Those Terrible Toy-Breakers

by David McPhail

Bernie has convinced Walter that a lion, a tiger, and an elephant are breaking the toys he leaves outside at night. When Bernie helps Walter set a trap to capture the culprits, the reader will get a surprise!

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

48 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

David was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. While there, he began illustrating. He is now an award-winning author and illustrator of nearly 200 books beloved by children, parents and librarians across the United States. McPhail has garnered many prestigious awards, including a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year for Mole Music in 2001. McPhail’s other books include First Flight, which the New York Times praised as “hilarious and helpful”; and Lost!, which was chosen as an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.

McPhail has four children, three stepchildren, and is a proud grandfather. He is married to Jan Waldron, with whom he has written and illustrated several books. He lives in Rye, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an unusual story, and I'm not sure I like it.

A young boy's toys keep getting mysteriously broken overnight, and his friend convinces him that it's all manner of exotic creatures - a tiger, a lion, and an elephant (who lays eggs...?)

So they catch the animals and make them fix the toys.

It's a weird combination of fantasy and realism, and, as I said, I'm not sure I like it at all.

[Faith Wareham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this story if very short, there are a lot of different themes throughout it. There is the idea that you shouldn't take or break something at does not belong to you, there is the idea that friends will always have their friends best interest no matter how far fetched, and how doing something bad will eventually get you in trouble. I really like this book because of the messages, but also because it is just a cute story.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

...probably one of my least favorite books I found in my basement that the kiddies decided they wanted read. Just...meh.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!!

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fantasy story, which I disliked because I expected a realistic story.

[T.]

Heard about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeNea...

[Kate Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents saved my copy from when I was a kid and I read it to our oldest the other night. Still a good story!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had this book as a child. I certainly enjoyed it back then!

[cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another relic from my childhood.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my fav books when i was a kid!

[Mabeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child and still do! I like how it combines fantasy in a way that surprises the reader and makes them believe anything can happen.