This is a story about magic, if you like that kind of thing. It is also a story about a ghost with amnesia, an unpopular fairy, an ungrateful little town, and an extremely wise and helpful raven (who happens to be a pretty talented storyteller). But mostly, it is about a friendly little wizard who lives inside a big hill and really, really, really wants to be a hero. His name is Gumluck, and he is a bumbling noodlehead.
In this tall tale about a short wizard, celebrated author Adam Rex proves once and for all that the biggest heroes often come in the smallest nightgowns.
★ “Rex can always be counted on for a laugh, and there are many to be found in this early chapter book, namely in the distinct characterizations and Helvetica’s snarky asides. Amid the fairy-tale action, Rex embeds heartfelt messaging about friendship, kindness, and gratitude that never gets sappy, and his pencil illustrations inject even more magic into this spellbinding read.— Booklist
★“Rejoice, noodlehead fans! Here’s a tale to treasure” — Kirkus
★ “Rex deftly wraps big themes—friendship, honesty, justice, self-awareness—into an absurdly silly and heartfelt series launch chronicling a wee wizard’s quest to become a helpful hero.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
What If Their Dreams Are Too Good to Be True?
Zelda is stuck in a dream. A very strange dream, where people can fly, bears sneeze money, and her childhood cat, Patches, is somehow alive - despite being run over years ago. Things only get stranger when Zelda meets Langston, a sweet if overly timid guy who feels more real to her than anyone she’s ever met.
As Zelda and Langston explore the far reaches of the dreamscape together, they find themselves growing closer and closer. But what they uncover along the way pushes them towards a truth neither of them wants to face. Will it turn out that he's the guy of her dreams, or is she the girl of his?
Full of mind-bending artwork, Adam Rex's A Little Like Waking is a tender, insightful read that defies time, space, and expectation that's perfect for fans of Every Day and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
★ "A charming, funny, highly imaginative story that invites long thoughts about the nature of reality and the enduring importance of romance." -- Booklist, starred review
"Wildly inventive and achingly touching, this is an exquisite book about longing, love, and grief that mesmerizes on every page. This book is a dreamy, fantastic treasure." -- Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and You'd Be Home Now
"A Little Like Waking is an adventure of a love story that brings the dream world to life with immersive clarity. Whimsical, beautiful, and one of a kind." -- Rachael Lippincott, New York Times bestselling coauthor of She Gets the Girl
"Romantic and constantly surprising, mixing small-town charm with surreal fantasy, A Little Like Waking is a brilliant love letter to the magic of the human mind." -- E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars
IT'S THE AUNTS! THE AUNTS ARE HERE.
One girl’s all-too-recognizable experience—a visit from a troupe of overwhelming and overly enthusiastic relations—escalates to new heights of chaos, absurdity, and delight in a laugh-out-loud take on family reunions. Written with signature humor by Adam Rex and illustrated by Lian Cho, this picture book is a celebration of the universal and endearing strangeness of family.
★ “It’s a high-spirited, high-comedy portrait of intrusive, effusive relatives one can count on.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ ”Undeniable charm… A gleefully fun take on the loving chaos of family reunions.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Candy's finally here: the human body! This intrepid sweet treat meets each of the human body's organs as she approaches her "big break": being successfully digested! Here is the scientific process of digestion as you've never seen it before—told through a musical, with Candy in the role of the small-town kid who wants to make it big, the baby carrots as the Greek chorus narrating all the action.
From beloved duo Adam Rex and Laura Park comes a genuinely educational, laugh-out-loud Broadway musical of a book about an epic adventure through the human body, from bite to bottom.
★ “Featuring verve aplenty, it’s another boffo hit by collaborators Rex and Park.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “This showstopper gives the purposes and processes of digestion the lavish, glitzy production they deserve, from teeth to toilet…[Digestion! The Musical is] certain to receive thunderous ovations.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Gladys the chicken must be magic. After all, for everyone who encounters her, a wish is granted. The Shepherd Boy wishes to be beautiful, the Brave Swordsman wishes to join the Royal Guard, the Purple Pooh-bah wishes for his only daughter to be happy, and the Learned Princess wishes to escape the palace. And one by one, each of these wishes comes true. But . . . is Gladys really magic? Or is everyone making their own fortune?
Blending a classic storybook feel with a thoroughly modern sense of humor, this side-splitting read aloud is perfect for anyone who wishes to see magic in the world—even if they are only looking at a chicken.
★ "[A] magical (not to mention hilarious) tale . . . In the annals of fabulous fowl, surely Gladys reigns supreme . . . Everyone's gonna love it." —Booklist, starred review
How do you get gum out of your hair—a pair of scissors? Butter? The cat? Call your aunt, she'll know what to do. She doesn't? Try the fire department!
With each page turn, this situation—relatable to any family—grows stickier and more desperate.
★ “Rex is king of the picture books. Consider this required reading."—Booklist, starred review
★ “[On Account of the Gum is a] gloriously giggly tale glued together by a glob of very gooey gum."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
When a bird narrowly escapes the clutches of a hungry cat, a nearby crab admires the bird's ability to fly, while the bird admits a longtime yearning for claws. And, just like that, they team up. Pretty soon, the team includes every animal in the forest who's ever wanted someone else's special trait. But how will these animals stop humans from destroying the forest for a megamall? Laura Park's bright, comic illustrations pair with bestselling author Adam Rex's laugh-out-loud text in this hilarious and insightful picture book about celebrating the ways you're unique, and using all your resourcefulness—and just a smidge of politics—to save the day.
★ "[A]n adorably goofy graphic aesthetic. . . . [N]ot only funny . . . and beautiful to look at, with a clean, bold design and exuberant typography-it also hints at collaboration's role in effecting change. [A] fetching fractured fable." -Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review
images © Laura Park
When George Washington became the first president of the United States, there were nine future presidents already alive in America, doing things like practicing law or studying medicine.
And right now—today!—there are at least 10 future presidents alive in America. They could be playing basketball, like Barack Obama, or helping in the garden, like Dwight D. Eisenhower. They could be solving math problems or reading books. They could be making art—or already making change.
★ "There are picture books aplenty about United States presidents, but make way for this breath of fresh air.. Rex breathes life into these illustrations, showing the humanity absent from official portraits. And Messner doesn't sugarcoat or whitewash history. Awe-inspiring."-Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review
★ An ingenious exploration of presidents that will encourage children to consider their own futures."-Booklist, Starred Review
★ "[The Next President is a] vivacious exploration of the early lives of the leaders of the free world."-School Library Journal, Starred Review
★ "Readers may be convinced that the future is wide open-presidentially speaking."-Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Pluto loves being a planet. That is, until the day he gets a call from some Earth scientists telling him he isn’t a planet anymore! You probably wanted to meet a real planet, huh? So, Pluto takes the reader on a hilarious and informative journey through the solar system to introduce the other planets and commiserate about his situation along the way. Younger readers will be so busy laughing over Pluto’s interactions with the other planets, asteroids, moons, and even the sun, they won’t even realize just how much they’re learning about our solar system!
An Indie Next Recommended Book
“Adam Rex’s clever language paired with Laurie Keller’s spirited illustrations make for a wonderful collaboration!” — Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
images © Laurie Keller
When supervillain Doctor X-Ray swoops in threatening to vanquish an innocent crowd, the only one brave enough not to run away is a little girl, who asks him simply, "Why?" He is taken aback—but he answers. She keeps asking. And he keeps answering—until a surprising truth is uncovered, and the villain is thwarted.
★ "[Adam] Rex delivers a storytime home run-hilarious, heartfelt, instructive, and interactive." — Booklist, Starred Review
"Joyful . . . A funny David-versus-Goliath story with a one-word question serving as the slingshot."—Kirkus Reviews
images © Claire Keane
It's midnight and the moon is full, but Darth Vader isn't scared.
OF COURSE I AM NOT SCARED.
Nothing can scare Lord Vader!
CORRECT.
Not monsters or witches or ghosts, and especially not the dark.
So what is Darth Vader scared of?
Read on in Adam Rex's hilarious and spooky Star Wars tale to find out!
YOU WILL LEARN NOTHING.
images © Lucasfilm
When a fruit parade gets together to sing a song about how wonderful they are—and the song happens to rhyme—Orange can't help but feel like it's impossible to ever fit in. But when one particularly intuitive Apple notices how Orange is feeling, the entire English language begins to become a bit more inclusive.
Chicago Tribune Best Children's Books of the Year
★ "A perfect read-aloud. Fruitful in every sense of the word." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "A sly concept, deft artwork, and unflagging energy make this a winner." -Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Every page makes me laugh save a couple near the end, which I find so touching that I get a little misty." -Mac Barnett, New York Times bestselling author of Extra Yarn and Leo: A Ghost Story
New York Times Bestseller! 5 Starred Reviews!
★ "Will have listeners in stitches." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
★ "Purely absurd, sidesplitting humor." —Booklist (starred review)
★ "Demands bombastic, full-volume performances." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
★ "Perfect for a guffawing share with younger sibs or buddy read." —BCCB (starred review)
★ "The sort of story that makes children love to read." —School Library Journal (starred review)
Dear Gazelle,
For some time now I have wanted to write a letter to say how much I admire you. You are so graceful and fine. Even when you are running from tigers you are like a ballerina who is running away from tigers.
I think that what I'm trying to say is that I love you.
XO,
OX
★ "It’s about as lovely (and funny) a story of opposites attracting that one could ask for. "―Publishers Weekly, starred
images © Scott Campbell
You may think you know how this book was made, but you don't. Sure, the author wrote many drafts, and the illustrator took a long time creating the art, but then what? How'd it get into your hands? Well, open the cover and read through these pages to find out. Just beware of the pirates and angry tiger.
"Fans of these wacky creators will eat it up." —School Library Journal
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! 7 STARRED REVIEWS!
It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him?
The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he's not the only one going through first-day jitters.
★ "Robinson (Last Stop on Market Street) gives the school just a hint of visual personification in his flattened, paint-and-collage artwork, as Rex (Moonday) deftly juggles well-placed jokes and keen insights into feeling comfortable in one’s own skin―or bricks, as the case may be."―Publishers Weekly, starred
★ "A unique point of view makes this school book stand out."―Kirkus Reviews, starred
★ "Sure to become a staple for first days of school everywhere."―Horn Book, starred
★ "This charming reversal of first-day-of-school nerves will delight little ones and help put their own anxieties at bay."―Booklist, starred
★ "An essential purchase that is simultaneously funny, frank, and soothing. A perfect first day read-aloud."― School Library Journal, starred
★ "A delightful, perspective-tweaking back-to-school picture book."―Shelf Awareness, starred
★ "Anthropomorphization of the whole building is a new and promising approach for school-shy youngsters, and it’ll make the already school-positive want to give their beloved building a hug."―Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred
Images © Christian Robinson
Chu and his family are going to the beach! Chu is excited. He will get to play in the sand and wade in the water. But what will happen if Chu sneezes at the beach? And what will happen if he doesn’t?
“Rex’s comical and lively illustrations are enchanting gems...Chu’s charm and silliness abound throughout this sneeze-fest...Fans will delight.” -- Kirkus Reviews
Chu, the adorable panda with a great big sneeze, is heading off for his first day of school, and he's nervous. He hopes the other boys and girls will be nice. Will they like him? What will happen at school? And will Chu do what he does best?
★ “Gaiman and Rex expertly blend humor and tension to delicious narrative effect. ” -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Chu is a little panda with a big sneeze. When Chu sneezes, bad things happen. But as Chu and his parents visit the library, the diner, and the circus, will anyone hear Chu when he starts to feel a familiar tickle in his nose?
Chu's Day is a story that shows how even the smallest child can make big things happen.
★ “Gaiman’s comic timing gets a boost from strategic book design and from Rex’s hyperreal paintings, which emphasize Chu’s round, fuzzy form and apparent harmlessness. Gaiman and Rex deliver a classic one-two-three punch, making hay from the notion that a cuddly baby panda is not to be trusted.” -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
What do you do when the moon lowers itself into your backyard? When mornings are replaced by perpetual night, and people sigh-sleep in their eyes? What do you do when the tide comes in, and all the neighborhood dogs won't stop howling? You take the moon for a ride.
"Enchanting language and jaw-dropping premise place readers under a somnolent spell. Gentle rhymes, recurring consonance and almost subliminal rhythms make murky, dreamy paintings vivid and the surreal story sleepily spectacular.... This mashup of the ordinary and the far-out, of a little neighborhood and a giant, glowing orb from outer space, thrills." —Kirkus Reviews
Fans of Artemis Fowl and Percy Jackson and the Olympians will definitely want to read Champions of Breakfast, the final book in Adam Rex's acclaimed Cold Cereal Saga, which Eoin Colfer called "totally original and wholly brilliant."
Adam Rex ends the world as we know it—and the Cold Cereal Saga—with this hilarious and dazzling epic tale.
For fans of Artemis Fowl and Percy Jackson & the Olympians comes the second book in Adam Rex's acclaimed Cold Cereal Saga, about three kids who must save the world from the diabolical schemes of an evil breakfast company.
Scottish Play Doe—aka Scott—is used to being a little different. Sometimes he hallucinates things no one else can see. But then one of these hallucinations tries to steal Scott's backpack, and he comes face-to-face with an honest-to-goodness leprechaun named Mick who's on the run from, of all things, the Goodco Cereal Company. With the help of his friends Erno and Emily, Scott and Mick uncover Goodco's sinister plans—and take the first steps in saving the world from the evil cereal company.
“Totally original and wholly brilliant. Adam Rex must be stopped.” -- Eoin Colfer, bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series
★ “With an off-the-wall sensibility that fans of the author’s True Meaning of Smekday will recognize with delight, Rex brings together unconventional allies to be hunted by agents of the huge Goodco Cereal Company.” -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
★ “The story is filled with wildly imaginative elements and clever wisecracks, but the humor is couched within a rich, complex plot that’s filled with engaging characters and concepts. Readers who enjoy fantasies that are equal parts hilarious and exciting will eagerly await the next two in the series.” -- School Library Journal (starred review)
A Kids Indie Next List selection
Meet Chloe: Every week, she collects loose change so she can buy tickets to ride the merry-go-round. But one fateful day, she gets lost in the woods on her way home, and a large dragon leaps out from—
"Wait! It's supposed to be a lion," says Mac Barnett, the author of this book. But Adam Rex, the illustrator, thinks a dragon would be so much cooler (don't you agree?).
Mac's power of the pen is at odds with Adam's brush, and Chloe's story hangs in the balance. Can she help them out of this quandary to be the heroine of her own story?
★ “Children old enough to understand the constructs of a book will delight in the comedic deconstruction, and adults will enjoy the references to traditional tales, from King Arthur to Frankenstein.”—School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)
Amazon Best Books of the Month, July 2010
Doug Lee is undead quite by accident—attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and fifteen forever. When he has no luck finding some goth chick with a vampire fetish, he resorts to sucking the blood of cows under cover of the night. But it's just not the same.
Then he meets the new Indian exchange student and falls for her—hard. Yeah, he wants to bite her, but he also wants to prove himself to her. But like the laws of life, love, and high school, the laws of vampire existence are complicated—it's not as easy as studying Dracula. Especially when the star of Vampire Hunters is hot on your trail in an attempt to boost ratings. . . .
Searing, hilarious, and always unexpected, Fat Vampire is a satirical tour de force from one of the most original writers of fiction today.
