By Adam Rex, Illustrated by Claire Keane
Chronicle Books, 2019
Picture book, 60 pages, ages 4-8
On an ordinary day at the mall, an evil villain crashes through the ceiling, shouting, “Go ahead and run, puny fools! No one can withstand the power of Doctor X-Ray!” Chaos and panic erupt. Everybody runs, except one small pigtailed girl who asks, “Why?”
Doctor X-Ray answers (superiorly, as villains do), to be met with another “Why?” from the unimpressed girl.
And when she questions why he believes being a super villain is his destiny, we see a whole new side to Doctor X-Ray … and Doctor X-Ray sees himself and his choices in a whole new light. Is this really who he wants to be? Why?
This book is written mostly in dialog with insightful illustrations. The characters, each with their own unique voice and drawn in loose brush strokes, are endearingly expressive. At 60 pages, it’s nearly twice the length of the average picture book, but it doesn’t feel long, thanks to brisk pacing and spot on characterization.
Both characters are fully fleshed out. The girl, whose vocabulary consists of two words, is a surprisingly patient listener and shows deep empathy even while acting like a typical child. Doctor X-Ray, though he puts on an evil exterior, discovers hidden pain and turns out to be a big ol’ softie. There is a lot to learn from these two.
Much of the storytelling happens beneath the surface and though it’s immediately apparent, it’s never overt or heavy handed. Adam Rex and Claire Keane make a great duo. They focus on telling the story, allowing the reader to discover nuances and intuit their own lessons. There are ample opportunities for discussion.
As a perpetually curious child who grew up to be an inquiring adult, I can very much relate to a character who always asks why! It’s a favorite question of many kids, and they’ll be able to relate. Doctor X-Ray is also lovable, in his own “villainous” way. These are characters kids will want to read about again and again.
Why? By Adam Rex gets 4 stars from this reviewer.