Horn Book Review
Commander Toad rides again! This time, while on a journey home, he and his crew intercept an uncharted planet. This new tale of the Star Warts bunch has some fine use of language as well as silly word play. The adventure is just right for the almost-reading set. Black-and-white drawings accompany the story. From HORN BOOK Spring 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2^-4. Commander Toad and his crew return in another space adventure aboard the Star Warts. Having been in space for many days, the commander longs for his cozy hole by the lake. Mr. Hop, the copilot, likewise homesick, sets the course for HOME, while the ship speeds past constellations and planets, and through black holes, worm holes, and holes-in-one. Suddenly, the ship lurches, the alarm blasts, and the crew members literally leap to their stations. They have landed on an unmarked planet. When they discover that their ship won't budge, they jump in their sky skimmer and travel to a small mud island, where Commander Toad discovers links to toad history. With comic insight, Yolen captures the high drama of space fiction in a delightful story that never loses sight of developing readers, who will be old enough to get the jokes but still young enough to relish the goofiness. Illustrations by Bruce Degen add a nice touch. --Shelley Townsend-Hudson
