Toy Academy #1: Some Assembly Required written by Brian Lynchand illustrated by Edwardian Taylor, reviewed by Suzanne Schug

 

Summary:  The Toy Academy, where toys learn how to play!  The story starts with an introduction to our main character, Grumbolt, becoming alive after being discarded into a garbage can.  This homemade toy’s mission is to find a child of his own to play with. Through the help of Omnibus Squared, Grumbolt learns of Commander Hedgehog’s Institute for Novelty Academia (CHINA), or what the toy students refer to as the Toy Academy, where he can learn how to play.  He befriends Micro, a collectible bagged toy who inspires to pose on someone’s self being admired.  Grumbolt quickly discovers that due to the way he was made, it is very difficult for him to be successful in any of his classes and fails out of the program. When wrongdoings by the Evil Toy Academy threaten to harm Grumbolt’s school, he takes on the mission of stopping the crimes upon himself.  While untangling the mystery at the Evil Toy Academy with the help of his friends, Grumbolt proves how much he has learned from his classes and is permitted back into school.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Toy Academy was easy to read with a simple message to students of the importance of being yourself.  As Grumbolt tries to pass his classes and learns what he is, his friends support and encourage him.  The book ends with the sentences "I'm not sure what I am. I'm not sure what I'll be.  And that's ok" The reading level would make it inviting for 2nd and 3rd graders to pick up.  This would also be a good teacher read-aloud.  This book could be used in school to promote the social-emotional issue of loving who you are.