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90th out of 129 books
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104 voters
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Traction Man Is Here! (Traction Man)
by
Mini Grey
Traction Man—wearing combat boots, battle pants, and his warfare shirt—comes in a box, but very quickly finds the way into the imagination of his lucky boy owner. This superhero searches for the Lost Wreck of the Sieve as the boy makes a game of doing the dishes, and later in the bathtub, he conquers the Mysterious Toes that are stealing his pet, the brave little Scrubbing...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
April 12th 2005
by Random House Children's Books
(first published January 28th 2005)
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I can def. see the appeal for the right children. Neither I nor my sons ever had that good an imagination, unfortunately. So I have to be honest and say it's not one of my favorite picture books.
I also think Granny gets points for making the romper Jungle "Camouflage' green.
My favorite page is the first interior (but don't forget to look at the title page). I love how all the mess is on the far side of the child's bed, but it's clear for the parents to get from the ...more
I also think Granny gets points for making the romper Jungle "Camouflage' green.
My favorite page is the first interior (but don't forget to look at the title page). I love how all the mess is on the far side of the child's bed, but it's clear for the parents to get from the ...more
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This is a funny story about an action figure, a super hero.
Packed in his box and lying wrapped at the bottom of the bed waiting to be opened, is a Christmas present. Inside Traction Man, dressed in his combat gear, is ready to save the planet, starting with his quest against the ‘Evil Pillows’ to save some farm animals. Then at breakfast, he guards the toast, which is lying helplessly on a plate. But wait, what is next? He has volunteered for a Special Mission, so donning his ‘Sub Aqua...more
Packed in his box and lying wrapped at the bottom of the bed waiting to be opened, is a Christmas present. Inside Traction Man, dressed in his combat gear, is ready to save the planet, starting with his quest against the ‘Evil Pillows’ to save some farm animals. Then at breakfast, he guards the toast, which is lying helplessly on a plate. But wait, what is next? He has volunteered for a Special Mission, so donning his ‘Sub Aqua...more
I really wasn't sure what to expect from this story. I'd never heard of it before, but it was featured as one of the selections for the Toys themed reads for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
I was really pleasantly surprised. The story was hilarious and so were the illustrations. The little boy's imagination is so fun to see as his toys come alive for him and have exciting adventures. The humiliation of a hand-knit green romper suit (with ma...more
I was really pleasantly surprised. The story was hilarious and so were the illustrations. The little boy's imagination is so fun to see as his toys come alive for him and have exciting adventures. The humiliation of a hand-knit green romper suit (with ma...more
Abigail
rated it
Recommends it for:
Kids Who Enjoy Imaginary Play
Recommended to Abigail by:
The Picture-Book Club
Shelves:
picture-books
In this immensely entertaining picture-book from English children's author and artist Mini Grey, a young boy receives a new Traction Man hero-figure for Christmas, and proceeds to put him through his paces, in a variety of imaginary play scenarios. From scuba diving in the sink to crawling through the "jungle" near the pond, Traction Man is always triumphant, and always suitably dressed for the job! Then he is confronted with the green knitted romper suit that Granny has made for him. ...more
Petronella Oliver
rated it
Recommends it for:
my grand kids and any kids
Recommended to Petronella by:
my teacher
What are little boys made of? Snips and snails and puppy dog tails...that's what little boys are made of. In the turn of another century nursery rhyme, that IS what little boys are made of, but in the 2000s, little boys are made of that, Captain Crunch AND Super and Spidermen AND Traction Man!
In Mini Grey's new book "Traction Man," our little man receives his dream come true for Christmas.He is the proud new owner of Traction Man, a super hero figure.
The book itself, is a...more
In Mini Grey's new book "Traction Man," our little man receives his dream come true for Christmas.He is the proud new owner of Traction Man, a super hero figure.
The book itself, is a...more
Every boy can relate the the relationship between boy and action figure in this story. The boy sets up all the adventures in the story, but it is written in the perspective of the action figure, Traction man. You can visualize the young boy creating the scenarios as he goes about his day in real life. It brought me back to the times when I would play with my brother's GI Joe figurines and create my own action sequences. The story is written like a comic book, while we still have the reality ...more
Ann
rated it
This book is a delight!!! It reminded me of a Toy Story beginning (which I consider quite high praise!), where the toys are being played with by Andy. Yet a very different style here, because here everything Traction Man does is through the play.
What I love is the kid's imagination and how fantastic and fun the adventures are that he creates for Traction Man! Turning everyday chores into something exciting becomes a breeze when Traction Man is around!
And just when thin...more
What I love is the kid's imagination and how fantastic and fun the adventures are that he creates for Traction Man! Turning everyday chores into something exciting becomes a breeze when Traction Man is around!
And just when thin...more
Traction Man is an amazing super hero who guards toast, saves animals from evil pillows, flies in a rocket shoe, and has a pet scrubbing brush who is ready for anything...or is he?
Mini Grey has writen an exciting book which is perfect for Key Stage One and Year 3 students recommended to get boys insterested in reading and writing. The character is a young boys Christmas present who saves a number of characters from tricky situations. The illustrations are very creative which children a...more
Mini Grey has writen an exciting book which is perfect for Key Stage One and Year 3 students recommended to get boys insterested in reading and writing. The character is a young boys Christmas present who saves a number of characters from tricky situations. The illustrations are very creative which children a...more
Traction Man, who wears combat boots, battle pants, and his warfare shirt, comes in a box like many action figures. However, he is found and owned by a very imaginative little boy. The superhero goes on many action filled adventures, like leaping buildings, that his owner sets his mind out for. This book is a wonderful way to experience the way an imaginative child carries out play.
I thought this book was truly funny and a wonderful way for children to make connections to their per...more
I thought this book was truly funny and a wonderful way for children to make connections to their per...more
I adore this book. It brings the wry sensibility of graphic novels to a picture book, and the result is a tongue-in-cheek adventure that can be enjoyed by any age group.
Traction Man is an action figure who, along with his trusty pet, Scrubbing Brush, endeavors to keep household objects everywhere safe. The details are wonderful (I especially enjoyed the faces on the slices of toast) and the dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny, such as when Traction Man has to save Cupcake from the evil...more
Traction Man is an action figure who, along with his trusty pet, Scrubbing Brush, endeavors to keep household objects everywhere safe. The details are wonderful (I especially enjoyed the faces on the slices of toast) and the dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny, such as when Traction Man has to save Cupcake from the evil...more
Traction man is a young boy’s action figure that encounters many wonderful experiences once he has been taken out of his box. While diving into murky waters, he meets his new best friend Scrubbing Brush. Together they tackle many adventures together such as doing the dishes, rescuing The Dollies, and tickling the Mysterious Toes. When Traction Man was visiting the young boy’s grandmother’s house, he was given a green romper and matching bonnet. He did not like wearing the romper and bonnet, but ...more
Mini Grey gives a big postmodern wink to parents in this laugh-out-loud charmer about a boy and his doll, oops, action figure. Kids will enjoy the fantasy adventure of Traction Man and his sidekick, a scrub-brush, even when the rugged hero is reduced to wearing a knitted bonnet. The bold, detailed illustrations advance the plot, to the point where this might not be the best choice for a read-aloud to a large group, simply because some listeners might miss part of the story if they can't see the ...more
Above all my girly girl just wants to laugh - more than she wants princesses and unicorns and all things pink and sparkly. So, along the way I've learned to take note when a book is being touted as a 'good pick for boys'. Nine times out of ten this usually means said book has a good sense of humor. A little fact that I will not grumble about right now because I don't want to take any attention away from this wonderful little book. Traction Man Is Here! falls into one of my personal favorite p...more
Every child needs an alter-ego that could save the world. Traction Man is Here, by Mini Grey, shares the story of a small boy and his new action figure. Traction Man is a man of many talents and an interesting view of the world. The small boy who loves him is thrilled to share Traction Mans many adventures.
Mini Grey does a wonderful job of taking everyday activities and showing how a child can turn them into daring rescues and explorations. Her choice of language and illustrations work t...more
Mini Grey does a wonderful job of taking everyday activities and showing how a child can turn them into daring rescues and explorations. Her choice of language and illustrations work t...more
Heidi
rated it
Oh my goodness--I had to try so hard not to keep laughing out loud as I read this one. (I was at the desk.) The pictures can be a little busy, but not overly so. And what can you expect from a book about an action hero? I loved being in the boy's imagination as he sent Traction Man on his adventures. I especially loved that he made a toy of the Scrubbing Brush. Exactly somehting I would do as a child! I love the humor in it. I think in the illustrations make the book--with the little asides that...more
4.5 STARS
What fun! Fans of "Toy Story" will love "Traction Man Is Here!" as it follows the adventures of Traction Man throughout his adventures (led by the imagination of a little boy). I love how the imagination makes everyday "chores" (such as doing the dishes or taking a bath) fabulous opportunities for Traction Man to save the day! :-) I do wish that Grey had used more creative names for some of the everyday objects Traction Man encounters (I think ...more
What fun! Fans of "Toy Story" will love "Traction Man Is Here!" as it follows the adventures of Traction Man throughout his adventures (led by the imagination of a little boy). I love how the imagination makes everyday "chores" (such as doing the dishes or taking a bath) fabulous opportunities for Traction Man to save the day! :-) I do wish that Grey had used more creative names for some of the everyday objects Traction Man encounters (I think ...more
Traction Man is indeed a man of action. In his combat boots, battle pants and warfare shirt he's ready with Scrubbing Brush for any danger - or damsel rescue.
The illustrations are bright and exciting and the imagination of the text is true to form for 4-7 year olds. My own imagination was sadly never this involved but I can appreciate that this is where great story tellers are born.
A great read-aloud for early primary kids - and I'd go for the over-the-top 'voice over...more
The illustrations are bright and exciting and the imagination of the text is true to form for 4-7 year olds. My own imagination was sadly never this involved but I can appreciate that this is where great story tellers are born.
A great read-aloud for early primary kids - and I'd go for the over-the-top 'voice over...more
My boys, especially my 4 year old, are currently enthralled with Traction Man. This picture book is written in comic book style and is the story of a young boy who gets his favorite action figure for Christmas. Traction Man fights off evil pillows, escapes a scary creature in the kitchen sink, rescues some dollies from the clutches of the evil Dr. Sock and so forth. My boys are both asking for a Traction Man for Christmas next year and have been playing out some of Traction Man's adventures. ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Actually, this is two books...there's also Traction Man Meets TurboDog...
These are excellent, non-standard, books for toddlers that seem to reflect what actually happens in a young person's imaginative life as they project personalities and conflicts onto weird inanimate objects like tools, and brushes and even...soap(!)
My four year old can't get enough of these books. He saw me taking it downstairs into the office to blog this and asked me to read it to him and wondered when...more
These are excellent, non-standard, books for toddlers that seem to reflect what actually happens in a young person's imaginative life as they project personalities and conflicts onto weird inanimate objects like tools, and brushes and even...soap(!)
My four year old can't get enough of these books. He saw me taking it downstairs into the office to blog this and asked me to read it to him and wondered when...more
A young boy sends his favorite action figure on daring adventures throughout his home solely with the power of his imagination. Because the text is concise and action packed this book would be a good read-aloud for a small group of young elementary school students (although some of the illustrated details are better appreciated one-on-one.) This title is very likely to spark the interest of reluctant readers, particularly boys. Second grade teacher and blogger, Eric Carpenter claims the book is ...more
Traction Man takes you through a Christmas day for a boy and his new action figure present. The story let's you enjoy the enhanced everyday world that a child sees when journeying through it with the eyes of a toy. The narrative of the day looked and felt like something my son would do himself when playing throughout a day and due to that my son enjoyed the story a great deal. Good illustrations and a fun book to read aloud, although it does require a little bit of explanation in order to fol...more
Traction Man Is Here by Mini Grey is the first in this series. Traction Man, wearing combat boots, battle pants, & his warfare shirt, comes in a box, but very quickly finds the way into the imagination and child's play of his lucky boy owner.
This superhero searches for the Lost Wreck of the Sieve as the boy makes a game of doing the dishes, & later in the bathtub, he conquers the Mysterious Toes that are stealing his pet, the brave little Scrubbing Brush. At Granny's, Traction Man r...more
This superhero searches for the Lost Wreck of the Sieve as the boy makes a game of doing the dishes, & later in the bathtub, he conquers the Mysterious Toes that are stealing his pet, the brave little Scrubbing Brush. At Granny's, Traction Man r...more
This was a fun book that Gavin checked out. You follow Traction Man and his pet Scrub Brush on their adventures, which ran so close to the adventures my boys take their toys on that I couldn't help but smile. My favorite part is when Granny knits Traction Man his own all-in-one knitted green romper suit and matching bonnet and he wonders how long he is going to have to wear it. From the look on his face, I'd guess that it's knit from scratchy green wool! Anyway, a fun little picture book that is...more
Mini Grey's runaway hit Traction Man is the hilarious tale of a young boy's imaginative adventures with his new toy "Traction Man." The graphic novel layout with grid-paper captions make reading easy for adults. At the same time, they do not disturb a child's experience with the visually rich, extremely funny illustrations. New vocabulary adds to the book's wit, as in: "Lost Wreck of the Sieve," "the clutches of Doctor Sock," and "'We'll hoist you to safety!...more
1st grade - 4th grade
I gave this book a four because the story was easy to relate to for young boys and some girls. The language is very repetitive but challenging enough that the reader will not get bored easily. The illustrations use very bright colors that grab the readers attention. They are all very simplistic, almost childish which helps to create the world in the story.
Language Arts/Fine Arts
Lesson Plan: This would be a good book to use in a langu...more
I gave this book a four because the story was easy to relate to for young boys and some girls. The language is very repetitive but challenging enough that the reader will not get bored easily. The illustrations use very bright colors that grab the readers attention. They are all very simplistic, almost childish which helps to create the world in the story.
Language Arts/Fine Arts
Lesson Plan: This would be a good book to use in a langu...more
This book recounts the very funny adventures of an action figure named "Traction Man." The illustrations are fantastic. This is an unusual book, and I could see it appealing particularly to boys who aren't finding topics that interest them in more traditional children's books.
2005; Fantasy; ALA Notable Books for Children; Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; Horn Book Fanfare; New York Times Best Illustrated
2005; Fantasy; ALA Notable Books for Children; Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; Horn Book Fanfare; New York Times Best Illustrated
A young boy gets a Traction Man action figure for Christmas and the second he is opened, the adventure begins. Traction Man battles evil pillows, escapes a poisonous dishcloth, acquires a sidekick, and survives the embarrassment of Granny's Christmas gift. Grey captures the special bond that children have with their toys in this fun, adventurous story.
The bright, comic-like illustrations bring the young boy's imagination to life.
The bright, comic-like illustrations bring the young boy's imagination to life.
My nephew *loved* this book! He was totally immersed in the adventures of Traction Man, and just thought it was great! He grinned from ear to ear through the entire story!
When we were done reading this book he took it and said, "Ok, who wants to play library?!" Excellent!! My efforts begin to yield fruit!
When we were done reading this book he took it and said, "Ok, who wants to play library?!" Excellent!! My efforts begin to yield fruit!
This book was hilarious and inventive! I totally remember making up stories for my dolls and how all the inanimate objects came to life and became part of their "adventures" just like Traction Man and his trusty pet, Scrubbing Brush. I felt about eight years old again reading these books. Fabulous!
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