Why?

July 15, 2019
Doctor X-Ray, a megalomaniac with an X-ray blaster and an indestructible battle suit, crashes through the ceiling of the local mall. Innocent patrons scatter to safety. But one curious child gazes directly at the bully and asks: "Why?" At first, Doctor X-Ray answers with all the menace and swagger of a supervillain. The curious child, armed with only a stuffed bear and clad in a bright red dress, is not satisfied with the answers and continues asking: "Why?" As his pale cheeks flush with emotion, Doctor X-Ray peels back the onion of his interior life, unearthing powerful reasons behind his pursuit of tyranny. This all sounds heavy, but the humorously monotonous questions coupled with free-wheeling illustrations by Keane set a quick pace with comical results. At 60 pages, the book has room to follow this thread back to the diabolical bully's childhood. Most of the answers go beyond a child's understanding--parental entertainment between the howl of the monosyllabic chorus. It is the digital artwork, which is reminiscent of Quentin Blake's, that creates a joyful undercurrent of rebellion with bold and loose brush strokes, patches of color, and expressive faces. The illustrations harken to a previous era save for the thoroughly liberated Asian child speaking truth to power. A funny David-versus-Goliath story with a one-word question serving as the slingshot. (Picture book. 3-5)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 29, 2019
Part origin story, part therapy session, this high-voltage comedy by Rex (Nothing Rhymes with Orange) pits a supervillain against an inquisitive child. Doctor X-Ray, wearing a lab coat and rocket boots, crashes through the glass atrium of an upscale mall. “Go ahead and run, puny fools!” he taunts. “No one can withstand the power of Doctor X-Ray!” The mall empties—all except for a wide-eyed girl with black pigtails, a stuffed animal, and a red polka-dotted dress. “Why?” she asks, as small children will. Her repetitive query works on Doctor X-Ray like a psychiatrist’s prompts, and his plans and disappointments come tumbling out, each answer leading to another “Why?” Black-outlined speech balloons give the spreads a comic-book vibe as stylish art by Keane (Love Is) cut between the two roaming the deserted mall and faded flashbacks to Doctor X-Ray’s tortured boyhood (“I put my heart and soul into that yarn store”). At last, exhausted, Doctor X-Ray has a moment of insight: “Look at me—I don’t even rule myself.” Though the self-analysis sequence is a bit drawn-out, the visual energy and satisfaction of each page’s awaiting answer keep this cinema-style romp hurtling forward. Ages 3–5.

October 1, 2019

Gr 1-3-Superheroes and supervillains are everywhere these days, so it comes as no surprise when a villain known as Dr. X-Ray crashes into a shopping mall to mount his scheme to rule the world. The villain encounters a persistent and inquisitive young girl who responds to Dr. X-Ray's every statement with one question: "Why?" Subjected to the child's relentless questioning, Dr. X-Ray reveals his tragic-yet-silly backstory, questions his role in society, and ultimately reforms his evil ways. All the dialogue is told in comic book-style word balloons, with Dr. X-Ray speaking in bold all-caps and the little girl in a smaller script typeface that emphasizes the cloying nature of her questions. The unnamed child stands out in a red dress with white polka dots, but Dr. X-Ray's simple white coat and black boots can get lost in backgrounds that are either empty and monochromatic or busy and hastily sketched. Dr. X-Ray's flashbacks are tinted various colors, adding some variety to the illustrations. The book's message is that we can incite social change with persistent questioning, but perhaps it only works if we encounter a supervillain who is willing to be introspective and candid during interrogation. VERDICT Parents will appreciate the social message and kids will enjoy a supervillain with a kooky backstory about how much he loves knitting.-Chance Lee Joyner, Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, NH

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2019
Preschool-G *Starred Review* A supervillain's triumphant debut?bursting through the roof of a mall?is stymied by a little girl who has wandered off from her mother. No one can withstand the power of Doctor X-Ray! he cries, only to be countered by an innocent Why? So begins an all-too-familiar back-and-forth, with the hilariously earnest doctor supplying thoughtful answers to the girl's carelessly repeated question. Her Socratic method soon breaks through his villainous facade as they sit in the furniture store, him lying on a couch, baring his soul in what has become a therapy session. We learn that, as a child, he wanted to sell yarn? Knitting is amazing! ?but his father forced him into being a doctor. Now he means to rule the world. Why? The doctor collapses to his knees, clinging to the girl's teddy bear. Because then maybe my daddy will be proud of me! There's a charming old-school aesthetic at play, from the mall setting and evil-doctor trope to Keane's loose line-and-wash illustrations, reminiscent of mid-twentieth-century cartoonists. While readings may inspire unfortunate imitations from youngsters ( Why? Why? Why? ), Rex delivers a storytime home run?hilarious, heartfelt, instructive, and interactive. Kids will love chiming in with the little girl as she gets to the root of Doctor X-Ray's anger, and in the process, they'll absorb an important lesson about introspection.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)