Toys in Space

Product Information

A boy leaves his toys outside at night and for the very first time they see the starry sky in all its terrifying glory. It's entirely possible that there will be cake, and a big party, and that no one gets probed, and that there will be the very happiest of endings . This book makes the reader really use their imagination while teaching a great lesson on picking up after yourself and treating your toys with respect. This story deals with space, aliens, the unknown, loss, friendships, and has themes of trust, love, and fear.

KS1 Book Topic – Toys in Space - Teachwire

This book is written with lots of speech bubbles and lots of things going on over the double page spread. On one of the pages, the same illustration is repeated at different times of day (showing the toys laying on the grass). A tale or two might keep their spirits up, but Wonderdoll’s story is about a drooling alien known as the Hoctopize who kidnaps toys, which doesn’t help.

My first impressions of the book, "Toys in space," by Mini Grey, include intensity of emotions of animals.

Toys In Space - Twinkl Toys In Space - Twinkl

Its a science fiction read about a group of toys that get left outside and happen to be watching the stars when they see one getting bigger and bigger. Check out this link to Mini Grey's blog at Sketching Weakly for downloadable Space Dogthemed activity sheets to help children design their own alien lifeforms.I also like how they each had their own personality, and the author did a pretty good job with that. A tale or two might keep their spirits up, but Wonderdoll’s story is about a drooling alien who kidnaps toys, which doesn’t really help. From ever-inventive, award-winning author-illustrator Mini Grey comes a hilarious and heartfelt new a motley group of toys left outside in the garden become true friends and brave heroes--in space!

Toys in Space - St Philip Westbrook C of E Primary School Toys in Space - St Philip Westbrook C of E Primary School

and while this feels similar in style though with a healthy dose of "Toy Story"-ness, it is much, MUCH busier than Mini grey's other picturebooks. I had to stop half way through because it couldn't hold my attention between 7 different toys making comments in speech bubbles, and the vast amount of spot illustrations and and text boxes over full-page spreads.One thing that I do like is how the toys didn't really move much - the dinosaur was stuck in an open-mouthed smile. The lead toy, Wonder Doll, tells the toys a story of an alien to distract them from their fear of the dark. Make sure everyone understands the idea of a ‘story within a story’ and draw attention to the way the toys help shape the action. Toys in Space is funny, affecting and deeply memorable, and offers KS1 teachers enormous scope for cross-curricular work and linked activities.