Customer Reviews

Toy Dance Party (Toys Go Out)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!!

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.

We stumbled upon this book by accident at a book sale. I was not familiar with the author or the story but thought it looked cute. I thought it would be a cute chapter book that I could read to my 9 and 5 year old kids at bedtime. We started the book tonight and my kids were SCREECHING with laughter, as was I. We read some pages twice because we were laughing so hard. We did stopped at page 10...but if this book continues to be this wonderful, I am going to run out and buy all her other books too! It also helped that my 5 yr old collects stuffed stingrays...how cool!

Emily Jenkins' TOY DANCE PARTY tells of a stuffed buffalo, a stuffed stingray and a bouncy rubber ball who are best friends belonging to the Girl - who has begun to grow up, leaving the toys alone. A zany series of toy adventures will delight elementary-grade readers and adults interested in unusual read-alouds for kids. A top pick.

What is it like to be a toy, to have your present happiness and your future determined by "the girl" - a carefree eight year old who owns you? That is the question that runs through "Toy Dance Party" by Emily Jenkins. Continuing on from the first book, "Toys Go Out," we participate in several more mini adventures experienced by the toys (Brave Buffalo, Plastic the Ball, and Sting Ray, to name a few).

We begin to care about these toys. They are often kind, and they learn to be understanding of each other, and succeed in being loyal and supportive. These are life lessons that sparkle here and there throughout this 160 page children's s book. But such lessons are never intrusive. They gently thicken the action as the story moves on. Emily Jenkins tells her story in a style that seems perfect - cute, often funny, and always charming. The pictures, done by Paul Zelinsky, are just as lovely.

At the book store I felt the need to explain myself a little as I ordered this book that I felt I must have to keep on my shelves. "I read children's books, sometimes," I commented to the unsmiling clerk. "and this one is so, so special...".

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

More adventures from the toys introduced in Toys Go Out . The chapters are largely self contained, and entertaining to read. The writing is quite smooth and sophisticated, yet understandable to a young child.

I have read about 100 chapter books to 4 and 5 year old, and Toys is one of my favorite for young kids. It is not plot based like most other books. Instead the characters are fully developed. The book is full of emotion: not common at this read aloud level.

First read aloud Toys Go Out, then this one.