Rex the Rhinoceros Beetle

Two beetles, with their armour plating and huge horns, sit in the rainforest. Buster finds a banana, and asks Rex to help him carry it back to the beetle tree. Rex is suitably impressed, but curious to hear how Buster found it. Out comes a tall tale, as the beetles begin a journey, carrying, dragging, pulling the banana. “You’re a hero, Buster,” Rex sighs, as Buster recalls scaring away a snake. “I wish I were as brave as you.” But when a monkey bursts upon the scene, grabbing their prize banana, Buster is the first to turn tail and run. Rex wonders why his super brave friend is hiding. Monkey begins to show an interest in the two beetles, and Buster tells Rex to use his mighty strength to scare him away, to use his sword-like horn to terrify him! But, oh dear, Rex starts whimpering, and suddenly Rex realises that Buster is, in fact, a BIG LIAR! Will they get demolished by the decidedly interested monkey? Eventually, returning to their beetle tree they tell all their family and friends that Buster is a hero; he saved Rex from a … GORILLA! There follow two double spreads of Amazing Rhinoceros Beetle Facts, e.g. Considering their size, rhino beetles are among the strongest creatures on the planet. They can fly! The book concludes with suggestions for contributing to wildlife at home; having an overgrown corner in the garden, putting in a pond. The illustrations throughout closely follow the adventure, ably portraying the changing relationship between the two characters, the boasting stories from Rex and Buster’s obvious admiration. Each brightly coloured page has impact; Rex and Buster are easily recognisable, not only in their different stripey bodies, but also in their facial expressions. A young child could easily follow the story unaided, by just ‘reading’ the pictures, page by page. This is a fun story and will have appeal across a wide range.