Published: 4th April 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ – 3 Stars
I wouldn’t have thought is possible but Daywalt has intensified the game of scissors, paper, rock. What I never realised is that the stationary supplies and random objects in the world are fighting an intense battle of strength and wit right under our noses. Like Daywalt opened our eyes to the lives of crayons, now we are being shown the underground fight club of objects.
We’re introduced to character Rock who is tired of beating everyone around him and goes out looking for competition. Unfortunately he continues to annihilate the various things he comes across. We discover more of Rock’s character though the intensity of the illustrations. It’s great because it lines up like a wrestling match. There’s big, bold words, close ups of fierce emotions, and full page depictions of Rock’s fighting prowess.
Contrasted immediately as we switch to Paper. Innocent looking Paper who is wide eye and deceptively naïve in appearance. They are also looking for a challenge, escaping their surroundings to seek a worthy battle.
Then there’s Scissors. A worthy fighter against most things with the sharp cut of their fighting style but also seeking a greater opponent outside of the room. Scissors’ design was a curious choice. I didn’t dislike it, but there is something about using the handles as eyes which unsettled me a bit, but I can see Rex’s logic in using them.
I liked that each one of them sought to be defeated. They saw that winning all the time was becoming boring and they wanted a challenge. They wanted to push themselves again.
The three finally meet, battle pants on and ready. The illustrations bring this to life as the battle commences and the only way to describe this is a bit absurd. But absurd in an exaggerated, we know this is ludicrous, yet weirdly entertaining kind of way.
Rex’s illustrations are fascinating. They are intense, full of emotion and fire. He really captures the emotions of the objects, the heat of battle, and the unique personalities of the characters. The illustrations of Rock are particularly glorious. The way Rex has conveyed expressions on a solid rock is so well done. His fierce anger, his strength, and determination come across well.
It is a surreal read. These objects battling for supremacy, wanting to be thwarted, openly battling for…something. Glory I suppose.
It’s weird, it’s strange, it’s baffling certainly but I can’t help but admit that it is a captivating read.
You can purchase The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors via the following
QBD | Booktopia | Blackwell’s
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