Toy Dance Party: Being the Further Adventures of a Bossyboots Stingray, a Courageous Buffalo, and a Hopeful Round Someone Called Plasti

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

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...".

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.

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.