Specs for Rex

by Yasmeen Ismail (Artist)

Rex has new specs and he DOES NOT LIKE THEM!

Rex does NOT want to wear his new glasses to school. He tries his very best to hide them -- in the strangest places! But it's very tricky when they are so BIG and ROUND and RED.

It's funny how things turn out, though, because Rex's specs end up winning him a gold star -- AND a new friend! Even better, he can SEE properly!

A riotous and reassuring story about the positive effects of being, maybe, just a little different.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, School, Fiction, Storytime, Disability

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 14, 2014

About the author

Irish-born, Bristol-based Yasmeen Ismail is an award-winning author, illustrator and animator. Yasmeen studied at art school in her hometown, Dublin and graduated in 2002. After Yasmeen moved to London she lent her talents to many different projects ranging from advertising to children's publishing.

After moving to London and running a successful animation production company and having worked in varying capacities within it (Director, Designer, Creative, Animator, Producer, Script-writer) Yasmeen found herself writing and illustrating picture books. From her experience with scripts and storyboards she is familiar with writing narratives and working with story lines, and is especially acquainted with editing her work and writing creatively within boundaries. In turn, and as a result of her animating background, her illustrations are bright, fluid and full of energy and movement. She has a love of watercolours, inks and paints and is moving to all sorts of other mediums. Yasmeen has a propensity to experiment and expand in all areas of her work and is constantly trying new ways to improve her writing and drawing.

Currently Yasmeen is writing her fourth book for Bloomsbury UK, and her first for Walker Books, and is working on her first for Nosy Crow and another for Pan Macmillan. She has just completed 2 books for publishers in the USA and has more exciting projects lining up for 2015. She has written and illustrated several more picture books and activity books, which will be released in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

She has just moved to Bristol from London with her husband. They miss their cat very much and spend their evenings talking about her.

Reviews

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rex got new specs and they are bog, round and red and he is embarrassed to wear those as the specs would make him look different to everyone else at school. He tries to hide his specs but in the process he actually ends up finding things and earns a gold star from his teacher and his classmate compliments him for his specs and Rex realizes that specs are actually pretty great for him.

A wonderful story about young kids being embarrassed about something and fitting in as they don't know how others would react. I liked the diversity of the classroom with different animals. I am not a big fan of the art. Art is done with watercolors and ink and it wasn't defining but a good read nevertheless.

4 stars

[Bionic Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Specs For Rex is a cute picture book for very young children all about maybe being a bit different and wearing glasses. It's a good story. "Rex" has new glasses. They're big and obvious, and he dislikes them intensely. He tries to get rid of them, and hides them all over the place. In the course of doing so though, he finds something that was lost, is rewarded with a gold star, and is surprised to find that he can see a lot better as well.

Lots of positive messages here - familiar situations, with school, friends, and Mum too. The language is simple, and balances well with the pictures, to read to a very young child. The low rating is because of the illustrations.

The illustrations are bold, almost caricatures, and reflect the gentle humour of the story. The author and illustrator is Yasmeen Ismail, who used to be an animator before her first venture into picture books with "Time For Bed, Fred". She uses inks, paints and watercolours, defining with just an odd black line here and there, sometimes by using a drier brush.

Yes, the pictures are bright and colourful. They are lively with lots of movement. And they are ... splotchy. So splotchy in fact that I spent quite a bit of the story wondering what sort of animal "Rex" was. (I'm fairly sure he's a little lion, and his Mum is a leopard. And one of his friends is an elephant - that I am sure about.)

Perhaps it's an individual reaction - I personally do not find these daubs attractive. Others might. Perhaps your child will. They will certainly recognise them as similar pictures to their own. Is that enough, though? Don't they deserve better?

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rex learns to appreciate his new glasses in this colorfully illustrated book. Perfect for young readers who may be adjusting to wearing glasses.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story: 4 stars
Illustrations: 4 stars

A little lion feels uncomfortable wearing his new glasses, so he tries various ways to hide them. The story is predictable, but I think many children will relate to Rex's dilemma. As someone who started wearing glasses when I was six years old, I had the same feelings as Rex and reacted in the same ways, at least at first. The art style is bold and child-like. A few of the spreads are so busy and colorful that it is hard to find the focal point in those illustrations. For a young child adjusting to glasses, or any similar situation, the will be an important picture book.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yasmeen Ismail has such great style!!!!!!!!!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little lion is embarrassed about wearing his new glasses to school. Appealing and relatable.

[Morgan Renouf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows that being different doesn't mean you're not as great as everyone else. Rex is afraid to wear his glasses at first. Although he does everything he can to hide his new red specs, he eventually realizes that they are essential to his success. The first day he wears them, he makes tons of friends and gets a gold star at school. The message in this story is that it is okay to be different, that is what makes us who we are. The illustrations show that every classmate is a little different. In this story, they are all different kinds of animals. This represents how diverse classrooms can be. The small differences, whether it's glasses or a disability, doesn't matter in the scheme of things. We all learn, play, and look absolutely different but school is where everyone can celebrate and accept their differences. The meaning in this book really is amazing and I think most children can relate and get a sense of acceptance after reading it.

[Kaitlyn Day]

Summary: Rex gets new specs, but Rex doesn't necessarily like his new glasses, they were way too big and way too round. Rex tries all day to hide his glasses, but his dad, his friends, and the teacher find them. Will Rex start to enjoy his glasses or continue to dislike them?

Evaluation: This book is very realistic. A lot of children feel embarrassed when they get new glasses or braces or anything that changes their "normal"look. Therefore, I really like this book because it is very relatable.

Teaching: I would use this book to teach children that their appearances change, and it is nothing to be embarrassed about. I feel that a lot of children really struggle with changes, and I would use this as a teaching moment to ensure that no student feels embarrassed or made fun of.

[Harmony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Specs for Rex by Yasmeen Ismail is a heartwarming picture book, perfect for young children who are starting to wear glasses. The story follows Rex, a playful lion who feels self-conscious about his new specs and tries to hide them, worried about standing out. Through humorous mishaps, Rex learns that his glasses not only help him see better but also make him special.

With its vibrant illustrations and positive message, the book helps children embrace their glasses and see them as something that makes them unique. It’s an encouraging and reassuring read for kids adjusting to wearing glasses.

[Cade Schier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just adorable in so many ways. It covers the story of lion boy named Rex, in this lovely watercolor style, who receives these new red specs and is feeling quite wary about wearing them due to their size, shape, and color. He does not like them and throughout the story, tries to find multiple ways to hide them. That is, until he ends up doing something good for his teacher and learns to be proud of wearing his specs. It leaves a great message for young readers to embrace differences of all kinds and is a great read for any student who may be going through a similar situation.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

copyright: 2001
genre: realistic fiction
themes: embarrassment, school
My favorite part of this book was how they took a problem a child may relate to and show them how to solve it or rather embrace what makes them different.
I would use this book to show kids that we all have things that make us different and that there is no reason to embarrassed about it.

[Sahel · Rating 3 out of 5]

خوانش: چهارم مرداد... صبح اولین روز اولین هفتهٔ ماه پنجم سال ۹۹

خب واسه منی که از بچگی عینکی بودم و همیشه از زدنش فراری،‌ خوندن این کتاب یادآور اون روزا بود. گمونم این پروسه کنار اومدن با عینک در حالیکه بچه ای و دوست داری ورجه وورجه کنی و مواظب شکستن عینک نباشی،‌ پروسه عجیبیه.
من این کتابو دوست داشتم. این پروسه رو خوب و جالب توضیح داده بود.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were learning about eyesight this week, so this book was a great way to explain that some people (like his mama) need glasses to help them see clearly. Rex is embarrassed of his specs, until he realizes their useful and makes a friend who compliments them.

Read-aloud recommendation: older toddler to kinder

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was not entirely sure what the message was supposed to be here: If you hate something about yourself and try to cover it up, you might get rewarded?

Maybe I'm just reading too much into because of my own past with wanting glasses, getting glasses, and then not wanting glasses.

[Caleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really cute book about Rex who has to get big, red glasses and all he wants to do is get rid of them. However, in the end he uses them to find a lost gold star for his teacher, and he learns to like his glasses.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rex doesn't like his new specs and tries to hide them until he finds out how helpful they really are.

[XZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it in Chinese :D
Yay :D

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book for kids who are worried about wearing glasses & fans of animal characters.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafa has glasses and is embarrassed by them and hides them. Eventually he embraces them and realizes his peers still love him the same.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a cute little story about a little one who doesn't want to wear his new glasses, but comes to realize the importance of doing so.

[Dannon Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would choose to keep this in my classroom as it beautifully portrays overcoming insecurity and transforming it into a positive and empowering experience.

[Alexis Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so real for children. It helps children feel less alone when dealing with the struggles of having new things brought into school like glasses.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of us (like me) need glasses to see. Rex learns to be proud, not ashamed, of his glasses.

[Ivory · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about accepting yourself, being insecure, and wearing glasses. I loved the story of fear of what others will think. Along with being insecure. A good read aloud.
Copyright: 2014

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about Rex -- his wild mane, the way he tries to stuff his new specs into the cereal box, and all of his other antics as he copes with this unwanted accessory.
This book marvelously captures the emotions and behaviors of a child in a preschool classroom. As a writer I typically pay more attention to the words in a picture book, but this one had me paging back through multiples times just to delight in the images. Between this and "One Word from Sophia," Yasmeen Ismail is quickly finding a spot among my favorite illustrators.

[Biblioteca Lardero]

Rafa tiene una gafas nuevas y no le gustan nada. Definitivamente no quiere llevarlas a la escuela. ¡Todo el mundo se reirá de él! Hace todo lo posible para esconderlas donde puede. Bajo su larga melena amarilla, en su sándwich del almuerzo, en cualquier lugar que encuentre. Pero es complicado cuando son tan grandes, redondas y ¡Rojas! Curiosamente, al final, esas gafas le harán ganar a Rafa una estrella de oro…Y una nueva amiga. Además ¡ahora ve bien! Un divertido y reconfortante cuento sobre los efectos positivos de ser un poco diferente. Traducción de Ana Galán Yasmeen Ismail es una ilustradora premiada y animadora que tiene amor a las tintas, pinturas y acuarelas. Time for a bet, Fred! fue su debut en los álbumes ilustrados. Se consagra en este campo, con 'Unas gafas para Rafa' (Corimbo 2015) De origen irlandés, Yasmeen ahora vive en Londres.
Rafa tiene una gafas nuevas y no le gustan nada. Definitivamente no quiere llevarlas a la escuela. ¡Todo el mundo se reirá de él! Hace todo lo posible para esconderlas donde puede. Bajo su larga melena amarilla, en su sándwich del almuerzo, en cualquier lugar que encuentre. Pero es complicado cuando son tan grandes, redondas y ¡Rojas! Curiosamente, al final, esas gafas le harán ganar a Rafa una estrella de oro…Y una nueva amiga. Además ¡ahora ve bien!

[Regina L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rex got a pair of big, round, red new specs and he does not like them! He spends most of the day trying to figure out how to hide them, whether in a cereal box, under his hair, or in a jelly sandwich. But when he tries to hide his whole self in a wastepaper basket he finds his teacher’s missing whistle and the tables begin to turn! “Those new glasses of yours must be working!” the teacher says to Rex. From then on, the more Rex tries to hide his specs, the more charming his classmates find him to be and the more everyone wants a pair of glasses just like Rex’s!

The look of the watercolor illustrations is refreshing and simply beautiful. The yellow and red color palette for our hero Rex is not something you in see in many children’s books, and the bright oranges and blues pop from the page. I love the message of this book; it’s a perfect story to read to any child who is feeling different and insecure from a new paid of specs, or braces, or cast on their arm, or any handicap that has them feeling embarrassed or shy or nervous of what their classmates will think. It gives a great positive feeling about how being different is what makes everyone special, and as long as you’re you, that’s always something you can feel good about! Read more at www.diapers-and-daydreams.com

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much dash and energy in this book! Little lion Rex goes to school and schemes various ways to hide his new glasses - there you go. But what's mega-marvelous here is Ms. Ismail's relaxed, Raschka-esque art.

Paint goes on in loose gestural lines with lots of gloppy texture. Exuberant colors boomerang around the page, the green of an overturned fern echoed in a toppled chair. Transparent watercolors allow for depth and imply movement - we can see into drawers and through objects, as though the flowers in Mom's basket are only in one place long enough for the paint to dry. And sometimes not even then - at breakfast, a blueberry bleeds its juice into the muffin beneath and rainbow-colored Puffy Pops get mushy around the edges in a bowl of milk.

The star character in this show, though, is Ms. Spots's super-messy classroom, rambunctious and full of creativity, the musical instruments and art supplies strewn willy-nilly, the children moving and playing and dancing. This is a playschool for the ages.

Gesture and movement come through simply and swoopily - Ms. Spots buries her head in her hands, Rex's friend Zoe throws her arms in the air in celebration, Mom arches back to counter Rex's weight when she picks him up.

[Jennifer Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rex just got new glasses. They are big and round and red. Rex doesn't like them much. All day he tries to hide them from the other kids at school. While he's hiding in a waste basket he finds his teacher's whistle! She'd been looking for it all day. She gives him a gold star and tells him his new glasses must be working. Another student compliments Rex on his new specs. By the time his mom picks him up, Rex is proud to wear his new red glasses.
•
Change can make kids self-conscious; a new haircut, glasses, lost teeth. Rex was slow to accept his change. The positive encounters help Rex accept his glasses and be proud to wear them. It only takes a kind word to make someone feel good about themselves. I love the illustrations! They are messy and colorful and are just so fun! Rex and the other lion child are my favorite characters- their manes are wispy brush strokes.