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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The little girl grows up., October 16, 2008
This review is from: Toy Dance Party (Toys Go Out) (Hardcover)
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.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even More to Love, April 11, 2010
We enjoyed Toys Go Out for it's humor and spot-on characterization. It's the kind of book that is equally appreciated by kids from 5 to 10 and their parents.
I didn't know TOY DANCE PARTY, which features the same cast of characters, existed until recently. Oh, I am SO glad that I found it. This story just gives us more to love. More of those characters who so clearly reflect all of our own shortcomings -- bossiness, fear, loneliness and so much more -- while showing us what it means to love each other. We also get to meet a new character, the shark, who fits in perfectly with the gang and with the spirit of the book.
Perhaps because we already knew and love the characters, or perhaps because the story has matured, I love TOY DANCE PARTY even more than TOYS GO OUT. You should read that one first, but definitely don't miss TOY DANCE PARTY.
Ms. Jenkins says in this book that she wrote it because many wrote and asked for her. When I read that part to my 5-year-old son, he said, "Can we write her now, and ask her to write a 3rd, 4th, and 5th book?" I agree wholeheartedly -- please, more from the toys!!
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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
This review is from: Toy Dance Party (Toys Go Out) (Hardcover)
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.
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