Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey [Hardcover]

Mini Grey (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 22, 2012 | Age Range: 5 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 770L (What's this?)

In this new and exciting Traction Man escapade, the can-do action toy and his faithful pet Scrubbing Brush are headed to the Wide Ocean. Adventure is on the horizon for our daring duo, along with new challenges—and new friends—to meet. There's a picnic to defend (a quiche to protect!), colossal waves, giant seaweed, elusive rockpool animals . . . and the lovely Beachtime Brenda.

Mini Grey, winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Picture Book Award for Traction Man Is Here!, scores another victory for imaginative play. Sure to delight existing Traction Man fans and captivate new ones.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, May 28, 2012:
“Grey expertly skewers toy marketing while creating comedic, large-scale dramas in a child-sized world.”

Starred Review, Booklist, April 15, 2012:
“Here's another standout from a popular franchise…The adventures that toys have apart from their owners is a surefire theme worth revisiting time and even more so when done with this much panache.”

Starred Review, School Library Journal, April 1, 2012:
“Grey fills the spreads with color and action, providing plenty of high jinks and hilarious happenings.”

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2012:
“A wonderfully satirical, action-packed romp that echoes the grand tradition of comic books as it ingeniously communicates the complete absorption of imaginative play.”

About the Author

MINI GREY is the creator of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award-winning picture book Traction Man Is Here! and its sequel, Traction Man Meets Turbodog. The books received five and six starred reviews, respectively. Quirky, off-the-wall humor can also be seen in Three by the Sea, The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon, Ginger Bear, and Jim, Who Ran Away from His Nurse and Was Eaten by a Lion.

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 22, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375869522
• ISBN-13: 978-0375869525
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.4 x 10.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mini Grey was given her name after being born in a Mini in a car park in Newport, Wales. She studied for an MA in Sequential Illustration at Brighton under the tutelage of John Vernon Lord. Mini also worked as a primary school teacher in Oxford, where she now lives.

Her books include Egg Drop, The Pea and the Princess (shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), Biscuit Bear (winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Gold Award), Traction Man is Here (winner of the Boston Horn Book Award and shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Bronze Award and winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), and Traction Man meets Turbodog. Mini Grey is one of the Big Picture's ten Best New Illustrators.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Traction Man Scores Again July 5, 2012

By L. Davenport

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mini Grey is a tremendous author who brings a fresh perspective on childhood imagination and adventure. I was SO excited to see that there was a new Traction Man book - I assume my 8 year-old was as well. ;-P As always, the illustrations are bright and vibrant and the story is exciting and hilarious. I am enjoying watching Traction Man's boy grow up, continuing to have marvelous adventures. I will be heartbroken when my son is too old for these and I have to buy these books on the sly. Hopefully, that is a long way off.

5.0 out of 5 stars Traction Man meets Beach-Time Brenda! April 7, 2013

By nwayne

Format:Hardcover

Traction Man, an action figure with the physique of a hero but the mind and facial expressions of the boy who plays with him, meets two Beach-Time Brendas who are happily playing in their sand castle. They (with the mind of the young girl who is playing with them) inform Traction Man that he can stay in their castle forever! They proceed to nourish him with ice cream treats. But of course, Traction Man wants to escape from this smothering prison. The arrival of a dog collapses the sand castle and Traction Man is off on a new adventure, taking charge and informing the ladies of their need to escape the crumbling structure. The two Brenda dolls quickly get on board, and join in Traction Man's new adventure, coming up with ideas of their own to survive the disaster. Traction Man is at first not too happy as Brenda trumps his spotlight, but soon he learns to coexist with these new adventurers. The two Brendas seem to be having a lot more fun exploring to the center of the earth with Traction Man than they ever did by themselves in the castle serving ice cream treats. Fun for everyone!

5.0 out of 5 stars Traction Man meets Brenda March 11, 2013

By Corsetra, costumer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Beach time Brenda is obviously a stand in for Barbie, but I like her so much better. this book doesn't play to stereo types and is fun to read to my sons and daughter.
This is the third Traction man book, and I hope there will be more in the future!