, they aren't sure yet. Still, Pluto is ticked. But instead of stewing, he heads off to introduce the other planets (and get some needed, emotional support). And there just happen to be a few surprises along the way...ones that might warm a reader's heart.

This book is a bit quirky, funny, and simply fun. Each planet...and non-planet...Pluto meets has a unique personality. As a read-aloud, it's wonderful, especially when a bit of voice play sets in. The back and forth between the planets holds humor as well as information, making it a sneaky way to learn a few solar system facts.

The illustrations are ones to flip through time and again as they not only bring the planets to life, but offer interesting details and humor too. Young listeners are sure to see the planets in the solar system from a totally new point of view. Plus, it's hard not to feel for Pluto as he tries to come to terms with the removal of his planet status. Even this, however, offers a touching ending with a message listeners can use in their own lives.

Oh, and to round the entire thing off, the last pages hold a jumble of numbers and facts for all of those solar system fans.

My daughter had a ton of fun reading through this book, which means thumbs up from me.



And here they are...

The Author...
Adam Rex is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. His other books include The True Meaning of Smekday, which was made into the hit animated movie Home; Moonday; and School’s First Day of School, illustrated by Christian Robinson. He also illustrated the Brixton Brothers series, Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem, Chloe and the Lion, and How This Book Was Made, all by Mac Barnett, and Chu’s Day, by Neil Gaiman. He lives in Tucson, Arizona. Visit him at AdamRex.com or follow him on Twitter @MrAdamRex.

The Illustrator....

Laurie Keller is the acclaimed author-illustrator of Do Unto Otters; Arnie, the Doughnut; The Scrambled States of America; and Open Wide: Tooth School Inside, among numerous others. She grew up in Muskegon, Michigan, and always loved to draw, paint and write stories. She earned a BFA at Kendall College of Art and Design, then worked at Hallmark as a greeting card illustrator for seven-and-a-half years, until one night she got an idea for a children’s book. She quit her job, moved to New York City, and soon had published her first book. She loved living in New York, but she has now returned to her home state, where she lives in a little cottage in the woods on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Review: Why? by Adam Rex

WHY?

by Adam Rex

Illustrated by Claire Keane

Chronicle Books

Picture Book

60 pages 

ages 3 to 5

A sweet and appealing tale for anyone familiar with the universal tendency of young children to always ask WHY? When supervillain Doctor X-Ray swoops in threatening to vanquish an innocent crowd, the only one brave enough not to run away is a little girl, who asks him simply, "Why?" He is taken aback—but he answers. She keeps asking. And he keeps answering—until a surprising truth is uncovered, and the villain is thwarted.

• A laugh-out-loud take on the small-and-determined-beats-big-loud-bully story, simple questions lead to profound answers in a quest that proves the ultimate power of curiosity
• Monochromatic illustrations with pops of color fill the pages and bring a uniquely captivating element to the storyline
• Adam Rex is an illustrator and author of books such as Nothing Rhymes with Orangeand Chu's Day. He lives in Tucson, Arizona
• Claire Keane is the illustrator of Love Is and is known for her development art for the movies Tangled and Frozen. She lives in Venice Beach, California

Fans of Nothing Rhymes with Orange, Love Is, and Grown-Ups Never Do That will also enjoy the relatable and heartwarming tale found in Why?

• Great family and classroom read-aloud book
• Books for kids ages 3-5
• Books for preschool and kindergarten students 

MY TIDBITS

With a simple question and tons of visual action, what appears to be a humorous dialogue exposes deep meaning and clever thought.

A dangers, destructive super villain swoops into the mall and destroys everything in his path. The only thing which brings him to a halt is the question of one little girl: why? And the villain answers as honestly as he can, but each answer brings another 'why'. While the world rushes around, the little girl brings the villain deeper and deeper into an unexpected explanation of what his true goals are. The results are surprising.

This is a clever read, which takes a little humor and twists it into a deep psychological meaning. It's cute, especially the little girl and her endless question. And it's interesting that the villain takes the time to answer her each time, allowing himself to discover things he doesn't even realize himself. The reasoning is pretty understandable, although I think the slightly older end will first be able to start really grasping what's going on. Still, it's fun and leaves food for thought.

The illustrations are full of life and energy. The power of the villain is clear and yet, subtle enough to stay behind the meaning of the text. Still, the illustrations offer so much to look at and discover. It's fun to simply flip through them and explore the details. There's something new to find every time.

It's a funny read with so much depth, which is sure to grab the interest of not only young listeners but the older readers as well.

And here they are...

The Author...
Adam Rex is an illustrator and author of books such as Nothing Rhymes with Orange and Chu's Day. He lives in tucson Arizona.

The Illustrator...

Claire Keane is the illustrator of Love Is and is known for her development art for the movies Tangled and Frozen. She lives in Venice Beach, California.