Here’s my selection for Perfect Picture Book Friday:
Toys in Space
Author and Illustrator Mini Grey
Borzoi Book Published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2012
Fiction
Suitable for: Ages 5 to 8
Theme/Topic: Imagination, Cleaning Up, Storytelling
Opening spread: That summer night, for the first time, the toys were left outside.
The sun went down, the sky grew dark, and, for the very first time …
Brief Synopsis: A boy forgets his toys in a garden and the toys find themselves left outside. Wonder Doll tells them story about an alien, who collects lost toys.
Links to Resources: There are multiple resources on how to teach your toddlers how to clean up. Use your imagination and find some toys to create a story like the Toys in Space. Will your toys go to the grocery store for an adventure or avoid the neighbor dog guarding the playground? Who knows what stories your toys will create?
Why I Like This Book: I enjoyed the wide cast of characters (toys) in the story. Each toy’s personality shines throughout the story. The Wonder Doll makes a great narrator for the toys’ adventure. And, the end … well, adults can relate to this more than children. I noticed the book doesn’t have the best rating on Amazon. I checked some of the reviews and they noted something I forgot to mention. The Cowboy toy has quite a personality. He says things like “dang it” and “You ninny.” If that bothers you, this may not be the book for you. I tend to self-edit words I don’t want to hear repeated. Happy reading.
For more PPBF books, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Blog.
I haven’t read this Mini Grey but most of her books are quite clever.
I’m with you on the self-editing of some things at the early ages. 😉
Cathy this book is clever.
Dang it, Stacy, you found another book I haven’t read. The list lengthens. . .
I can already tell that my list will be growing after this week’s PPBF list.
Looks like a dang good book to me! I will have to find this and/or required my library to purchase. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a Mini Grey book. Looks really like a lot of fun. Thanks for the post. Now…I must go outside and pick up my toys.
Oh, I’ve started something with this “dang” book. Hope you find it and pick up all your toys. Our backyard still has several inches of snow, so you can’t see anything. I wonder if aliens can see through snow?
This sounds fab! For the longest time I was trying to write a space story but it seems like the best ones out there start from another story on earth first or another concept unrelated to space. One day I’ll do it lol.
We would love to read a space story from you Catherine. Write. Write. Write.
Confound it, Stacy! I’m going to have to read it now to see if the name-calling has purpose. I allowed mine only to say stupid to helmet-less ‘organ donors’! I like Grey’s books, but have had issues with the illustrations feeling like edited action movies. We shall see!
I thought it was part of the character. So, I didn’t think too much about it, until I read some reviews. To be safe, thought I should share that nugget.
Yes, I’m going to have to read the book now! But, I do like the idea of using space aliens who snatch toys that aren’t put away. What a great story to encourage kids to pick up their toys and put them away.
Patricia there are a lot of lost toys in this book. It’s a fun one.
Fun concept. I hadn’t heard of this one. Thanks for telling me about it. I will check it out.
I hope you do Rosi.
I remember self-editing and my son smirking if I forgot to do so. It is fun to step outside of bound once in a while. Fun idea about cleaning and right now I miss the summer nights!
I am missing all things summer and knowing it’s not even February … I suspect it will be a while before I feel like summer arrives.
I love Mini Grey’s books and haven’t seen this one before. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a fun one Carrie.
Arr fantastic, needing to check out some space books. I should see if this is in our library later today after enjoying my lunch on the deck in the sun. (couldn’t help putting that in..hehe) True though we are having a fantastic summer 27degC for the past two weeks and expecting it to stay like this till February 😉
Thanks for your lovely choice, as always.
I’m glad you are having a great summer. I’ll let you know when our summer arrives … after ALL THE SNOW. Sigh.
Adding this to my reading list. What’s not to love with a title like that. The bonus is teaching kids to clean up. I NEED this book! Thanks Stacy!
It was a good reminder for me too Romelle. Papers here. Papers there. 🙂
Clearly, this is a book I missed reading to my son for he doesn’t seem to concerned that his toys will be abducted by aliens if he doesn’t put them away. 😀
Sounds like a treat!
It’s a fun one. True. If we only realized that’s what happened to our toys, we would keep track better.
There’s a missing “be” in my previous post. It’s one of those editing puzzles. 😀
Oh, I collect missing words for an ongoing picture book idea. I am taking your “be.” 🙂
What a cool idea: alien toy abductions.
None of the toys wanted to be probbed during their abduction.
You had me at “space.” And mess. This looks like a fun one.
Yes. It’s no Star Stuff by Stephanie Roth Sisson, but still a wow space book.
This one looks clever – with a message even. Thanks for sharing it, Stacy! (And yeah – I need the reminder too. I think some aliens could be VERY happy at my house LOL)
They would be happy at our house after a weekend of Lego play.
So “You ninny” is a cuss word now? Dang it!
It sounds like a fun book, but I can’t read the title without thinking of The Muppet Show intro to Pigs…In…Space…!
Ah, the Muppets. That’s taking me back to the good ole days. My son has no interest in them. 🙁