Unstoppable by Adam Rex, illustrated by Laura Park
UNSTOPPABLE
by Adam Rex, illustrated by Laura Park
Review Copy from Chronicle Books
Collaboration, empathy, friendship, environmentalism, politics, and a Crabturd?!? YES! Only Adam Rex could take all these curious, complex, hilarious elements and turn them into a playful, serious, and thoughtfully silly picture book, with Park's illustrations bringing the perfect, cartoonish energy to match the text. Tormented by a cat on the prowl, a bird and a crab team up to get revenge and make a flying, pinching Crabbird or Birdrad and they become UNSTOPPABLE! As they make their way through the forest, they pick up a turtle and even a seemingly ferocious bear who, after some conversation, they decide is lonely. The Turbearbircrab (or Birdraburtlebear or Craburbearbird, or Steve) fly on until they see their forest being razed to make way for a shopping mall. Making a snap decision, they swoop in to the Oval Office and nab the president, thinking they can get her (not only is the president a HER, she is a person of color! Yes!) to stop the deforestation, which leads to her having to explain how Congress works. The UNSTOPPABLE animals then pick up all of Congress - Park's illustration is one glorious ball of humanity hanging on for dear life - and fly them over the forest, where they (mostly) all vote AYE to make the forest a protected park.
Rex his marvelous, perfectly time book with these weird, wonderful and unforgettable words:
And people say if the night is clear, and your heart is true, you can still see Congresibirdraburtlebear flying over this great land - passing laws and pinching the noses that need to be pinched.
Our national bird is an eagle because it's easier to draw.
Goodnight, children.
Written (but not illustrated) by Adam Rex
Illustrated (but not written) by Adam Rex
Written AND illustrated by Adam Rex
