Toy Dance Party (Hardcover)

by Emily Jenkins (Author), Paul Zelinsky (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: rumpa lumpa, glitter makeup, toy mice, Uncle Wiggily

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 1–3—Jenkins continues the adventures of Lumphy, Stingray, and Plastic, which began in Toys Go Out (Random, 2006). This charming fantasy about friendship explores their feelings and fears. The Girl who owns them is growing up and they are worried that she is leaving them behind. Telling the story from the point of view of the toys helps children to view these concerns in a nonthreatening light. In six new escapades, the toys learn to stick together and help solve their predicaments. Each new adventure builds anticipation and apprehension as the toys struggle for a satisfactory conclusion. Humor-laced language creates visual images as well as unusual sounds (e.g., "rumpa, lumpa"). Zelinsky's cleverly detailed black-and-white illustrations are amusing and add to the overall pleasure in the book. Beginning chapter-book readers will enjoy the pace of each episode. Toy Dance Party also makes a great read-aloud.—Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic, the toys whose secret lives were introduced in Toys Go Out (2006), are troubled. Their girl, Honey, has developed more grown-up interests; she is no longer very observant and spends less special time with them. In six interconnected adventures, the toys survive being left alone; make friends with Spark, a garbage-eating shark; rescue Bonkers the mouse from the vacuum cleaner; go on a sleepover; and join Washer and Dryer in the basement for lively parties. Finally, with purposeful naughtiness, they solve the problem of Honey’s new interest in the silent Barbies. These toys have distinct, well-developed characters and behave as children do, sometimes squabbling with each other but also taking pride in their accomplishments and ability to cooperate. StingRay even develops empathy. Dialogue and song help to move the narrative along. Each chapter will include a black-and-white illustration (unavailable in galley). Whether or not they are familiar with the toys’ first round of adventures, chapter-book readers will welcome these gently humorous tales, just right for hearing aloud or reading alone. Grades 1-3. --Kathleen Isaacs

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (September 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375839356
• ISBN-13: 978-0375839351
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,220 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The little girl grows up., October 16, 2008

By	Stuart|Anne (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

We were very excited to hear that the sequel to Toys Go Out was coming out this fall. We immediately preordered it, as we love that book. However we were a bit sad that this one is slightly less wonderful.

In this book continues to follow the misadventures, and emotions of the toys of "the little girl", mainly Plastic, Buffalo, and Stingray. In addition there is also a new friend, a shark that joins in. The story is told from the toys perspective, with occasional omniscience into what others are feeling.

The adventures are similar to the first book, but there are two things that have changed. One is that since the girl is growing older and now into barbies (who are non-people in this book), the toys are feeling sad neglected, and apparently more than a little hostile about things. The second thing is that the girl (now named "Honey") apparently knows that the toys play without her, and they don't hesitate to leave signs of their adventures behind.

I think both of these changes make it a sadder, less fun book for kids. They know they don't have toys like these since they don't see the signs. Further Honey isn't very nice to the toys, which is fine since she is growing up. However children are not very aware of their own cruelty to toys (which is fine), as they move on, so they don't understand. It also makes Honey someone you don't want to identify with. So again limits the degree to which the kids get enmeshed in the book. Either of these would be fine if the first book hadn't been so completely wonderful, and gotten our standards so high.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wistful Follow-up, inventive as its predecessor, November 23, 2008

By	Antoine Boisvert (Salem, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book, the sequel to the brilliant and delightful Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins, is slightly more sombre than the first volume. But the inventiveness, poetry, humor an warmth is as present as ever. Old characters develop and new characters are hilarious. You will never think of a Barbie the same way again.

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting Review: Toy Dance Party, March 17, 2009

By	Enchanting Reviews "Lisa" - See all my reviews

TOY DANCE PARTY
EMILY JENKINS
Illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky
Children's (Ages 7-11)
Schwartz & Wade

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

TOY DANCE PARTY: Being The Further Adventures of A Bossyboots Stingray, A Courageous Buffalo and A Hopeful Round Someone Called Plastic is a wonderful children's read! A follow up to `Toys Go Out', TOY DANCE PARTY is a book of six interconnected stories that follow StingRay, Lumphy, and Plastic as they have some very interesting adventures, including being left home alone and ending up stranded outside and StingRay getting injured, and being sewn up by Lumphy.

I think my favorite out of the six short stories in TOY DANCE PARTY is the first story in the book, when the toys are left home alone and end up stranded outside during a snowstorm. Filled with warm humor, cute illustrations and absolute overall charm, the characters of StingRay, Lumphy and Plastic come alive on the pages. This is one book that's absolutely earned a spot on the keeper shelf.

Emily Jenkins is the author of several books for children and adults, including Toys Go Ou, Skunkdog; What Happens On Wednesdays; and That New Animal and Five Creatures. Ms Jenkins lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit Ms. Jenkins online at http://www.emilyjenkins.com

Paul O. Zelinsky's retelling of the classic fairytale Rapunzel, was awarded the 1998 Caldecott Medal. He is the creator of two pull tab books, The Wheels On The Bus and Knick-Knack Paddywack! Visit him at www.paulozelinsky.com

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2008