Too Many Toys

Even the most unreasonable child will concede that Spencer, Shannon's young hero, has too much of a good thing. But what's a kid to do? The toys just keep coming: from well-wishers, from birthday party hosts, from fast food joints, even from school, where they're rewards for having lots of Peace Person Points. When his exasperated mother decides to cull the herd, Spencer's not-so-delicate negotiations give Shannon ("No, David!") plenty of opportunity to display his flair for kid-friendly expressionism and domestic satire (one of the most annoying toys turns out to belong to dad). But what will ultimately keep kids glued to the page is the sheer breadth and depth of the overflowing inventory. Toys 'R' Spencer is a sight to behold, encompassing the tried-and-true (teddy bears, dump trucks), the spoof (a miniature "Titanic") and the flat-out weird (a poultry monstrosity with Alfred E. Newman ears and a propeller head). Warning: do not administer to kids close to Christmas. Ages 48. "(Oct.)"

Copyright 2008 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

After the first few riotous minutes of this story (Blue Sky Press, 2008), written and illustrated by David Shannon, it's obvious that Spencer has too many toys. He has toys of every imaginable type that are all over the house and yard. The hoard keeps getting bigger, as he gets toys from family, friends, teachers, and others for birthdays, for holidays, for good behavior, and for eating kids' meals. So many toys are a hazard, and Mom decides some of them have to go. She soon learns that the child is emotionally attached to every toy he owns, regardless of its condition. After extensive negotiations, one small box of toys is packed up to be given away. However, Spencer finds that the best toy that he absolutely can't part with is the box itself! Jerry Trainor's exuberant narration perfectly reflects the absurdity, the emotion, and the chaos of the story. The comical characters are delightfully animated by Soup2Nuts, making space-helmet-wearing Spencer and his playthings romp, soar, and bounce across the screen. In a bonus interview, Shannon talks about his development as an illustrator and reveals that this story was inspired by his daughter, who also has too many toys. Viewers will identify with Spencer and adults will empathize with his parents and their predicament.—"MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools, Binghamton, NY"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.