Toys Go Out

I love the picture book Toys Meet Snow, and this is in just the same vein, but a chapter book. The spirit is strongly reminiscent of Winnie-the-Pooh (including the chapter headings - see below) and Bunnicula, with the toys/animals having a world of their own apart from the story's humans.

In the Backpack, Where It Is Very Dark
The Serious Problem of Plastic-ness
The Terrifying Bigness of the Washing Machine
The Possible Shark
How Lumphy Got on the Big High Bed and Lost Something Rather Good-Looking
It Is Difficult to Find the Right Birthday Present

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Re-read February 2020 (aloud, with 4yo, plus audiobook)

It's hard to say refuse a book with a fifteen-word subtitle, especially if tailing a three-word, barely-a-sentence title. There is no need to introduce the characters here, as the subtitle meets that need. The tone of Toys Go Out is light and the reading is easy, but the subject matter is much meatier than mere amusement. The characters' perceptions of their world are funny, and somewhat tainted by StingRay's "knowledge." For example, when Plastic meets a dog on the beach, she confuses it for a shark (a "possible shark" is what she calls it).

As we get to know each of the characters, they get to know themselves. This is mostly done in humorous ways (e.g., Plastic tries to understand what she is by consulting a dictionary) but the longing show more and self-doubt of their identity crises is realized. StingRay becomes downright dark at one point. Although she is "dry clean only," she decides to test whether she can float in the bathtub. She cannot float, and as the water climbs higher above her, she suffers a loss of faith in herself. She says, "I'm a sinker, and a stinker, too, and if I rot and drown and dissolve in this tub, it is probably better than I deserve." Whoa.

The content is otherwise benign, but there is a cadence to the text that I never quite got a hold on. It happens when StingRay conveys her worldly knowledge; the sentences

would be separated
into multiple lines which seemed like it
may have been either
poetic
or a list of some sort,

but neither "poetry" nor "lists" quite explain what was happening in those lines. The good news is, it isn't bothersome–the line breaks themselves or not knowing the reason behind them; you just keep busy enjoying the ride. And the chapters work as standalone stories, so you can take the book in whatever doses you like. show less

Toys Go Out is a middle grade novel that follows 3 toy friends that come to life when their little girl goes to sleep. Lumphy (stuffed buffalo), Sting Ray (dry clean only), and Plastic (a bouncy ball) are the main characters with distinct (albeit simple) personalities. The primary story revolves around the desire to be the toy that gets to sleep in the little girl’s bed at night (sound familiar?). Some of the adventures include a trip in the washing machine and being grabbed by a garbage shark (maybe the best descriptor of a dog ever) at the beach. I’m not sure why I thought reading another book about toys coming to life was going to be a vastly different reading experience from The Doll People. [Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.] show more However, if you're looking for a fairly straightforward reading experience for your 10-12 year old then this will fit the bill nicely. 5/10 because I love a good sarcastic toy.

Topics discussed: insecurities, search for identity, and finding your place. show less

Rarely am I as disappointed in a 'classic' as I was with this one. I will admit that this was a DNF. I was reading this out loud to my 5 year old, but finding so little enjoyment in it that I almost jumped up with joy when he finally told me that he didn't really care all that much for it. I was getting so weary reading it and really would have wanted nothing more than to never see the book again, yet I reiterated to him whether he would just like to pause and then resume the reading later, but he said "no, let's just return it to the library, mommy, it's not a very good book".

I'm still not sure though why it just wasn't to our liking. The premise should have been fine, after all my kid has a plethora of stuffed animals which he show more revers. He has a furry shark (who doubles as a pillow), a funny orange monkey with long arms and legs, stuffed dogs, dolphins, teddies, a lamb with a bell inside its belly, a little satin crab filled with rice, a silky soft otter in a handbag, a blue elephant with a lullaby music box inside, and his favorite: a skinny pink pig who could be straight out of Elephant and Piggie. But they all seem to have a lot more character, spunk and brains than the toys in this book. Which may be why we got so exasperated with them only four chapters into the story.

It did feel unimaginative, mundane, boring, obnoxious and derivative. It's possible my son might have enjoyed this more had he been younger, say three or four. It's a safe story, not too scary. I do suspect that a lot of three year olds could get fidgety though, as the story drags quite a bit.

A little research reveals that we have already read two books by this author previously. They were [b:Water in the Park|16156164|Water in the Park A Book About Water and the Times of the Day|Emily Jenkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371432504s/16156164.jpg|20477101] and [b:What Happens on Wednesdays|740778|What Happens on Wednesdays|Emily Jenkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317792978s/740778.jpg|726944]. We found both to be equally bland, equally tedious and equally unremarkable. I am going to rate this book two stars, as I did have a hint of sympathy for the Stingray character, and I reckon that some kids will take to this story. Meanwhile, we can recommend the books about Old Bear as a charming, witty alternative series about toys who come to life. These toys are clever, resourceful and caring, and all in all just way more interesting. show less

A broken dryer, a snow adventure, nail polish, and a dance party take center stage in this sequel. Just as good as the first! My favorite part was Stingray maturing a little and learning that the world doesn't revolve around her.

"Lumphy is a stuffed buffalo. Stingray is a stuffed stingray. And Plastic... well, Plastic isn't sure what she is."

And on one occasion, “… a very peanut-buttery buffalo.”!

At the beginning of the book, they wonder what is happening and where they are going! And their ideas are pretty funny and adorable! Pretty much ALL of their conversations are funny and adorable! Not a lot of real facts, but funny!

Had a bit of a “Toy Story” feel to it. Toys that are ‘alive’ and having adventures, while trying to avoid the humans discovering them.

Garbage eating sharks, greasy buffalo, submarine messages, and a wise bath towel named Tuk Tuk! And the Little Girl! It's a cute read, but sometimes the things that the toys are able to do seem show more impossible and that made me scratch my head. I know it's make believe, but it did seem that their physical capabilities were way beyond their size and shapes. But I read this for my eight-year-old bonus son, so no complaints! His smile is always worth it!
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*****SPOILER ALERT!!! -

Plastic was a ball! show less

This is a pretty adorable book recounting the adventures of several very special toys: a stuffed buffalo named Lumphy, a plush Stingray, and Plastic, who doesn't know what she is, only that she is very much unlike the other two. Each distinct, charming personality comes through as they discover the world beyond the Little Girl's bedroom, visiting quite exciting places such as the bathroom, the basement and school, and each learns something important about itself. Recommended for early elementary readers.