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Pinky and Rex #1
Pinky and Rex
Pinky has twenty-seven stuffed animals, and Rex has twenty-seven dinosaurs. They have everything the same, and that's the way it should be with best friends. So what do they do when there's only one pink dinosaur in the museum gift shop, and they both want it? Could Pinky's pesky little sister Amanda have the answer?
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
15 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
James Howe
218 books458 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 28, 2018
A book from the 90s for beginning readers. The gender roles are reversed here and I love that!! Pinky - he loves pink things and Rex - the girl is into dinosaurs. Pinky's father is taking Pinky and his sister Amanda, who is younger, to the museum with Rex. They all want to see the Dinosaur's. Amanda complains about everything.
The story ends up being about sharing. They have to pull all their money together to get the toy they want and they decide to share the toy. Simple story, simple lesson.
For a book written in the 1990s, this was way ahead of its time with the gender roles. James Howe was pushing boundaries. Yet, it is a grounded story about excitement of adventure and learning. James should be more popular than he is.
The story ends up being about sharing. They have to pull all their money together to get the toy they want and they decide to share the toy. Simple story, simple lesson.
For a book written in the 1990s, this was way ahead of its time with the gender roles. James Howe was pushing boundaries. Yet, it is a grounded story about excitement of adventure and learning. James should be more popular than he is.
February 28, 2018
This is the first book in the Pinky and Rex series. We've read a few of these books and we like them, but I thought this one was a bit too over-the-top with the gender role reversal between the girl, Rex, and the boy, Pinky.
I understand that this book introduces us to the characters and sets the stage for the following books, but I like that the other stories have less emphasis on the gender equality/neutrality and more emphasis on the children's friendship.
I understand that this book introduces us to the characters and sets the stage for the following books, but I like that the other stories have less emphasis on the gender equality/neutrality and more emphasis on the children's friendship.
June 11, 2020
This series came out just when I was getting “too old” for such books, I didn’t know anything about it but I did know of the author, James Howe, mostly for his excellent middle grade series, Bunnicula. I was hoping there would be a little more to this story than a trip to the museum and there was. It’s more about friend and siblings. I would have probably loved this at 6-8yo but alas it just was okay for me. Best friends, Rex and Pinky, go to the museum but Pinky’s little sister, Amanda, has to come too and she complains the whole time. In the end though Amanda steps up to the plate to solve a small dilemma for the two friends. One thing that stood out to me was the fact that Rex is the girl and Pinky is the boy. Also the boy has a fascination for pink while the girl loves dinosaurs, very out of the box for its time (1991).
June 25, 2019
Oh! In some ways this is just another friendship story like Frog and Toad or Houndsley and Catina. In some important ways that children may not even notice, but educators will be thrilled to see, it's extra special. I'm off to try to find the rest of the series... even if they don't all have the same magic as the first, the premise itself is a winner and I hope these stay in print and in circulation for as long as it takes.
Btw, it's not just Pinky is a boy who likes the color pink, but he also seems to be slightly Aspergian. Of course, what makes the book special is that he's otherwise a perfectly healthy, loved and lovable, high-functioning, 'normal' little boy.
Btw, it's not just Pinky is a boy who likes the color pink, but he also seems to be slightly Aspergian. Of course, what makes the book special is that he's otherwise a perfectly healthy, loved and lovable, high-functioning, 'normal' little boy.
August 19, 2015
It’s always hard for young children to hear that they will be getting a new sibling. It was especially hard for Pinky, so after talking with her best friend Rex, she hatched a plan. The plan was to be the best older sister, so her parents would be grateful and not forget her. Of course her parents wouldn’t forget her, but she was very worried. However, she spent so much time with the new baby, she didn’t have much time to play with her friend Rex. Would she lose her friend?
Pinky is a delightful character readers will root for. While most older siblings will feel the same jealousy, Pinky deals with it in a much more positive way. By wanting to be the best older sister, and if she is able to keep it up as years go by, she and her younger brother will become great friends. They will be able rely on each other as well as support each other in the future. Pinky is a great role model for future older siblings who will be joined by a younger member.
2nd – 4th graders will learn from this story. Even though some of the themes are a bit mature for young readers, they are important topics. Adoption may be harder for the younger readers as well as discussing where babies come from, but with the right guidance from an adult, it will be helpful. I recommended 4th graders as well to read this story mostly because of the more mature themes. They will find the reading pretty simple, but again dealing with the new arrival of younger siblings and how to deal with it will be very beneficial.
Pinky is a delightful character readers will root for. While most older siblings will feel the same jealousy, Pinky deals with it in a much more positive way. By wanting to be the best older sister, and if she is able to keep it up as years go by, she and her younger brother will become great friends. They will be able rely on each other as well as support each other in the future. Pinky is a great role model for future older siblings who will be joined by a younger member.
2nd – 4th graders will learn from this story. Even though some of the themes are a bit mature for young readers, they are important topics. Adoption may be harder for the younger readers as well as discussing where babies come from, but with the right guidance from an adult, it will be helpful. I recommended 4th graders as well to read this story mostly because of the more mature themes. They will find the reading pretty simple, but again dealing with the new arrival of younger siblings and how to deal with it will be very beneficial.
February 28, 2018
The narrative is short, even more so than I had anticipated, but the masterful James Howe has introduced in this book some characters that hold a lot of promise. Pinky and Rex (as well as Pinky's sister, Amanda) all have well-grounded, well-defined personalities that I think will be very good for future entries to the series (of which there are twelve, to date). Pinky and Rex are different from most kids, but they also have enough things about them for us to identify with, as well.
As I said, the story is short and simple, telling the story of Pinky and Rex on their trip one day to a museum. Through this trip lessons are learned, all while giving emerging readers an opportunity to graduate from picture books to early short chapter books.
As I said, the story is short and simple, telling the story of Pinky and Rex on their trip one day to a museum. Through this trip lessons are learned, all while giving emerging readers an opportunity to graduate from picture books to early short chapter books.
March 12, 2011
A boy who likes pink and a girl who likes dinosaurs!
November 3, 2012
I liked when they were fighting about the pink dinosaur.
February 16, 2013
I like James Howe's attempt at breaking gender stereotypes, even if it is a bit obvious.
Want to read
April 7, 2016Accelerated Reading Book Level: 3.1 / AR Points: 0.5
June 29, 2017
The gender equality push of this story was much too obvious and distracted from the story.
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April 29, 2020CONTEMPORARY REALISTIC FICTION
Title: Pinky and Rex
Author: James Howe
How would you describe the plot? Pinky and Rex are the best of friends, but a trip to the museum with Pinky's dad and his sister, Amanda, puts their friendship to the test.
How would you describe the characters? Pinky, Pinky's sister (Amanda), Rex
What is the main conflict? When Pinky, whose favorite color is pink, and Rex, who loves anything to do with dinosaurs, set their sights on the very same stuffed animal at the museum gift shop, it takes a little wisdom and some help from an unexpected source before the matter is neatly sorted out.
What is the main theme? Easily relatable to the reader.
How would you describe the author’s style? Captures the readers attention with the illustrations, Pinky and Rex captures perfectly the challenges and the rewards that true friendship brings.
What point of view does the author use? second person
What lessons could you teach with this text?
W.4.9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
What is your overall assessment of the book? The story is about sharing. It has a lot of excitement and adventure, also involving learning within the story.
Title: Pinky and Rex
Author: James Howe
How would you describe the plot? Pinky and Rex are the best of friends, but a trip to the museum with Pinky's dad and his sister, Amanda, puts their friendship to the test.
How would you describe the characters? Pinky, Pinky's sister (Amanda), Rex
What is the main conflict? When Pinky, whose favorite color is pink, and Rex, who loves anything to do with dinosaurs, set their sights on the very same stuffed animal at the museum gift shop, it takes a little wisdom and some help from an unexpected source before the matter is neatly sorted out.
What is the main theme? Easily relatable to the reader.
How would you describe the author’s style? Captures the readers attention with the illustrations, Pinky and Rex captures perfectly the challenges and the rewards that true friendship brings.
What point of view does the author use? second person
What lessons could you teach with this text?
W.4.9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
What is your overall assessment of the book? The story is about sharing. It has a lot of excitement and adventure, also involving learning within the story.
March 31, 2018
Read with a 2nd grade class.
January 28, 2021
Good level 3 reader with challenge words - canoe, pterodactyl.
May 26, 2023
Super cute book
eddie
October 26, 2025Ages 6-8
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews