Or invite children to tiptoe around the room in silence, two at a time, to observe the peaceful sleepers while they’re still and quiet!

Toys In Space - Teaching Ideas

It's a long, lonely night for seven toys left outside after the boy with whom they live goes to bed. This fun and inspiring book is about a group of toys who were left outside and darkness comes around and all of the toys are scared. A boy leaves his toys outside at night and for the very first time they see the starry sky in all its terrifying glory. This wonderful book contains varied story-telling devices and children will enjoy exploring the ‘story-within-a-story’ as WonderDoll takes us on a journey to space to meet the Hoctopize. In small groups, ask children to pretend they are presenting a TV news report about a recently-discovered planet, with one child narrating while the others mime.

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 really help. Being a very truthful author I decided I couldn’t let such an improbably event actually happen, so in Toys in Space the toys tell a story to get them through the night, and in the story they are beamed up by an alien. This story deals with space, aliens, the unknown, loss, friendships, and has themes of trust, love, and fear. This may effect the classroom use and choice that a parent/ caretaker may make to read this book with a child.

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

The answer lies in a denouement in which it is necessary to read the pictures as well as the text and the boundaries between stories blur. Mini Grey’s metafictional tale draws young children’s attention to the playful side of storytelling and feeds their imagination with the question: where do all the lost toys go? Can they turn their favourite design into a silhouette by tracing over the outline and colouring it black? This book won a best-of-the-year list of PreK-12 books made by the Cooperative Children's Book Center. Children will love this hugely imaginative and appealing story from award-winning picture book creator Mini Grey.This book is a great science fiction picture book to read to younger students who are still learning to pick up after themself. The illustrations also enhance the different characters and their dialoges and create a well rounded story about toys in space. If you have a safe location for experimentation, drop the toys from a height and time how long it takes for them to fall to the ground. You will find many creative activities based on each book to make reading even more enjoyable and interactive.

Toys in Space - Penguin Books UK

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. This is a hilarious and heartwarming story of a group of toys that were left outside one summer night and soon become true friends and brave heroes. Look at the illustrations showing the Hoctopize’s birthday, and share memories of your own celebrations.If you have access to a safe, high location, drop the toys and time how long it takes for them to reach the ground.