Toys Go Out

Today's post is Toys Go Out written by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky.

The Basics:

Published: September 12, 2006

Length: 117 pages

Reading Level: Age 6-9 (grades 1-4)

Synopsis:

"Lumphy is a stuffed buffalo. StingRay is a stuffed stingray. And Plastic...well, Plastic isn't sure what she is.

The three of them belong to the Little Girl who sleeps on the high bed. A very nice person to belong to.

But beyond the Little Girl's room, things can be confusing. Lumphy and his friends get covered in peanut butter, look things up in the dictionary, explore the basement, and argue about the meaning of life. Together, they face dogs, school, television commercials, the vastness of the sea, and the terrifying bigness of the washing machine. And together, they must find the Little Girl a birthday present."

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts:

"I liked how the toys come to life and talk, and I like when StingRay sings her song. Plastic is my favorite character!"

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed reading this book (possibly more than Guinevere did!). If it had been around when I was a child, it probably would have been an instant favorite. The illustrations are sparse; perhaps one per chapter, but I think the fun and engaging storyline more than makes up for it. I mean, who doesn't love stories about toys coming to life and having exciting adventures ( Toy Story, anyone?). From the existential crisis of Plastic's attempt to discover who and what she really is to the terror and subsequent joy of Lumphy's introduction to the washing machine in the uncharted territory of the basement, this book is absolutely entertaining from start to finish and a joy to read. We will definitely be adding Toys Go Out to our permanent collection.

Read it or Leave it?:

Read it! Hop in your car and go check it out from your local library right now and have an awesome time reading with your child about the adventures of Lumphy, Plastic, and StingRay! Or just go ahead and buy it so you never have to give it back!

What did you think of this book? Let me know in the comments!