Welcome back to toydust.com where we talk books, toys, and writing! The correlation between books and writing is obvious, but what about toys? Why include toys with a blog about books and writing? A good question perhaps, but here's another question: What happens when you play with toys? As a kid, the first stories I … Continue reading Books, Toys, and Writing
Welcome back to toydust.com where we talk books, toys, and writing! And arrrrgggghhhhh, today be Talk Like A Pirate Day. In honor of the day, let's discuss PIRATE PETE AND PIRATE JOE, an early-reader series written by Ann Cannon and illustrated by Elwood H. Smith. These books were released 2002 through 2006 by Penguin, under … Continue reading “Pirate Pete and Pirate Joe” by Ann Cannon
Who remembers the CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE series from the '80s and '90s? This was an action-packed, free-spirited series where the main character was you. You were given choices throughout the book that would lead to different stories and different endings - some successful and some deadly. In one book (#5) you were a kid … Continue reading Choose Your Own Adventure
Welcome back! Toydust here. Today's topic: This guide, published by Krause Publications in 2014, is packed with information and pictures. Some figures are shown with their vintage packaging, as is the case with the original Leia figure, but most, sadly are not. Still, this is a fantastic guide that shows variations, all the accessories, and … Continue reading Star Wars Vintage Toy Guide by Mark Bellomo
Here is one of my favorite picture books, written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein. It was published by Roaring Brook Press in 2003 and won the Caldecott Medal. It is the true story of Philippe Petit, who walked between the World Trade Center towers on a tightrope on August 7, 1974. (There is also a … Continue reading The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
Welcome back to toydust.com where we discuss books, toys, and writing! Today's topic? CLARA AND ASHA by Eric Rohmann, published by Roaring Brook Press in 2005. Clara has an imaginary friend who is a giant fish named Asha. Which seems really random. I mean, why a giant fish? But then we see how they "met." … Continue reading “Clara and Asha” by Eric Rohmann
The Star Wars publishing event of the year has arrived! Timothy Zahn returns with an all new tale about the fan-favorite character he created, Grand Admiral Thrawn. (Hasbro made a fantastic 6-inch figure of Thrawn last year, by the way.) THRAWN ALLIANCES is currently 30% off at Barnes & Noble, and if you have a … Continue reading “THRAWN ALLIANCES” Out Today!
Hello, my toy-dusty friends! Today's topic is the classic story of King Smurf. King Smurf commands our attention because it's the highest selling book of all time. (If you don't count books that sold more than King Smurf.) Papa Smurf leaves the village for a lengthy amount of time to find an ingredient for a … Continue reading King Smurf
