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|---|---|---|
Searching... Stayton Public Library | JF VOIGT | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Fans of classic toy stories like Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, and Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins will love this illustrated novel by Newbery Medalist Cynthia Voigt.
Winner of a Parents Choice Silver Honor Award
Teddy is a thinking kind of bear. Of all his friends, he does the most wondering. He lives with a ragtag group of lost toys--a very hungry snake, an elephant who likes to bake, two charmingly silly pigs, and a reclusive penguin--and they all bump along happily together. But their peaceful world gets shaken up when new toys arrive--first a rabbit, who is not as soft and floppy as he looks, and then a beautiful doll with royal ambitions. Will the newcomers learn to fit into the community? Or will the community be forever changed by them? As Teddy the philosopher would answer: Yes.
Cynthia Voigt's charming tale of community and compromise comes alive in the adorable pictures from Paola Zakimi. Fully illustrated and lovingly designed, this book would make a terrific gift or family read-aloud.
"An affirming celebration of friendship, kindness, and embracing new experiences and relationships." -- Publishers Weekly
"This work has a classic sensibility, reminiscent of Winnie-the-Pooh. A great option for one-on-one bedtime read-alouds." -- School Library Journal
Author Notes
Cynthia Voigt was born on February 25, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts. She received a bachelor's degree from Smith College, did graduate work at St. Michael's College, and later received a teacher's certification from Christian Brothers College. After college, she worked for an advertising agency. Before becoming a full-time author, she was a secretary and a high school English teacher. Her first book, Homecoming, was published in 1981.
Her children's books address such issues at child abuse and racism, topics that are not often talked about in books designed for children. She is the author of numerous books including the Bad Girls series, the Tillerman Cycle series, and the Kingdom series. She won the Notable Children's Trade Book in the field of social studies for Homecoming, the Newbery Medal, ALA in 1983 for Dicey's Song, and the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1984 for The Callender Papers. In 1995, she received the MAE Award.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Newbery Medalist Voigt's new title follows the legless stuffed toy Teddy and his friends through a series of small adventures. Teddy wants to explore more of the world in which they live, circling around what proves to be an island. Characters include an elephant who likes to bake muffins, a penguin, a pair of pigs, a snake, a grumpy bunny, and a demanding princess. Never deterred by curious or unfortunate circumstances, such as a rainstorm or the arrival of strangers, Teddy has a thirst for discovery and lives a joyous life surrounded by friends. This work has a classic sensibility, reminiscent of Winnie-the-Pooh, minus the human character Christopher Robin. This lends the toy animal characters a bit more autonomy and allows Teddy's spirit and determination to shine through. The secondary characters are amusing, such as Sid the snake, who never stops eating. Readers looking for fast-paced adventure or high drama will not find it here; this is a slow and gentle tale. VERDICT A simple, easily digestible story in parts, this is a great option for one-on-one bedtime read-alouds.-Kaitlin Malixi, formerly at Virginia Beach Public Library © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Voigt (the Mister Max books) delivers a warm, subtle novel about the big-hearted adventures of a group of toys living on an island. Spare but astute character development quickly establishes Voigt's cast, which includes Sid, a perpetually hungry snake; Umpah, an elephant with a penchant for muffin-baking; and Peng, an introverted penguin. Teddy stands firmly at the center, a hopeful wonderer who relies on his friends to push him around in his red wagon, having no legs. Voigt tenderly highlights the friends' cooperation when they take Teddy to explore new terrain outdoors and figure out how to let him enjoy the water while Prinny, an irrepressible pig, learns how to swim. When a seemingly sinister rabbit, Mr. B, arrives, followed by a doll named Clara who proclaims herself queen, the equilibrium of the group is threatened, but Teddy and friends quickly bring the outsiders into the fold. It's an affirming celebration of friendship, kindness, and embracing new experiences and relationships. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7-10. Author's agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House. Illustrator's agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Six toy animals share an island: Umpah, a kind elephant; Sid, a greedy snake; pigs Prinny and Zia, silly and careful respectively; Peng, a grumpy penguin; and Teddy, a bear, a more nuanced character who is a philosopher and a dreamer. They go on small adventures and solve the problems of community life. The island gets a shake-up when newcomers arrive: first Mr. B, a rabbit; and then Clara, an elegant and imperious doll. The tone here is cozy and old-fashioned (with muffins, and picnics, and Zia's constant refrain of "oh dear, oh dearie me"), but there's a level of anxiety under it all. Who are we really? Of Mr. B: "He knew he looked floppy and silly and cuddlyInside, however, Mr. B knew he wasn't like that at all. Inside, he was sleek and selfish and silver sharp, like a knife." The pace parallels imaginative play, with predictable rituals punctuated by moments of intensity and exuberance. The language and conflicts are firmly child-centered, but there's a hint of satire as the islanders invent participatory democracy in response to power-hungry Clara; the tone doesn't entirely work, as in several episodes the benign and the ominous work against each other. Sophisticated black-and-white illustrations play to both the toys' cuteness and their not-always-sunny outlooks. sarah ellis (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A group of toys lives together on an island, ironing out their differences and sharing small adventures.At the center is Teddy, a thoughtful bear who is somewhat the worse for wear (he lacks legs). Hes cared for by Umpah, an elephant who loves to bake. Their neighbors include Zia and Prinny, an apparently unrelated pair of pigs who nevertheless enjoy a warm mother-daughter relationship, Sid, an always-hungry but not-the-least-bit-threatening snake, and Peng, a standoffish wooden penguin. Newcomers who shake things up a bit are Mr. B., a stuffed rabbit who thinks of himself as sleek and selfish and sharp despite his cuddly appearance, and Clara, a grandly dressed, large white doll whose imperious demands create consternation. Together they explore their environment, master some useful skills, figure out how to live democratically, and eat a lot of muffins. Occasionally old-fashioned language (Oh dear, oh dearie me is Zias repeated refrain), a leisurely pace, and limited action suggest that this may be most successful as a read-aloud. The illustrations (most not seen) will likely help connect readers to the characters. Although the tone is decidedly different from her earlier work, Voigts writing remains masterful, and her attention continues to be on what makes a family, how we can live together in harmony, and how individuals overcome their difficulties. (Fantasy. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A little community of stuffed animals lives on an island. Teddy, a contemplative bear, lives with Umpah the elephant, who loves baking muffins. Sid, a friendly snake, loves eating them. Zia, a motherly pig, looks after Prinny, a childlike piglet. Peng, a penguin, lives a rather solitary life in a nearby cave. When a strange rabbit and a beautiful doll arrive unexpectedly, the islanders try to fit the newcomers into their close-knit community. After the doll, Clara, declares herself queen, a revolt is inevitable, though in keeping with the story's tone, it's also gentle and diplomatic. Voight, who has won many fans with the Tillerman Cycle and the Mister Max series, shows that she can write for a younger audience with simplicity, clarity, and subtlety. Driven less by action than by interactions between characters, the book might strike some as bland, but those who take to the quiet story will find it satisfying. The illustrations were not seen in final form. This chapter book may work best as a read-aloud choice for preschool and primary-grade children.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist