Jennifer Murdley's Toad: A Magic Shop Book [Hardcover]

Bruce Coville (Author), Gary A. Lippincott (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Magic Shop Book

Now available in a twentieth anniversary edition, this modern classic has been given a new afterword by the author and stunning new jacket art by Tony DiTerlizzi.

Jennifer Murdley would give anything to be beautiful. But then she buys a particularly ugly toad--one who can talk and, in fact, won't shut up--who shows her a thing or two about the meaning of true beauty.

• California Young Reader Medal
• Children's Choice Award Nominee (in ten states)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This fanciful story questions the value of beauty yet spins out of control after a promising start. Jennifer, a fifth-grader, agonizes over her appearance--"I'm just a kid in the plain brown wrapper"--and her schoolmates' taunts are doubly painful. After purchasing a toad from a mysterious shopkeeper Jennifer is amazed to discover that not only can Bufo talk, he can mimic voices unerringly. At school the canny amphibian inflicts vengeance on Sharra, a nasty classmate. When a gorgeous witch kidnaps Jennifer's youngest sibling, her evil intentions are thwarted by teamwork--and by Jennifer's sacrifices that reveal qualities surpassing mere beauty. Coville's ( Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher ) comical classroom scenes lapse into a convoluted web involving Bufo's long-lost sweetheart and the belabored idea that pulchritude denotes cruelty; unattractiveness, humanity. The book's laudable message, however, is clearly delineated, and as kind, loyal Jennifer endures a poor self-image, one hopes readers will see the light. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6--As is this series' pattern, a child who is having a problem runs away and finds herself in the magic shop with Mr. Elives. Jennifer believes she is ugly and has trouble making friends. Wanting a pet, she buys Bufo, a toad hatched years before from the mouth of a witch who spewed out frogs, snakes, and other nas ty items. He has spent his recent life looking for his lost love, another toad. Naturally, he helps Jennifer see her in ner self. In the process, she, her brother, and a school enemy are all turned into toads. Meanwhile, the witch is out to find Bufo. It all gets somewhat confus ing, but as in earlier books, an adult steps in, and all turns out for the best. Very similar in plot to Coville's Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (HBJ, 1991), the story moves well, with realistic char acterizations. Fans of Coville's earlier books will probably like this as well, es pecially when the children-cum-toads discover their appetite for bugs. The black-and-white illustrations go well with the text, featuring an expressive toad and an unattractive Jennifer and witch. The theme of inner beauty is par ticularly well handled for this age group.
-Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152046135
• ISBN-13: 978-0152046132
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,086,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Coville was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1950. His family lived in farm territory, about twenty miles north of Syracuse. Bruce grew up around the corner from his grandparents' dairy farm, where he spent a great deal of time as a child, dodging cows and chores to the best of his ability. As a young reader he loved Mary Poppins and Dr. Dolittle, and still has fond memories of rising ahead of the rest of his family so he could huddle in a chair and read THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE. He also read lots of things that people consider junk (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and zillions of comic books). His only real regret is the time he spent watching television, when he could have been reading instead. (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!)

His first book, THE FOOLISH GIANT, was published in 1978. It was illustrated by his wife, Katherine, whom he had married in 1969. This was followed in 1979 by SARAH'S UNICORN, also illustrated by Katherine. After a long period of working separately, the Covilles began collaborating again with SPACE BRAT and GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE, both published in 1992.

Before getting published Bruce earned his living as a toymaker, a gravedigger, a cookware salesman, an assembly line worker, and finally as an elementary school teacher (second and fourth grades). He left teaching in 1981 to devote himself to becoming a full time writer - though it took another five years to achieve that goal!)

Bruce has published nearly 100 books, which have appeared in over a dozen countries around the world and sold more than sixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, INTO THE LAND OF THE UNICORNS, and THE MONSTER'S RING. In 2001 he founded Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company dedicated to creating unabridged, full cast recordings of the best in children's and young adult literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites, May 2, 2008

By 

Traguna Macoities Tracorum Satis De - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jennifer Murdley's Toad: A Magic Shop Book (Paperback)

Growing up I didn't read much at all. My parents started to bribe me for each page I read, but it wasn't until I read authors like Bruce Coville that I really got into stories.

Jennifer Murdley's Toad is one of my all time favorite. Along with Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, it's my favorite of the magic shop books.

The characters are likeable and full of depth, and using Charles Perrault's "The Fairies" as a basis was brilliant. I love tales centered on legend and folklore and old fairy tales, it adds to them a believability and richness.

If you've ever felt as though you were a girl (or boy) in a plain brown wrapper...if you've ever longed to stumble into a magic shop and come away with an adventure, this is a story you'd enjoy.

Though intended for children, it's still one I can pick up with fondness and immerse myself in again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good book, October 17, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jennifer Murdley's Toad (Magic Shop Books) (Paperback)

This book is good for third and fourth graders. It is about a toad that can talk and has a personality. It is a fun book because it is magical, mysterious, and fun at the same time. I have liked the other books in the series too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I've read this book about 15 times!, April 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Jennifer Murdley's Toad (Magic Shop Books) (Paperback)

This book is so cool! It captures the everyday life of a child who is laughed at,and laces it with the mystery of Mr.Elives magic shop.