Phil Parks

When you think of children's authors, you might think Rowling, Lewis, Seuss. But Dean Koontz? Definitely does not spring to mind. Yet, he did write a children's book and, you know what, it's pretty darn good. The Oddkins would best be described as a classic battle between good and evil. A good toy maker has been making toys, the oddkins, magical toys which come alive for children just when they need them. However, the toy maker is dying without having contacted his successor. If she is not show more contacted quickly the toy shop will be taken over by an evil toy maker who will only make toys to hurt children. So begins an epic journey by a small but stalwart band of intrepid oddkins to go to the city and find the woman meant to take over the shop. Pursuing them is a group of evil toys who will do anything to stop this from happening.

Oddkins is a fun read with all the components of a Dean Koontz novel except, thank goodness, the schmaltzy romance. The Manichean battle between good and evil, the dangerous journey through that dark and stormy night and, of course, the happy ending. Along the way, there are lots of adventures, close calls, and, in the case of the oddkins, some really bad but somehow endearing poetry. The good characters are very, very good and the bad one, well, they're pure evil.

However, what makes this book a real standout are the marvelous multi-coloured and vibrant illustrations by Phil Parks. Not only are they very easy on the eyes, they really complement the story, adding a dimension which would be lacking without them.

The Oddkins will likely appeal to small children more than to adults. Although a good moral is the whole point of a fable, at time, all the platitudes and moral preaching get in the way of the story. Still, put that aside and concentrate on the adventure (and especially the illustrations), and you've got a terrific story to read to your children when the monster under the bed comes a-calling and they need to believe that good always trumps evil. show less

Oddkins are toys made with just a little bit of magic who one day will be "put on display in a toy shop and sold as a gift for a very special child who'll desperately need a secret friend." A new magic toymaker must be chosen when the current one falls ill or gets too old to carry on, but in this case, the toymaker dies unexpectedly without having passed the torch, so it's up to his toys to travel on their own across town and find her themselves. Unfortunately, there is a basement full of show more evil toys who will be able to take over if they can prevent the Oddkins from fulfilling this mission.

I love Dean Koontz and had such a good time reading this book! It's like horror-lite for the younger crowd - scary enough to give them chills, without keeping them up all night. The book also had some really cool illustrations to help you picture both groups of toys, which I loved.

In summary, I highly recommend this book to any budding horror lovers out there.

5/5 stars.

I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. show less

An illustrated gem of a book. Oddkins are special stuffed animals come to life bringing goodness & light to children's lives. Their toy maker unfortunately dies & it's their job to make the journey to the new toy makers shop. Along the way they are pursued by an evil gang of toys that want to rip the stuffing out of them so they can take over and spread darkness & torment children. The battle between good & evil ensues. Great illustrations and story

I think if I'd read this when I was younger I would have LOVED it, but as an adult I still really enjoyed it. The toys are fantastic, there's danger that feels immediate and real, and also adventure. It reminded me of [b:Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH|9822|Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH|Robert C. O'Brien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351191064s/9822.jpg|839692] in some ways, which is a big compliment!