Toy Story

Gr 3—8—In the first book, the toys are afraid that Andy will be bringing home some new (and possibly better) toys from the dinosaur museum so they decide to tag along on the trip. The story is a little choppy in places, and the fourth chapter is more of an unrelated short story than a conclusion; the resolution of the first three chapters really never comes. However, the book does carry the lighthearted earnestness that this franchise is known for. The characters are true to the animated adventures, which will make loyal fans happy. The colors are vibrant and help to convey the mood of each illustration. The pages get darker when the toys are in danger and brighten whenever Andy is included, making it easy for readers to follow the action without reading the minimal text. The inclusion of onomatopoeia on almost every page helps bring the action to life. The great illustrations and popular characters will make this a solid addition. The Incredibles is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Mrs. Incredible has lied to her family and gone off on a secret mission involving the bombing of the Eiffel Tower. Meanwhile Mr. Incredible is at home trying to fit in some secret superhero training without his wife finding out and dealing with his teenage daughter. The illustrations are true to the popular movies. The cliff-hanger ending prevents any moral about lying from being learned, but readers do walk away with the feeling that young Dash knows that it is leading the family somewhere bad. This fast-paced story with well-known characters will engage readers.—Catherine Brenner, Bethlehem Public Library, Delmar, NY