Toy Dance Party (Toys Go Out)

Emily Jenkins is the author of numerous highly acclaimed books for children, including Toys Go Out, an ALA Notable Book which received three starred reviews. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Paul O. Zelinsky’s retelling of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel received the 1998 Caldecott Medal. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
From the Hardcover edition.

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. Grades 1-3. --Kathleen Isaacs