Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/15/2017 *Starred Review* It’s a game played on playgrounds everywhere, but does anyone truly know the story of Rock-Paper-Scissors? Daywalt and Rex’s riotous take on the majestic history of the game reveals the origin of three mighty warriors. First up is Rock, who takes on first a clothespin holding up a pair of underpants and then a scowling apricot on Grandma’s favorite tree, but those victories are too easy. Meanwhile, Paper longs for someone to outwit him, but the printer and a half-eaten bag of trail mix are no match. Scissors faces off with a tape dispenser before scaling the fridge to conquer some dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, but she, too, cannot be beaten. They finally converge in the garage, though the conclusion is a bit surprising: “This is the best day of my life! Thank you for winning, O great knight of Paper!” Rock exclaims. Happily, each of the three can now feel the joy of losing, and the rest is history. Daywalt’s over-the-top words are uproariously carried out in Rex’s lush artwork—the expansive cast of inanimate objects are rendered with realistic depth and naturalistic colors, but their hammy, expressive faces and grandiose declarations catapult them to cartoonish heights. The earnest gravity of the fighters’ quests paired with the mundane setting and melodramatic tone are perfectly balanced to produce a brand of purely absurd, sidesplitting humor that kids will gobble up. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Daywalt and Rex each have individual accolades to spare. They might be unbeatable as a team. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2017 K-Gr 3—In the ancient kingdom of Backyard live many warriors, including Clothespin, Apricot, and the mighty and unbeatable Rock. After many battles, all won by Rock, he eagerly sets out to seek a more formidable opponent. Meanwhile, in the Empire of Mom's Home Office and the Kitchen Realm, Paper and Scissors are also finding themselves to be unconquerable among the warriors in their respective lands. Bored of only ever winning, the three fighters, in their quest for a challenge, come face-to-face in the cavernous Two-Car Garage, where they each meet their match. The newly discovered struggles that the three endure cause so much joy that they battle again and again, and children all over the world honor these battles to this very day. Featuring bold and frenzied colors and fonts, this picture book from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit will appeal to children everywhere. The energy that explodes from each spread is contagious, and readers will be hooked from the very first page. With wacky characters such as dinosaur-shaped chicken nugget warriors and a half-eaten bag of trail mix and illustrations that combine the real and the surreal, there is never a dull moment. VERDICT Laugh-out-loud funny and outrageous at times, this read-aloud will have listeners jumping out of their seats. This is the sort of story that makes children love to read.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.