Rosie & Rex: A Nose for Fun!

PreS—Rex and Rosie are ready for some fun, but they can't agree on what to do. Rex is willing to play anything, as long as robots are involved, but Rosie insists that "robots are not fun." The debate escalates when the friends find a mysterious, funnel-shaped object. Rosie suggest that it might be a bird feeder or a flower vase, but Rex thinks it would be more interesting if it were a robot rocket or robot telescope. The digital illustrations feature exaggerated characters, and the text, all dialogue, uses speech bubbles to great effect. The drama intensifies as the friends become more convinced that their ideas are the best, making this an engaging read-aloud. However, although this book has broad appeal, the gender stereotyping is concerning. The story ends with the friends compromising to play together, but for most of the time, Rex, a blue male, is interested only in robots, while pink Rosie prefers princesses, tea parties, dresses, and ballerinas.—Amy Seto Musser, Denver Public Library