Spy Toys by Mark Powers, illustrated by Tim Wesson.
The world’s leading toy manufacturer makes playthings for the rich and famous, and every toy they create contains a tiny computerised brain and a unique personality. These toys are seriously awesome! But every so often there’s a faulty toy…
Dan is a Snugaliffic Cuddlestar bear – he should be perfect for hugging. But because of a faulty chip, Dan is so strong he could crush a car. Thrown on to the rejects pile, he meets Arabella, a Loadsasmiles Sunshine Doll, who has a very short temper and is absolutely NOT good with children. Soon Dan, Arabella and Flax (a custom-made police robot rabbit gone AWOL) are recruited by the mysterious Auntie Roz, and together they make up The Spy Toys. Their first mission: to protect the prime minister’s son from being kidnapped…
Dan the Snugaliffic Cuddlestar Bear really wants to be able to do what he was made for – give people a hug and play! But he’s so super-strong he just can’t help but squash anyone he hugs. Thankfully, he’s given a second chance by Auntie Roz, along with Arabella – a doll with attitude to say the least – and Flax – the oddly clever bunny. Hoping to prove themselves, they become Spy Toys! After some rigorous training – with the help of the McBiff Triplets – the Toys first mission of protecting the Prime Minister’s son is more of a challenge than it first seems. Soon they are thrown headlong into a thrilling spy mission to defeat a maniacal villain. Dan and his new comrades not only have to learn to get along and fight the baddies, but also overcome their own ‘faults’ to succeed….
A fantastic story full of thrills and spills and perfect for younger readers (age 6+). Who wouldn’t love a story about toys coming to life?! Spy Toys is reminiscent of childhood favourites- think Super Ted and Danger Mouse. Add to the mix elements of Alex Rider (Stormbreaker) and young James Bond, and you get Spy Toys. Children will love the action sequences, humour and general mayhem caused by our heroes, and by characters such as the McBiff Triplets and arch enemy Rusty Flumptrunk.
You can’t help but like Dan, who so wants to get it right; it might take a little longer to warm to Arabella – who couldn’t be further from a ‘Sunshine Doll’! Bold and bright illustrations by Tim Wesson, bring the humour to life and aside from all the fun and excitement, the message that just because there’s something ‘wrong’ with you doesn’t mean you can’t achieve anything is evident throughout. All in all, Spy Toys is a great fun read which I’m sure will have children clamouring for the next one, in this sure- to- be- a- hit series. And there’s a game tie-in adding to the appeal for the more reluctant reader!
Find out more at www.spytoysbooks.com., www.timwesson.co.uk and follow Mark Powers on Twitter @mpowerswriter.
With thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me this book to review.
Mark Powers has been making up ridiculous stories since primary school and is slightly shocked to find that people now pay him to do it. As a child he always daydreamed that his teddy bear went off on top secret missions when he was at school, so a team of toys recruited as spies seemed a great idea for a story. He grew up in north Wales and now lives in Manchester. Spy Toys is publishing in January 2017!
oasting by the fire.
Kat Ellis grew up in North Wales and studied English with Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is an active blogger and amateur photographer. Kat has had short stories published and wrote Blackfin Sky last year after trying her hand at sci-fi. Her first published novel, Blackfin Sky will also be released in the US next autumn.
Reader’s question from the children Warden Park Academy: we sometimes have to correct our creative writing. How do you feel when you have to make corrections to your work? Before I share a story with anyone else, I read it over and over, looking for mistakes and polishing it to make it as good as possible. But – and I don’t think I’m alone here – I inevitably reach a point where I can’t look at my own work objectively, and I might miss a mistake that’s obvious to someone reading it for the first time. That’s why I’m always grateful to work with editors; they offer me expert guidance to make my stories flow better, and make my writing more polished. Writing is a skill you never stop learning and honing, so it’s great when you have someone helping you to improve.
John Burningham’s Harvey Slumfenburger’s Christmas Present.
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