But it was quite a funny reference once I realised it.) The author has added himself as an Easter egg in the rhymes. Maybe this was just a way of showing inclusivity? Not sure. (One of the rocks even has hair, LOL!) Of course it is weird to see rocks at school, looking at other animals and interacting in a world without humans, but a children’s story is allowed to be silly, right? At the same time, Tess, who is a ball of tin foil, is the odd one out in a school of rocks. The illustrations are really sweet, with all the rocks and their non-rock companions looking cool as they roll around school. Most of the words are quite easy, but there are a few tricky ones such as ‘caboose’ and ‘uptight’. The rhyming sentences are a bit too long, though they do rhyme perfectly and match in meter, which I enjoy. ( You can also get a clue for this on the first page, where the author credits are mentioned.) But the ending reveals how and why the book is in rhyme. I found it hilarious that a book about someone who can’t rhyme has been written in rhythmic prose. The book is a funny combination of adorable and absurd. And then comes a big realisation: he has been rhyming all along! He can’t rhyme, you see? His friend Tess the tin tries to help him in class as well as after school, but Ricky just can’t figure out how rhymes work. But when his next subject teacher mentions that every little rock should know how to rhyme, Ricky begins to worry. Ricky the rock is quite excited about being in school as he loves most subjects. I also love hearing from teachers and parents and kids, so please feel free to contact me at a Nutshell: A funny little story about a rock who wants to rhyme, but can’t… or can he? I live in New Jersey (yes, by choice), and I have a wife, Amanda, who helps me improve all of my books as I write them, and a daughter named Bria who is the inspiration for many of the stories that I come up with. I read my books and then we discuss what they're about, and I always love hearing how kids interpret the stories that I write and discussing it with them. So far, I've written books like "Ricky, the Rock that Couldn't Roll," "Tess, the Tin that Wanted to Rock," "Do Pebbles Eat Chili?", "The Masterpiece," "The Bear and the Fern," and a few books that will be coming out soon, such as "Patrick Picklebottom and the Penny Book," "Tyrannosaurus Hex," and others.īut the best part is that in between all of my writing, I get to travel around the country visiting school and meeting the most amazingly awesome kids ever. Jay, and I have the best career on the planet - I get to spend my days creating amazing characters and writing stories about them that, for reasons I can't possibly imagine, people seem to like. Well, hello there! Thanks for visiting my author page. Jay, author of Ricky, the Rock that Couldn't Roll, The Bear and the Fern, Patrick Picklebottom and the Penny Book, and many others. Targeted for children ages 3-11, and grades K-3, this is the next book in the "You Rock Group" collection by Mr. Seuss, Ricky the Rock that Couldn't Rhyme is destined to be a favorite among children, teachers and parents alike. This clever, hysterical picture book, written in verse (of course!), brings fan favorites Ricky the Rock and Tess the Tin, together in a story that is fun to read, with a powerful lesson about the importance of trying.Ĭombining the spirit of The Giving Tree with the rhyme and rhythm of Dr. You'll learn how to rhyme - I don't have a doubt."Īs Ricky and Tess leave school for the day, Tess is determined to help her friend learn how to rhyme, and maybe discover that he actually knew how to rhyme all along - he just needed to try. You just need some practice - you'll figure it out! "Rhyming's confusing," Ricky said with a frown.īut Tess said, "Cheer up, and don't look so down. So he turned 'round to talk to his friend, Tess the Tin. Ricky felt lost - his head started to spin. When Ricky's school teacher gives the class an assignment to write a story using rhymes, Ricky begins to panic. Ricky is back and starring in a brand new adventure!
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