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