Monday, November 1, 2021

Wondrous Rex by Patricia MacLachlan illustrated by Emilia Dziubak

 


We can find magic in the sunrise,
the full moon, a kindness,
someone's laughter, and
even in a dog who doesn't talk.


Aunt Lily is a writer but her desk is a mess and she is struggling with new ideas so she advertises for an assistant. 



"A writer of books needs an assistant, a coach, a helper, for inspiration and some magic!"

Grace, her niece, comes to visit her aunt and discovers the new assistant has arrived - a Labrador retriever called Rex. Grace watches, amazed, as Rex immediately goes over to Lily's desk where he carefully sorts and straightens her messy papers. Then he does something even more amazing. He sits at the computer and types in the words - "If you find a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." Toni Morrison.

What a discovery! Rex can write, Rex can use a computer and Rex and read. Lily is inspired and she takes over the keyboard and writes and writes. His other wondrous talent is his ability to know when to act like a dog and when to reveal his magic. And maybe this magic can spill over to Grace.

"Dogs know secrets. Dogs keep secrets."

When I saw a new Patricia MacLachlan book (2020) in my local book store (Beachside Books) I grabbed it with both hands.  

Wondorous Rex is a tiny book (86 pages) with a big heart and it contains many of the themes you will know from previous books by this award winning author such as dogs, writers, and magic. You can listen to the first chapter here. I highly recommend this tiny gem of a book for readers aged 7+.

Sweetly magical. Kirkus

Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan has written a magical and funny tale about the joy found in using words, sharing stories, and loving a wondrous dog named Rex. Children's Books Heal

I have mentioned Emilia Dziubak in a previous post. Here are some other books by Patricia MacLachlan:


My Father's Words
The Truth of Me
White Fur flying
Waiting for the Magic
The Poet's Dog
Just Dance
Fly Away
Sarah, Plain and Tall


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