Toy Dance Party
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

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.--Isaacs, Kathleen Copyright 2008 Booklist

Gr 1-3-It's always fun to welcome back old friends, and the Girl's toys are off on new adventures in the second book (Schwartz + Wade, 2008) in the trilogy by Emily Jenkins. A bossy, melodramatic stuffed stingray, a brave and inventive stuffed buffalo named Lumphy, and an optimistic ball named Plastic are the main toys, but there are others that add to the fun when the Girl is not around. A sheep with hearing problems, the mice, and a new friend who arrives in bubble wrap and gives them all a scare are also there to offer their two cents. Even the washer and dryer are involved! Of course you have to include the non-talking Barbies, who are attracting more and more of the Girl's attention, much to her other toys' distress. In these six charming adventures, the toys have their squabbles, resolve issues, face their fears, and go on risky missions. Sara Barnett narrates the stories with the perfect combination of unique voices, comforting cadences, and childlike wonder. This collection is as warm and cozy as a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day.-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Even more tender than its predecessor, these six related stories skillfully capture the bittersweet challenges of childhood independence. Initially featured in Jenkins and Zelinsky's Toys Go Out (2006), this collection stars winsome stuffed buffalo Lumpy, endearing rubber ball Plastic and vulnerable dry-clean-only StingRay. Witty dialogue and humorous scenes enhance these well-developed characters, as the friends realize their cherished girl's growing fondness for Barbies and sleepovers takes precedence over her once-favored toys. Stories center on the new chewing-obsessed toy shark, Spark, who receives quite the unusual welcome, the perilous health of Dryer, unexpected basement parties and the toys' unfortunate experimentation with nail polish. Zelinsky's superlative black-and-white drawings never fail to bring warmth and depth to these chapters. The girl, not completely grown, occasionally still finds comfort with her toys; StingRay wisely notes that she will love them "forever but not as much." Fortunately, StingRay's statement rings false when describing this winning work, whose original fans should enjoy this entry as much as the first. Poignant and compelling, this sequel sparkles. (Fantasy. 5-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.