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Go and Get with Rex
The Geisel Award–winning creators of See the Cat channel their comic sensibility into a rousing alphabetical exercise in thinking outside the box.
Jack, Jill, and Rex are excited to play a game of Go and Get! The rules are simple: on the count of three, each player must go and get,/i> something that begins with a certain letter. While Jack’s and Jill’s picks always fit the bill (What starts with F,? Frog! Fish!), Rex keeps getting it wrong (a duck?)—or does he? David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka share a laugh-out-loud primer on subverting expectations that will have readers clamoring to play Go and Get themselves—and competing to see who can come up with the most creative answers.
Jack, Jill, and Rex are excited to play a game of Go and Get! The rules are simple: on the count of three, each player must go and get,/i> something that begins with a certain letter. While Jack’s and Jill’s picks always fit the bill (What starts with F,? Frog! Fish!), Rex keeps getting it wrong (a duck?)—or does he? David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka share a laugh-out-loud primer on subverting expectations that will have readers clamoring to play Go and Get themselves—and competing to see who can come up with the most creative answers.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2024
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
July 12, 2024
The author read this picture book with interaction from the audience at the 2024 BYU Books for Young Readers conference. It was an absolute delight!
#BFYR2024
#BFYR2024
July 23, 2024
Go and Get with Rex is one of those books that even though it is a fictional story, it is a great learning tool. It teaches kids about phonics, counting, and onomatopeias, and is also so much fun. I read this at our library storytime last week and the kids had a blast helping me count, guessing the items Jack, Jill, and Rex found, and making the sounds.
Jack, Jill, and Rex the dog are excited to play a game of Go and Get! They need to find something that starts with a specific letter and come back as quickly as they can with the item. Kids will get to help count to three to start them off. While Jack and Jill return with something that fits the letter, Rex seems to be a bit confused with how the game works…or is he?
The illustrator uses different colors and sizes to emphasize the letters they are looking for and as the starting letter in the words that are used. The author uses that same letter to describe their actions. The repetition of the actions gets the kids involved in the reading process right away. The animal sounds give kids a clue as to the animal that was found and get kids excited to see what comes next in the story.
After reading this book, you can turn it into your own game, challenging your kids to find something in the house with the letters in the story. The author has also shared activity pages to go along with the story linked below.
This story is humorous, interactive, and loads of fun. I highly recommend GO AND GET WITH REX for your home or school library.
Jack, Jill, and Rex the dog are excited to play a game of Go and Get! They need to find something that starts with a specific letter and come back as quickly as they can with the item. Kids will get to help count to three to start them off. While Jack and Jill return with something that fits the letter, Rex seems to be a bit confused with how the game works…or is he?
The illustrator uses different colors and sizes to emphasize the letters they are looking for and as the starting letter in the words that are used. The author uses that same letter to describe their actions. The repetition of the actions gets the kids involved in the reading process right away. The animal sounds give kids a clue as to the animal that was found and get kids excited to see what comes next in the story.
After reading this book, you can turn it into your own game, challenging your kids to find something in the house with the letters in the story. The author has also shared activity pages to go along with the story linked below.
This story is humorous, interactive, and loads of fun. I highly recommend GO AND GET WITH REX for your home or school library.
April 6, 2025
Some kids and a dog play an alphabet game where the narrator asks them to retrieve an object starting with a certain letter. The kids are great at it, but the dog seems to have trouble finding anything besides ducks. But somehow, he's never wrong as long as the narrator is willing to consider things from a different perspective.
What can I say? David LaRochelle might be my new favorite picture book author. The books make one really good point and are charming the rest of the time. None have failed to make me laugh so far.
What can I say? David LaRochelle might be my new favorite picture book author. The books make one really good point and are charming the rest of the time. None have failed to make me laugh so far.
August 7, 2024
In this fun story an unseen narrator asks who wants to play a game of Go and Get. Two children and Rex, the dog, jump to attention. The are told to go and get something that starts with the letter F. One child returns with a frog, another a fish and Rex returns with a...duck. When told that duck does not begin with F, Rex explains that the duck is his friend, which does begin with F.
This is a clever, interactive tale that will have children giggling. Recommended for storytime.
This is a clever, interactive tale that will have children giggling. Recommended for storytime.
January 15, 2025
5 stars. Such a clever book - would make a great storytime read aloud with kids chiming in Zip Zap Zoom! Opportunities for prediction galore. Fun illustrations! Initial consonant practice on every page. Almost makes me want to go back to the library/classroom - almost!
March 6, 2025
Super cute picture book reviewing the alphabet. They play a game in which the characters are to retrieve items beginning w/ a certain letter. Rex the dog always brings at least one duck back, no matter the letter but he always has a reason which makes sense with the letter! Very well done and engaging way to go over vocabulary, spelling, etc.
June 6, 2024
I love Dave's books, and I want to find someone to play "Go and Get" with!!
Preferably a nice dog like Rex. ;-)
Preferably a nice dog like Rex. ;-)
August 13, 2024
My 1st grader said they just started playing a game like this at school so he really liked this one.
January 14, 2025
A (4 year old):
I like the book and I like all the ducks and I like to play the game they play in the book. I played it when mommy read the book.
I want to read it again.
I like the book and I like all the ducks and I like to play the game they play in the book. I played it when mommy read the book.
I want to read it again.
May 30, 2024
This giggle-inducing book is a perfect read-aloud for a school or library setting. It contains just the right amount of vocabulary and letter learning along with zaniness and humor.
May 11, 2024
Copy provided by Edelweiss Plus
Rex and two children decide to play a game of "go and get". A letter is suggested, and the three have to go and get something with that letter. For "F", Jack, brings something that ribbits (a frog), Jill brings a fish, and Rex brings back something that quacks. Does a duck begin with "F"? No, but a friend does. The next task is an "S", so while Jack brings back a snake and Jill brings back a skunk, Rex brings back TWO ducks. Of course, they are sisters, so they do start with "S". Rex has similar solutions to "M", but when he gets to "D", he doesn't know what to retrieve. In the end, he brings back himself, and also... a duck!
This is a different sort of alphabet book, but the humorous twist will have young readers thinking about all of the different words that might pertain to different objects. This encourages nonlinear thinking, and I'm always a fan of that!
When a letter is showcased, it is used in several different places, and highlighted in the text. As the book progresses, the letters appear more and more, so there is a two page spread at the end of different words that begin with "D". Since only a handful of letters are used, there could certainly be more innovative books about Rex playing "go and get".
Wohnoutka's illustrations remind me a bit of Capucilli's Biscuit books, with soft, realistic drawings rendered in gouache. I love the yellows and medium greens, and Rex and his duck friends are very cute. There's plenty of white space on the page, which makes it easy to point out the words.
I hesitate a bit to include Go and Get With Rex in a list of alphabet picture books, because only a few letters are represented, and it is more of a story about perception and misunderstanding. It feels almost a bit like Amelia Bedelia, but that's not quite it either! This is a great book about learning, with a humorous twist, and is very different from other books I've read. No small feat!
Rex and two children decide to play a game of "go and get". A letter is suggested, and the three have to go and get something with that letter. For "F", Jack, brings something that ribbits (a frog), Jill brings a fish, and Rex brings back something that quacks. Does a duck begin with "F"? No, but a friend does. The next task is an "S", so while Jack brings back a snake and Jill brings back a skunk, Rex brings back TWO ducks. Of course, they are sisters, so they do start with "S". Rex has similar solutions to "M", but when he gets to "D", he doesn't know what to retrieve. In the end, he brings back himself, and also... a duck!
This is a different sort of alphabet book, but the humorous twist will have young readers thinking about all of the different words that might pertain to different objects. This encourages nonlinear thinking, and I'm always a fan of that!
When a letter is showcased, it is used in several different places, and highlighted in the text. As the book progresses, the letters appear more and more, so there is a two page spread at the end of different words that begin with "D". Since only a handful of letters are used, there could certainly be more innovative books about Rex playing "go and get".
Wohnoutka's illustrations remind me a bit of Capucilli's Biscuit books, with soft, realistic drawings rendered in gouache. I love the yellows and medium greens, and Rex and his duck friends are very cute. There's plenty of white space on the page, which makes it easy to point out the words.
I hesitate a bit to include Go and Get With Rex in a list of alphabet picture books, because only a few letters are represented, and it is more of a story about perception and misunderstanding. It feels almost a bit like Amelia Bedelia, but that's not quite it either! This is a great book about learning, with a humorous twist, and is very different from other books I've read. No small feat!
November 23, 2024
This is a fun book! This is the second book we have read by David LaRochel and I will be checking out more by this author. My grandson decided to play the game with Rex after we had read this book a few times so that told me he really enjoyed this book.
The story is told to you by a game show host and you read about the game show contestants Jack, Jill and the dog Rex. The text reads as if the host is talking to you, “Howdy, everyone! Who wants to play a game of Go and Get?” It’s so much fun to read this book and the answers that the contestants give are great, especially Rex, the dog. The game show host gives the contestants letters of the alphabet, one at a time, and they must go get items beginning with that letter. When they return, he comments about their items that they returned with, while also using words that begin with that letter A LOT in his comments. An example: letter F – “that was fast! Let’s see what you found.” Now, each of the contestants conceal their items but give one clue so you can guess what they are. Jack brough something in a box that says, “Ribbit! Ribbit!” a Frog! Yes, Frog begins with the letter F!” Rex brought something in a box that says “Quack! A Duck? I’m sorry, Rex, but duck does not begin with the letter F. Oh! This duck is your Friend. You’re right. Friend does begin with the letter F!? Now, isn’t that cute? What did Jill bring? Well, you’ll need to check out this book to find out this answer and to see what other letters the game show host gave to the contestants.
I loved this book; it was so fun and entertaining! My grandson was running around the house trying to find something to match the letters just like Jack, Jill, and Rex. Definitely a 5 star book for us! If you haven't read a book by this author, you really should - he's very entertaining!
The story is told to you by a game show host and you read about the game show contestants Jack, Jill and the dog Rex. The text reads as if the host is talking to you, “Howdy, everyone! Who wants to play a game of Go and Get?” It’s so much fun to read this book and the answers that the contestants give are great, especially Rex, the dog. The game show host gives the contestants letters of the alphabet, one at a time, and they must go get items beginning with that letter. When they return, he comments about their items that they returned with, while also using words that begin with that letter A LOT in his comments. An example: letter F – “that was fast! Let’s see what you found.” Now, each of the contestants conceal their items but give one clue so you can guess what they are. Jack brough something in a box that says, “Ribbit! Ribbit!” a Frog! Yes, Frog begins with the letter F!” Rex brought something in a box that says “Quack! A Duck? I’m sorry, Rex, but duck does not begin with the letter F. Oh! This duck is your Friend. You’re right. Friend does begin with the letter F!? Now, isn’t that cute? What did Jill bring? Well, you’ll need to check out this book to find out this answer and to see what other letters the game show host gave to the contestants.
I loved this book; it was so fun and entertaining! My grandson was running around the house trying to find something to match the letters just like Jack, Jill, and Rex. Definitely a 5 star book for us! If you haven't read a book by this author, you really should - he's very entertaining!
May 29, 2024
PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG: https://bookreadingtic.com/2024/05/29... AND PLEASE FOLLOW ME, THANK YOU!
What Starts with a D?
Join Rex, the dog, as he plays an alphabet game. When a letter is picked, something that begins with that letter must be found. Each time, when three different letters are called, none of which are a D, Rex brings a duck. If you wonder how that can count, you will be treated to Rex’s creative answer.
When the last letter is chosen, a D, you might think you know what he will bring, but most likely you will be wrong.
Get this fun book, and laugh at all the funny things Rex does in this picture book.
Children ages three through seven-years-old will laugh their way through this five-star book. At the same time, they will learn there is sometimes more than one answer to a question, and this tale will spark their creativity!!
Thank you, Candlewick Books, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.
What Starts with a D?
Join Rex, the dog, as he plays an alphabet game. When a letter is picked, something that begins with that letter must be found. Each time, when three different letters are called, none of which are a D, Rex brings a duck. If you wonder how that can count, you will be treated to Rex’s creative answer.
When the last letter is chosen, a D, you might think you know what he will bring, but most likely you will be wrong.
Get this fun book, and laugh at all the funny things Rex does in this picture book.
Children ages three through seven-years-old will laugh their way through this five-star book. At the same time, they will learn there is sometimes more than one answer to a question, and this tale will spark their creativity!!
Thank you, Candlewick Books, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.
May 27, 2024
Well, I wish I had this long ago when I was a first-grade teacher! David LaRochelle takes us on the adventure of "Go and Get", and with Rex, a dog! Young Jack and Jill are there, too, and when asked to bring back something that begins with a certain letter, they race off to do just that. For example, the letter F is asked for. Jack brings a frog, Jill brings a fish, and Rex brings . . . a duck! He's told, sorry, duck does not begin with F, Rex; however, Rex replies with that duck is his FRIEND! Hoorah, Friend does begin with F. Running and racing with vehicles, or cycling, Mike Wohnoutka illustrates this fun game with great enthusiasm, and smiles all around! LaRochelle's answers also add more words for the special letter. It's a great "game" of a book!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for my copy!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for my copy!
October 23, 2024
Delightful twist on an early reader alphabet book. An African-American girl, white boy and pup, named Rex, are asked to go and fetch an object beginning with a specific letter. Rex repeatedly returns with the same, non-conventional object and explains each time (through mime) how what he has brought DOES fulfill the assignment. Lots of laughs, great natural repetition of simple vocabulary and a very deep exploration of the flexibility of concepts. (is a frog F, or A for amphibian or P for pet.) Great training for a lifetime of confounding faculty by technically completing an assignment while coloring outside the lines.
July 9, 2025
A playful picture book about two children and a dog who are playing a Go and Get game of finding items that match a letter of the alphabet. Jack and Jill are pretty impressive in finding the perfect item, for example a snake and skunk for the letter "S". However, it isn't quite as obvious with Rex. For instance, for "S" Rex brought back a box with two ducks. What? Well, it turns out those ducks were sisters. This is similar to Mary Elting's Q is for Duck with its fun wordplay and will pair well with The Book That Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed with its unexpected twists. Little ones who enjoy books that promote thinking outside of the box will delight in reading this one.
May 18, 2024
Readers are invited to play “go and get” alongside the characters in the book. As the characters rush back with something that starts with the assigned letter, readers can guess what has been procured with well paced page turns. A fun way to practice initial consonant sounds with early readers integrated right into the picture book. The humor is added by dog who is also playing and has less obvious ideas for each letter. The read aloud-ability is high with short text, big bright illustrations, high reader engagement and easy humor. Highly recommend this for preschoolers and early elementary.
December 31, 2024
Some kids and a dog play a game of “go and yet”. The narrator says go and get something with a letter. The kids bring back something obvious, and the dog always brings something back not as obvious. This book is repetitive but in a way that makes sense. It is cute and the illustrations are lovely. However, it’s not special. It feels like something you have seen and read before. That’s not a bad thing. It’s just a usual thing. This book will be one that is Loved but does not have lasting staying power.
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May 10, 2024Excellent storytime title for preschool or kindergarten (and probably older kids too). Humor, a good level of back-and-forth with kids/audience built into the text, and letter recognition - all in one? It's been a while since I've seen a book that felt written for a storytime setting and was also so well executed.
Please LaRochelle - make this a new picture book formula. I want a ton more titles with a similar concept.
Please LaRochelle - make this a new picture book formula. I want a ton more titles with a similar concept.
August 18, 2024
In this story, Jack, Jill and Rex are playing go and get. Each player must go and get something that begins with a certain letter. The first letter is F. Jack brings a frog, Jill brings a fish, and Rex brings....a duck. What? That's not right. But then Rex explains he brought a friend. Each time, Rex seems to get it wrong...but is he actually wrong. Cute and humorous...would be really fun with young children.
November 15, 2024
If I could give this book 6 stars, I would! This was the best book we borrowed from the library in a long time! In fact, it was so good I am thinking about not returning it. Just kidding, but I AM thinking about buying a copy!
My 5 year old loved the concept of playing the 'Go and Get' game and we all thought Rex was the star of the show. His ability to think outside of the box was pretty impressive!
This is a fun book with cute and colorful illustrations and one smart dog!
My 5 year old loved the concept of playing the 'Go and Get' game and we all thought Rex was the star of the show. His ability to think outside of the box was pretty impressive!
This is a fun book with cute and colorful illustrations and one smart dog!
June 8, 2024
5 stars
I read a digital copy courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss.
The family is playing a game called go and fetch where you need to bring back things that begin with a certain letter of the alphabet. Rex, being a dog, thinks outside of the box and every item Rex brings back requires a little thinking to see the connection.
I read a digital copy courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss.
The family is playing a game called go and fetch where you need to bring back things that begin with a certain letter of the alphabet. Rex, being a dog, thinks outside of the box and every item Rex brings back requires a little thinking to see the connection.
June 9, 2024
After reading the first page of the book, I was not necessarily excited for this book. However, the author did an exceptional job with it. It was cute and funny. This would make a great book for children too as they could be asked to retrieve or just mention something that starts with a certain letter or a certain sound.
September 4, 2024
Fun book that has a fun game to play in it - the "Go and Get" game. I also love how much the Rex thinks out of the box. It can help teach children out of the box thinking. And it also teaches us that just because we think someone is wrong doesn't mean they are wrong. They might just think differently than we do. And as we try to understand them we may even come to agreement.
November 10, 2024
This interactive game of Go & Get teaches kids a few letters of the alphabet—F, S, M, and D—that can lead to more games of fetch around the house or schoolroom during story time as a fun way to teach phonics, spelling, and vocabulary. Cute illustrations of the kids, their pooch, and all their found objects add to the enjoyment.
May 25, 2024
👦🏻 reviews: what a fantastic book. This amazing book is perfect for early readers because there are so many words helpful and easy for little ones to identify the words and illustrations. What a cute book.
June 6, 2024
Another winner for LaRochelle!
When asked to find something that begins with a certain letter of the alphabet, Jack and Jill are right on the mark--but Rex the dog's brings back a few surprises. A humorous story with starter phonics lessons.
When asked to find something that begins with a certain letter of the alphabet, Jack and Jill are right on the mark--but Rex the dog's brings back a few surprises. A humorous story with starter phonics lessons.
July 8, 2024
Fun, engaging, and sure to prompt creative thinking - I love this new alphabet adventure. Just the right amount of silliness will make this a fun read aloud, but adults will love how it is subtly teaching their kids so much. A total win.
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August 17, 2024Doesn't have all the letters, but has some.
This was really cute and I liked how we found out about Duck throughout the book. The ending could have gone a couple of ways, so I was happy I predicted it.
This was really cute and I liked how we found out about Duck throughout the book. The ending could have gone a couple of ways, so I was happy I predicted it.
February 20, 2025
Pre-K and Kinder teachers- add this book to your classroom! You could just read aloud to help teach beginning sounds but you could also turn it into an interactive game where one of your students goes off in search of something that starts with....
Loved this!
Loved this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews