"Long ago in an ancient and distant realm called the Kingdom of Backyard, there lived a warrior named ROCK. ROCk was the strongest in the land, but he was sad because no one could give him a worthy challenge."
Nearby to the Kingdom of Backyard was Desk Mountain. There, unbeknownst to ROCK, PAPER takes on a half-eaten bag of trail mix. Meanwhile in the tiny village of Junk Drawer, SCISSORS was the fast blade in the land, facing off handily against a herd of frozen chicken nuggets. (Proof here that the best thing to write about is what you know.) Each in his, her own way is searching for a worthy opponent.
Don your battlepants and prepare yourself. There will be an EPIC BATTLE!!!
Anyone doing a unit on legends MUST begin by reading this. The hilarious familiarity of the kitchen junk drawer and the trail mix elevated to a level of a battle of the Gods, is absolutely side-splitting. Paper, rock and scissors are part of childhood mythology. Does anyone really know where the idea came from? We lived in South Korea for a time and they had their own version. My son learned "kai-bai-bo" long before he learned paper, rock and scissors. But it brings the same smile and sense of justice no matter the language.
This is an epic book! Read it on the first day of school to get kids into a sense that all will be fair and just in their world. To bring in the normal things and the potential of superpowers lurking behind every stapler. Or just read it to have a great time and get everyone laughing. This is a guaranteed smash hit!
48 pages 978-0062438898 Ages 5-126
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
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In the ancient and distant realm called the Kingdom of the Backgarden lives the warrior Rock. He believes he is the greatest because no one can give him a worthy challenge that will prove his superiority. While his battle with the clothes peg and the apricot entertain the backyard dwellers, he feels unsatisfied so he leaves the garden in search of a worthy foe.
Meanwhile in the Empire of Mum's Study, Paper is feeling the same way. No one can outwit him and so he, too, leaves to look for a worthy opponent. At the same time, in the Kitchen Realm, Scissors has beaten both Sticky Tape and Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets so she also goes on a quest to find something better.
And in the great cavern of Two-Car Garage, the three meet for the first time...
Children (and adults) everywhere play the traditional game of Rock Paper Scissors to help them make decisions and reach compromises and now the mastermind behind The Day the Crayons Quit has brought us their true story. Told in narrative and speech bubbles which make the most of bold fonts and imaginative layout, and accompanied by fantastic pictures that bring the most mundane objects to life and emphasise the action, this is a story that will be enjoyed again and again. Children will love the boldness and loudness that oozes from the pages and you can just see them swaggering around like the characters as they take on their favourite.
"Dramatic", "raucous", "bombastic", "energetic", "outrageous" - all have been used to describe this story. Apart from encapsulating it perfectly, what fun students can have suggesting their own adjectives for it and investigating what those ones mean. Further teachers' notes are available.
A superhero origin story of a slightly different type!
48 pages 9780008252397 Ages 5-10
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
See more of her recommendations: https://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/
