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Summary
Summary
Look out! Here comes Rex! Children who love to construct -- and those who love to destroy -- will relate to this kid-pleasing tale that builds to a smashing finale.
Gizmo, Sprinkles, and Wild are fed up. Every time they build something with their blocks, Rex wrecks it! Whether it's an out-of-this-world rocket, a magical heart, or the biggest, strongest, most awesomerific castle ever, Rex sends it crashing down with a "Rawr!" (and sometimes a sheepish "Rawry!"? ). Isn't there any way to make playtime fun for everyone ? With Rex-size humor, Ben Clanton explores the challenges of friendship, the benefits of working together, and the joys of destruction.
Author Notes
Ben Clanton is the author-illustrator of Vote for Me! , The Table Sets Itself , and Mo's Mustache , as well as the illustrator of the Jasper John Dooley series by Caroline Adderson. He lives in North Andover, Massachusetts.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Full of playful language and with no shortage of alliteration, this is a rousing tale about cooperative play. When Rex (a dino) wrecks their block buildings, Gizmo (a robot), Sparkles (a unicorn bunny), and Wild (a furry little monster) must come up with a way to include Rex so that they can all build-and then destroy-a cooperative creation together. The book design is particularly well done with a pleasing square shape and full-bleed illustrations. The pale, understated shades are a perfect accompaniment to the intense activity as Rex destroys the various block creations. Clanton uses space particularly well, creating a static backdrop against which the characters move by setting the stage solely with a pale blue-checkered floor. The quieter moments feature plentiful space on the page, but when Rex wrecks things, the colored blocks explode across the page and the bold, chunky typeface makes the words stand out. Clanton's minimalistic cartoon art is a restrained cousin to Mo Willems's "Elephant & Piggie" books (Hyperion). This book is a good addition for young readers, so better practice up pronouncing "awesomerific" for the numerous read-alouds to come.- Erin Reilly-Sanders, Ohio State University, Columbus (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Clanton (Mo's Mustache) takes on the child who can't help ruining other people's things, keeping his story light and funny as Gizmo (a robot), Sprinkles (a pink rabbit with a unicorn-style horn), and Wild (a fuzzy yellow monster) enter from stage right pulling a wagon full of wooden blocks and set to work. Clanton understands the comedic possibilities of the page turn. When Gizmo builds a rocket, the next page shows the resultant chaos: "Rex wrecks it!" When Sprinkles builds a heart or Wild builds a Wooden Wonder of Wowdom, "Rex wrecks it!" Rex even wrecks the "awesomerific" block castle that the three build together. It's Gizmo who realizes that if they include Rex in the building, the outcome may change. Sweet-tempered readaloud humor ("rawry," Rex apologizes as he takes a bite out of a block) and Gizmo's cerebral counsel (he explains his plans with blackboard diagrams) add charm, and it's impossible to dislike Rex, who looks like a tiny, babyfied Godzilla-his destructive impulses may even spark a little silent cheering. Ages 3-7. Agent: Marietta Zacker, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
An overenthusiastic T. Rex does what dinos do best: wreak total destruction! Gizmo the robot, Wild the monster and Sprinkles the pink unicorn bunny love to build. Then there's Rex, a hyperactive green dinosaur, who likes to wreck everything they make. After some calculations, the threesome decides to build a structure so big it cannot be toppled. They dobut Rex does. The trio becomes incredibly angry, but after Rex's truly contrite apology (his usual "RAWR" is now "rawry"), Gizmo realizes that if they build with Rex they'll have the best structure ever: one they can all wreck! Rex is less a bully than simply a toddler stand-in, finding his fun in destruction and then, eventually, construction. The three friends' solution to engage Rex in play rather than ostracize him is a welcome message of inclusion. In this light, Sprinkles' early insult of "Blockhead" hits a sour note. The ink, pencil and watercolor art imbues Rex with a joyous energy. Characters are simple and friendly, their otherworldly aspects less interesting than their personalities. All told, a fine little fable. You can't hate a guy who's having this much fun, and you can't help but love a book that does the same. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gizmo, Sprinkles, and Wild a robot, a magical unicorn bunny, and a monster, respectively enjoy building with blocks. Rex, a (busy) dinosaur, wrecks everything they build. The three join forces to construct the BIGGEST, strongest, most awesomerific block castle EVER, but Rex is undeterred. Down it comes (and Rex might have eaten a block or two). Only when all four cooperate in the building and the destroying do they find perpetual peace. Clanton sets the action in open compositions on a graph-paper foundation, with a dusky watercolor palette, scribbly sensibility, and lots of real wood grain, grounding the silly, riotous chaos with some emotional weight. The result is a warm and wacky story that feels both fresh and familiar. This enchanting, quirky quartet will entertain children with what are sure to be repeat readings. Here's hoping Rex and his friends will be back for more.--Barthelmess, Thom Copyright 2014 Booklist
