Guess Again! – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Guess Again!

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2009

82%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

A clever picture book that turns reading into a guessing game—prepare to be tricked, delighted, and wrong. A lot.

Guess Again!

book

2009

82%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

A clever picture book that turns reading into a guessing game—prepare to be tricked, delighted, and wrong. A lot.

4.6

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Barnes & Noble

Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This is a solid, playful picture book that does what it sets out to do: engage kids in a fun guessing game while gently teaching them that stories can subvert expectations. Barnett and Rex are reliably clever, and the interactive format makes this a good pick for kids who struggle to sit still during traditional read-alouds.

That said, it's not going to change anyone's life. It's entertainment first, with some light cognitive skill-building as a bonus. The 2009 publication date means the illustrations might feel a touch dated compared to the hyper-polished picture books coming out today, but it's not unwatchable—just not cutting-edge.

If you've got a preschooler who loves to shout out answers and be part of the story, grab it. If you're looking for something with more narrative meat or emotional depth, look elsewhere.

Age Fit

Best for preschool through early elementary (ages 3-7) who are learning to make predictions and enjoy interactive read-alouds. The guessing game format works great for group story times.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A playful, interactive picture book from Mac Barnett and Adam Rex that engages kids in a guessing game format. The humor is age-appropriate and encourages participation without chaos or meanness. The tone is lighthearted and cooperative between reader and book.

Imaginative

The interactive guessing format invites kids to actively think, predict, and engage with the narrative rather than passively consume. The premise of a book that tricks you and keeps you guessing is meta and clever, encouraging creative thinking about storytelling itself.

Safe

This is a picture book with humorous content and no concerning elements. The web search results appear to reference a completely different 2025 thriller also titled 'Guess Again' by Charlie Donlea (with sexual content warnings), not this 2009 children's book. Zero safety concerns for the Rex/Barnett picture book.

Enriching

Builds prediction skills, pattern recognition, and meta-awareness about story structure. The interactive format keeps kids engaged and thinking. However, it's primarily entertainment-focused rather than deeply educational—it's a fun guessing game more than a meaningful exploration of concepts.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Interactive format makes kids active participants rather than passive listeners
Mac Barnett and Adam Rex are both heavy-hitters in clever, funny picture books
Builds prediction skills and teaches kids that stories can play with expectations
Short and punchy—perfect for wiggly kids with short attention spans
The meta-humor of a book that actively messes with you is genuinely fun

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What to Watch For

Some kids might get frustrated if they don't like being wrong repeatedly
Light on narrative depth—this is more of a game than a story
At 16 years old, the book might feel dated in illustration style compared to newer releases

Conversation Starters

"Did the book trick you? Which guess were you most sure about?"
"Can you think of other stories that surprise you or don't go the way you expect?"
"Want to make up your own guessing game story together?"

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