Kids Toys

The Lost Children Carolyn Cohagan. S&S/Aladdin

2010-01-31T07:00:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

With a quirky and charming style that should draw in readers from the outset, Cohagan's debut is a gently creepy, captivating fantasy about loss, determination, and hope. Josephine is 12 years old and desperately lonely. One day, a mysterious boy, Fargus, appears at her house, mute and hungry. Fargus has been fascinated with Josephine ever since he found the “crack” between their worlds, but he never expected her to accidentally follow him back to the land of Gulm, ruled by the evil “Master,” where children are taken from their families and fear has hold of the townspeople. Fargus and his friend Ida escape with Josephine to avoid becoming the Master's next victims. When Josephine is separated from her friends and they are taken captive, she must determine her connection to the Master and confront him to rescue them. There are some brutal moments (Ida's parents are murdered in cold blood), but the atmosphere of peril is generally light and the puzzle of what happened to the missing children is managed well, without being too disturbing to the intended audience. Ages 8–12

The Mysterious Howling Maryrose Wood

2010-01-30T06:53:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toykids.co.uk/

In this humorous kickoff to the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, Wood (My Life: The Musical) injects new life into the governess theme by charging genteel 15-year-old Penelope Lumley (educated at the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females) with three wild children—Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia—who were raised in the woods and taken into the “care” of Lord Frederic Ashton and his selfish, superficial bride (the children are living in a barn when Penelope arrives). With a Snicketesque affect, Wood's narrative propels the drama; Penelope is a standout, often invoking the truisms of her school's founder (“The best way to find out how fast a horse can run is to smack it on the rump”) while caring for the Incorrigibles—named such so they won't be presumed Ashton's heirs. Despite the slapstick situations involving the children's disheveled appearance, pack behavior, and lack of language, the real barbarism comes from the Ashtons and a society that eagerly anticipates their failure. Though the novel ends a bit abruptly, the pervasive humor and unanswered questions should have readers begging for more. Ages 8–12

The Hidden Boy Jon Berkeley. HarperCollins/Tegen

2010-01-29T06:59:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

Berkeley's (the Wednesday Tales trilogy) first offering in the Bell Hoot Fables series is a whimsical fantasy adventure in the tradition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Pippi Longstocking. No one in Bea Flint's family claims to remember entering the raffle that has won them a “Blue Moon Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure Holiday,” but they jump at the chance for a free trip. Despite skepticism about traveling on an amphibious “busmarine” that departs from a local car wash, they soon find themselves in the land of Bell Hoot. But Bea's seven-year-old brother, Theo, has disappeared during the journey, and as Bea, a girl who “was more often to be found reading encyclopedias than anything else,” searches for him, she finds herself growing into abilities she never dreamed of. Meanwhile, one of nine local clans, the Ledbetters, is just as determined to find Theo, to whom they have laid claim according to custom. Berkeley's prose and plotting gleam with humor and originality; this fast-paced tale should readily win over readers, who will be eager for a return visit to Bell Hoot. Ages 8–12

Sweet and Sunny Coleen Murtagh Paratore. Scholastic Press

2010-01-28T06:51:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

In this follow-up to Sunshine Holiday, the eponymous heroine of that novel retains her steadfast optimism despite rough patches in her life. Narrator Sunny misses her father, who is still in prison (“Daddy made a big mistake, and he's very sorry for it”). Her mother has lost her job as a hotel chambermaid and is having trouble finding work. And Mrs. Lullaby, her beloved fourth-grade teacher, is dismissed by the “never-smile principal,” Mr. Otis (“All he cares about are tests.... All she cares about is teaching”). Taking matters into her own hands, the sassy, stubborn girl manages to find a potential job for her mother and to get her teacher rehired. Sunny's other missions include making Valentine's Day “even sweeter” and using her recent appointment as junior deputy mayor of her town to plan “the first annual Kid's Day,” a subplot that gets short shrift. Sunny's observations favor the use of hyphens—Mrs. Lullaby's face shines “like a teacher-apple” and her class takes a “butterflies-in-our-tummies test”—and can be syrupy. A satisfying if predictable finale lives up to the book's title. Ages 7–10

Pink Me Up Charise Mericle Harper. Knopf

2010-01-27T06:50:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

Harper (the Fashion Kitty series) delivers a frothy tale that will most appeal to girls with an untiring love of all things pink. Clad ears to toe in that color, a rabbit is excited that the day of the “Pink Girls Pink-nic” has arrived, until Mama wakes up sick (“Why is Mama wearing pink spots? Did you put them on specially for the party?”). When Daddy offers to accompany the girl instead, she'll have none of it, exclaiming “Boys are NOT pink!” A pink necktie isn't quite enough, but after he announces, “We just have to pink me up,” she decorates his clothes with pink marker, tape, and stickers and deems him “perfectly pink.” He's a hit at the party—and she's the envy of all her friends. Rendered in acrylic, Harper's characteristically unadorned, childlike cartoons add to the book's whimsy and rosy exaggeration (exclamation points and the color pink go hand in hand, and both are used with abandon). Even readers who aren't as single-minded when it comes to colors will empathize with the heroine's emotional highs and lows. Ages 5–8

Small Florence, Piggy Pop Star Claire Alexander. Albert Whitman

2010-01-26T06:48:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

This clever Cinderella retelling writes the prince out of the action and substitutes the heartfelt wish of many a young TV watcher: pop star celebrity. Florence's older sisters are sure they're the ones with talent, and they prepare for their appearance on television with all the affectation and scorn of the original stepsisters (“Those boots are so last year!” they shout as they pick out their stage costumes). But Florence practices in secret, and when the big day comes, the sisters freeze and Florence's performance wows the judges and clinches her pop career. (Subsequently, she makes a name for herself with “songs about love, life, and vegetarianism.”) Working mostly in midnight blues and spotlight yellows—and piggy pink, of course—Alexander's (Lucy and the Bully) spots, multiple panels, and three-quarter page spreads add flash to the pages. Florence's big voice is represented by enormous swirls of blue, and Alexander has a good time imagining the things animals on a pop star show might sing about (“Bright ears burning like fire...” croons a bunny into a microphone). Many laughs will find Florence lots of fans. Ages 4–8.

Porky and Bess Ellen Weiss and Mel Friedman

2010-01-25T06:43:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/
The authors assuredly tread on tried-and-true turf with this cheery, wryly titled early reader starring two best friends who, readers learn, “could not have been more different.” However, it's only early on that any time is spent on their differences. Porky is a rumpled pig whose house is a sty-worthy mess: dirty hoof-shaped socks litter the floor and the three-day-old bread he favors is stored in an unorthodox spot (“He liked to keep it on the kitchen chair”). Bess is a stylish, proper cat who likes everything perfect (“The perfecter, the better”) and whose three feisty kittens are named Two, Three, and Bunky. But these personal preferences have little bearing on the evident friendship between the animals. One evening, they create a “moon cake,” mixing into the batter the key ingredient, “foggy-night-on-the-water.” And by the end, Porky has completed his poem to Bess after finally finding a word that rhymes with “end,” a blank that readers will likely have filled in long before. Winborn's (the Digby and Kate series) lighthearted, detail-filled pictures lend warmth and brightness to the by-the-numbers story line. Ages 4–7

Boom Boom Go Away! Laura Geringer

2010-01-24T06:40:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

Geringer's (A Three Hat Day) bouncy beats and sound effects will have musical readers all a-clamor. The cover pictures a toy gnome and his drum under a tent of a storybook that reads, “A Most Unusual Bedtime Story,” and the story's energetic action exploits readers' after-dinner punchiness. It all starts with the gnome pounding away at his drum: “And when his mama said,/ 'You had better go to bed,'/ He said, 'Hush!/ Don't spoil the rhythm/ Of my drum.” A repeating “boom boom” in bold display type alternates with the gnome's spoken “Go away!” One by one, restless toys join in—tapping a gong (“ding ding”), shaking bells (“bong bong”), blasting a horn, and tooting a bassoon. The chorus grows (“Go away. plong plong clink clink bong bong... Go away!”) as their mingled music and voices spill across the spreads. Ibatoulline (Great Joy) pictures the dolls in closeup in a playroom, gathering blocks and sitting down to form an onomatopoeic orchestra. Geringer's foreword credits the Dalcroze method of musical improvisation for inspiring this physical sequence, and single or multiple performers can generate satisfying harmony or noisy discord. Ages 3–6

The Barefooted, Bad-Tempered Baby Brigade Deborah Diesen

2010-01-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

Fed up with patronizing, rule-wielding grownups, an entire population of babies organizes a protest march—well, waddle—to town hall (“We're slow, but we'll get there”), where they insist that their parents listen to their demands. “Stop tickling our tootsies and kissing our noses!/ Stop calling us sweet and adorable names!/ Stop blowing loud raspberries right on our bellies!/ And stop, oh please STOP, with those peekaboo games!” Will the mothers and fathers finally listen, or just find this too, utterly adorable? Although a far-too-wistful ending holds the story back from being a satiric tour de force, Diesen (The Pout-Pout Fish) gets the we're-not-gonna-take-it tone exactly right (“Take notes. You will need them. We'll try to be clear”), while scoring a few direct hits on contemporary parenting (“We won't play with smart toys to skip us a grade”). Dockray (The Tushy Book) gleefully and vividly reimagines babies' chunky, blunt physicality as the manifestation of civil disobedience—after closing this book, it will be difficult to look at anyone under 36 months and not see a budding Emma Goldman or Eugene V. Debs. Ages 3–6

Slow Down for Manatees Book Review Jim Arnosky. Putnam

2010-01-22T06:37:00.000-08:00

Arnosky (A Manatee Morning) again focuses on this gentle marine mammal in a story inspired by an actual incident. A fast-moving boat hits a manatee swimming in a shallow Florida canal, crushing her ribs and slicing her back and tail with its propeller. Rescuers move the animal to an aquarium, where her wounds heal and she gives birth to a calf. After mother and baby are returned to the wild, a sign is placed in the waterway, warning skippers to slow down and watch for manatees. “And from then on, that's exactly what the boaters did,” writes the author, in a happy if perhaps overly optimistic ending. With the exception of a few striking night scenes, Arnosky's acrylic artwork most resembles vintage “Greetings from Florida!” postcards, as pale washes bring to life the aquamarine waters, fuchsia sunrises, and assorted wildlife of the tropical setting. Text and art work in tandem to present a portrait of a gentle, innocent creature (“She wasn't in a hurry. She had all the time in the world”). A solid addition to naturalist Arnosky's oeuvre. Ages 3–5

The Sixty-Eight Rooms Marianne Malone

2010-01-21T06:56:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

Debut author Malone pens a fantasy tale of museum time travel that suffers from an underdeveloped cast of characters and some disappointing plotting decisions. When daring 11-year-old Jack finds a key in the hallway behind the Thorne Rooms, 68 miniature historical dioramas housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, he hands it to his best friend, Ruthie, a cautious girl who yearns for excitement. To their shock, she shrinks to five inches tall. After figuring out how to shrink Jack down, the duo hide in the hallway past closing time, try on fancy clothes and armor, battle a cockroach, and are thrilled to find that doors lead out from the rooms into the actual past. Cop-outs abound, there are no villains to speak of, and the sixth-graders generally seem too good to be true (“You mean you've never been to the Thorne Rooms?” Jack asks Ruthie early on. “I thought everyone had!”). Readers will find little excitement in either the time travelogue or the clinical descriptions of the genuinely delightful Thorne Rooms, which deserve better. Ages 8–12

The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah

2010-01-21T06:48:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

Such a clever idea! Make the Little Red Hen into a balabusta (that's Yiddish for a singularly sensational homemaker/matriarch/keeper of the spiritual flame), set the story during the Jewish holiday that turns every home into a sacred space, and watch a familiar tale become exponentially funnier and, yes, more meaningful. By the time Kimmelman (Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt!), a terrifically conversational storyteller, and Meisel (Barnyard Slam), a slyly astute cartoonist (Sheep looks truly sheepish), are done, readers of all faiths will know a lot more than some emotionally evocative Yiddish words. They'll also understand why Passover whips Jewish mothers into a frenzy (“The Little Red Hen had cleaned her house, top to bottom. There wasn't a crumb of bread to be found anywhere”), and why, even after all her schlepping and kvetching and unassisted matzo making, LRH still cannot turn away her “no-goodnik” friends when they have the chutzpah to show up at her seder. Oh, and one more thing: those who clean up after the seder while their hostess puts her feet up can find redemption for even the most egregious shortcomings. Ages 4–8

What Will You Be, Sara Mee? Kate Aver Avraham

2010-01-21T06:42:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

The collaborators' close connection to their book's theme—Avraham (Joey's Way) has an adopted Korean daughter, and O'Brien grew up in a bicultural family in South Korea—adds authenticity and warmth to this story of a Korean-American girl's first birthday celebration. Sara Mee's extended family and friends gather for a traditional tol, at which items representing various professions are placed before her; the object she first touches designates her future path. The narrator, Sara Mee's cheerful six-year-old brother, Chong, is honored to be a key participant in the ceremony and is thrilled when his sister reaches for a symbolic paintbrush. Chong gives her paper and crayons, and she draws pictures for which he—who at his own tol made a choice that evidently predicted a writing career—supplies the text. Rendered in ink brushline and watercolor, O'Brien's (the Jamaica series) illustrations are welcoming, if not especially memorable; there's no real emotional range beyond genial smiles exhibited among the members of Sara Mee's family. Avraham provides a glossary of Korean words used in the story. Ages 3–6

Back to Bed, Ed! Sebastien Braun. Peachtree

2010-01-21T06:36:00.001-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

A young mouse named Ed loves bedtime rituals, from bath time to story time to getting tucked in—it's the actual staying in his bed that he can't stand. Tired of dealing with their offspring-interloper (and just plain tired from having their sleep interrupted), Mom and Dad put a “Closed” sign on the bedroom door. But it's only after Ed himself comes up with a solution—packing his bed with all his stuffed animal pals—that he's able to stay put without a fuss. Braun's (On Our Way Home) reportorial tone (“The next morning they slept through the alarm. Dad was late for work. Ed was late for preschool”) establishes a calm but sympathetic mood for an anxiety-ridden subject, while his sturdy-looking, boldly colored cartoon vignettes provide plenty of visual reassurance, even when the emotional stakes are high. Most important, Braun ties the resolution to Ed's own ingenuity, and makes it clear that being able to comfort oneself doesn't just make life easier for everyone—it also represents an impressive (and enviable) leap forward. Ages 2–6

Book review Cat the Cat, Who Is That? Mo Willems

2010-01-21T06:35:00.000-08:00

from http://www.toyskids.co.uk/

In Cat the Cat's friendly world, names are an uncomplicated affair, most of the time. This early reader pictures Cat, an irrepressible kitty in a purple dress, skipping and cartwheeling to greet pals like Mouse the Mouse and Fish the Fish. All is well until Cat meets a chartreuse creature with eyestalks, a blue tongue, four arms, and three legs. She skids to a halt and her tail electrifies. The individual, unrecognizable but clearly amiable, stops stacking blocks to say, “Blarggie! Blarggie!” This time Cat's initial response to the repeated question, “Cat the Cat, who is that?” is “I have no idea,” but Cat finally decides this might be “a new friend!” and responds with a bouncy “Blarggie!” of her own. Willems provides just enough humor and surprise to entertain youngest audiences and subtly suggests some future reading: Duck the Duck cradles a Pigeon doll, and in a second book being released simultaneously—Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly!—another character rides a Pigeon playground toy. Cat could become another favorite; her personality sparkles in expansive gestures and gleeful interactions. Up to age 5

Schleich Dressage Horse Riding Set

2009-12-24T02:01:00.000-08:00

We recommend this handpainted Schleich Dressage Riding Set made from high quality durable plastic which is compatible with most Schleich horse figures.
Box contains a rider, saddle, bridle, reins, lead rein and horse blanket.

Schleich Dinosaur Brachiosaurus

2009-12-24T01:54:00.000-08:00

This Schleich Brachiosaurus in our opinion to be the most suitable and realistic i say that as my son was not fobbed of with soft toy or wooden lookalikes so i had to get as real as possible for his age. We have found this toy the right size and weight for our sons small hands and very durable as it has been bathed over and over also has its teeth washed again and again,its been in a sand pit, mud, stones, Even on a few occassions our son has attempted to chew its head or tail on telling him to stop, there has been no damage to our son and the brachiosaurus has not one mark on it, we have drawn the line on him taking it to bed as it is to hard to cuddle and lay on.This Brachiosaurus toy has been a very good way for us to nurture our sons interest in Dinosaurs at this early stage in his developement and given him hours of play and interest as he now wants to know more about them all. We will be buying more from the Schleich Dinosaur collection.

Schleich Lipizzaner Stallion Schleich Horse

2009-12-24T01:51:00.000-08:00

This horse was so great to go with my up and coming mini collection, I got the set family. After they I arrived I have also ordered other things to add to them.

It is a very durable toy with great painting detail, but may not be suitable for younger children. But kids around 7 and up should have lots of fun with this horse, an it also is a great addition to an adult's collection

Schleich tack set

2009-12-24T01:47:00.000-08:00

A very durable little tack set. The horses are NOT included, but the tack fits almost any schleich, bullyland or papo model. The bridle is a little difficult to get on, so adult assistance may be needed.

Highly detailed horse riding set from Schleich - SCHLEICH HORSES AVAILABLE SEPARATELY

This horse riding set is an excellent Schleich accessory and adds terrific play value to the Schleich farm life & equestrian range

Please note that the horse shown is not included, but a selection of Schleich horses are available separately

Schleich show jumping set available separately.

Not for children under age 3 years due to potential choking hazard.

Schleich Dinosaur Triceratops

2009-12-24T01:32:00.000-08:00

I purchased this dinosaur for my 2 son's, it was such a hit I had to order another one! It is a very good example of a triceratops and is fantastic value! Hours of fun
From the collectible Saurians range of dinosaur figures by Schleich

12cm from nose-to-tail.
For age 3 years and onwards.

Schleich Sitting Meerkat

2009-12-24T01:29:00.000-08:00

The beautiful toy figures from Schleich are developed with the assistance of parents, teachers and children and are therefore especially designed for childrens hands. Schleich figures are wonderfully realistic and naturalistic, with intricate design and impressive crafsmanship. This enables children to experience the large variety of nature - from domestic animals on a farm to wild animals in the jungle.

Schleich Meerkat pups

2009-12-24T01:27:00.000-08:00

I bought these pups together with the standing meerkat Schleich 5.7 cm Standing Meerkat Model and the sitting meerkat Schleich Meerkat, Sitting as a complete set and am very happy with them all. Having read the description carefully I was aware that they were only 2 inches tall but as they were to go in a small area they were perfect. The colouring is excellent and as a set they make a lovely tableau - in fact two or three sets together would make a realistic family in the right setting.

They are so well made and so cute I have ordered more sets as Christmas presents for my meerkat loving friends.

Zhu Zhu availability at Toys R Us

2009-12-18T06:57:00.000-08:00

Toys R Us will be selling the hamsters and accessories tomorrow morning at 6am.
Every store will have 100 in stock and the first 100 people will be able to purchase one Zhu Zhu Pet. In addition, Toys R Us will also offer the first 50 customers on Saturday, December 19, the opportunity to purchase a 4-pack of the newest Zhu Zhu Pets. Doors open at 6am.

Walmart Zhu Zhu sale

2009-12-18T06:56:00.000-08:00

Walmart will be having a 3 day Zhu Zhu Pets sale beginning Monday, December 21 at 7am. Stores will carry anywhere from 20 to 60 Zhu Zhu Pets each day but customers may only purchase one per day.

Go Go Hamster / Zhu Zhu Hamster Nintendo DS Game

2009-12-18T06:50:00.001-08:00

Video game publisher Activision have leaped on the latest toy craze, Zhu Zhu Pets (also known as Go Go Hamsters), and signed up with the robotic rodents' manufacturers to push out a Nintendo DS game for early 2010 based on what, for some children, has become the playground essential of the year.