Review: The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex

9780062438898

$17.99

"I hope you’re wearing your BATTLE PANTS!

You’ve played the game. Now read the legend of the three great warriors who started it all . . .ROCK! PAPER! SCISSORS!"

If Escargot must be read in a French accent, this one requires a good announcer's voice! Each of our mighty ones is the undisputed champion of his domain - but where is the challenge when everyone else is so easily defeated? 

ROCK versus APRICOT! 

"I will beat you, Rock, with my tart and tangy sweetness!"

...

ROCK IS VICTORIOUS

"Ugh, I am smooshed!"

"And yet, smooshing you has brought me no joy."

Enough tongue in cheek humor to keep even the most exhausted parent ready to "read this one again!" Enough plain old silliness to make this a crowd pleaser for all ages. And only Adam Rex could get this much expression and emotion out of a - well, a rock, paper, and scissors. A must-have for every library!

*NOTE: This title has been nominated for the Cybils Award, and I am a first round panelist. There are many nominations and six other judges. My opinions should not be construed as a sign of inclusion or exclusion on the final short list.

Review: The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex

9780062438898

You’ve played the game. Now read the legend of how it all began . . .

Long ago, in an ancient and distant realm called the Kingdom of Backyard, there lived a warrior named ROCK.

Meanwhile in the Empire of Mom’s Home Office, a second great warrior sought the glory of battle. And his name was PAPER.

At the same time, in the Kitchen Realm, in the tiny village of Junk Drawer, lived a third warrior. They called her SCISSORS.

These three were the strongest, smartest, and fastest in all the land. Time and again they beat the most fearsome opponents they could find: an apricot, a computer printer—even frozen, breaded, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets! But when the warriors finally meet each other, the most epic round of battles begins . . . and never ends. That is why, to this day, children around the world honor these worthy adversaries by playing ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!

Suggested subtitle: "To be read out loud, with voices". Think deep, serious voice-over tones: 

"I hope you're wearing your battle pants, rock warrior."

"If by 'battle pants' you mean 'no pants, but I'm willing to fight you,' then yes...yes, I am wearing my battle pants, weird scissory one!"

If you don't have this one yet, you need to hurry out and get it before your end-of year field trips begin, because this is a sure crowd-pleaser for all ages! If you have time, a fun extension would be to toss out some other traditional kids' games (hopscotch? tic-tac-toe?) and challenge kids to write their origin legend!