Product Description: Lumphy is a stuffed buffalo. StingRay is a stuffed stingray. And Plastic... well, Plastic isn't quite sure what she is. They all belong to the Little Girl who lives on the high bed with the fluffy pillows. A very nice person to belong to.
But outside of the Little Girl's room things can be confusing. Like when Lumphy gets sticky with peanut butter on a picnic, why is he called "dirty"? Or when StingRay jumps into the bathtub, what will happen to her fur? And where in the house can they find the Little Girl a birthday present that she will love the most?
Together is best for these three best friends. Together they look things up in the dictionary, explore the basement, and argue about the meaning of life. And together they face dogs, school, television commercials, the vastness of the sea and the terrifying bigness of the washing machine.
With all the appeal of a classic, here are six linked stories form Emily Jenkins, and illustrated by Caldecott winning Paul O. Zelinsky that showcase the unforgettable adventures--and misadventures-- of three extraordinary friends.
Smart, tough, and rubbery. It's hard to say refuse a book with a fifteen-word subtitle, especially if tailing a three-word, barely-a-sentence title. There is no need to introduce the characters here, as the subtitle meets that need. The tone of "Toys Go Out" is light and the reading is easy, but the subject matter is much meatier than mere amusement. The characters' perceptions of their world are funny, and somewhat tainted by StingRay's "knowledge." For example, when Plastic meets a dog on the beach, she confuses it for a shark (a "possible shark" is what she calls it).
As we get to know each of the characters, they get to know themselves. This is mostly done in humorous ways (e.g., Plastic tries to understand what she is by consulting a dictionary) but the longing and self-doubt of their identity crises is realized. StingRay becomes downright dark at one point. Although she is "dry clean only," she decides to test whether she can float in the bathtub. She cannot float, and as the water climbs higher above her, she suffers a loss of faith in herself. She says, "I'm a sinker, and a stinker, too, and if I rot and drown and dissolve in this tub, it is probably better than I deserve." Whoa.
The content is otherwise benign, but there is a cadence to the text that I never quite got a hold on. It happens when StingRay conveys her worldly knowledge; the sentences
would be separated into multiple lines which seemed like it may have been either poetic or a list of some sort,
but neither "poetry" nor "lists" quite explain what was happening in those lines. The good news is, it isn't bothersome-the line breaks themselves or not knowing the reason behind them; you just keep busy enjoying the ride. And the chapters work as standalone stories, so you can take the book in whatever doses you like.
A brief, fun tale Hi, I'm StoryMaker. My mom is forcing me to participate in the "Book It!" Homeschool program where you must meet a certain reading goal within the course of a month in order to win a coupon for a yummy, one-topping personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. More often then not, I am not too enthusiastic about this, as I'm not such a "big reader". I guess that it's worth it, the reward being pizza and all, but I'm still mad at Pizza Hut for taking anchovies (which I find yummy, though they are salty) off the menu.
Anyway, enough about the pizza. This month's goal is reading two of a number of special books (which I think are mostly William Allen White books) which Mom has picked out. This thought left me groaning; however, one book - Toys Go Out - caught my eye. I was fond of these "living toy" tales. However, we ended up losing it for a relatively small time period, so it wasn't until today that I finished it. Now, you, the reader, should be saying "Yippee!" because I am actually getting to the point where I will actually review the book. It is quite short, not overly descriptive or adventurous, but quite fun. It is the tale of 3 toys belonging to "the Little Girl": Lumphy, a stuffed buffalo, StingRay, a stuffed...well, stingray, and Plastic, who is revealed to be a rubber ball. Over 6 chapters, this book describes tales of their average life. Outside of the 3, there are several other inanimate object characters, such as a yellow towel named TukTuk and a one-eared toy sheep. All of the characters have personalities that are recognizable and are not those cartoony personalities that can always be described in 1 word; they are actually realistic. The story is fun. It may not satisfy some people's craving for "true adventure", but it's not boring at all. Also, the illustrations are fantastic!
One of the first questions I wondered about the book was: "Why are the toys going out?" Well, um...often, they don't actually leave the house, and when they do, it is intended by their owners. There goes that question.
Overall, a good book for a young reader (or an old reader). May be better suit for females and isn't oh-so-adventurous, but is cute, fun, and brief. (BTW: On the back is some praise from Patricia Reilly Giff, who says it is a cozy book and is best read in a cozy spot. I agree! In fact, I was lying in my bed while reading it.) If you aren't sure, get it from the library and enjoy! Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"
Sweet and Surprising The short title, "Toys Go Out," intrigued me enough to pull the book off the shelf at our library. The loopy picture on the cover and the expanded title ending in "Someone Called Plastic" was the clincher. The patheticness of being simply "someone called plastic" and not even knowing what kind of toy you are! The story includes Plastic's eventual self-discovery and the surprising adventures of the toys in question, with wonderful surprises in the details. The chapters include "In The Backpack, Where It Is Very Dark" and "The Terrifying Bigness Of The Washing Machine," which very much gives you a toy's perspective of the world and how it is different from our own.
Both our kids (8 and 10) loved this book, as did both of the grownups. My son's 3rd-grade teacher bought it for the class after reading it on our recommendation. We loved it.
Fun book, good quality and presentation I bought this for my 6 year old cousin and she enjoyed it (except it does not have that much illustration). The story its self is fun and interesting and she has read it 3 times already! I would recommend the book
Stuffed animals have feelings too Regardless of one's age, this book is a pleasant reminder of the simplicities of childhood. Who didn't have a favorite stuffed animal, or even toy, that was "real" to them? It was easy to fall in love with these toys!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
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