Stay Away From the Junkyard!

by Tricia Tusa (Illustrator)

"Stay away form the junkyard!" warn all the grown-ups in Jasper. But why? Theo wonders.

What is so terrible that's lurking at the junkyard?

But after some exploration of her own, Theo discovers that the junkyard is no place to be feared...in fact, it may even be a place for friendships and fun!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[hala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Not only are the illustrations pretty cool, it is a great story. It shows that you should not judge a person before you get to know them. It teaches a very good lesson.

[Catycrisis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished my first children's book in...years. It left me wanting more. It would've benefited, in my opinion, with a bit of a longer storyline where Theo and Otis's friendship, over those two weeks building the playground/fair, being fleshed out. During that time, the townspeople start getting curious, wondering what Theo is doing, and then wrap it up with the whole playground/fair for the children that Theo and Otis built.

[The Campbell Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end result reminded me of City Museum in STL!

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Assumptions about people are what we need to stay away from.

[Pamela Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story about the first summer Theodora spent at her Aunt Mazel's house in Texas and the old man who lived in the junkyard.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Theo explores the town of Jasper, Texas, where she is visiting her Aunt Mazel, she comes across the most amazing place--the junkyard. Every person in town has warned her to stay away from the crazy old man who lives there, but Theo is too intrigued by the piles of discarded items to heed their warnings. The junkyard becomes a place that lights up Theo's imagination, and she helps Otis Crampton with his creative eccentric invention.

Sometimes the grown-up in me finds picky details in otherwise delightful books and gets hung up on them. That's the case with this book. I like the idea of a little girl striking up a friendship with Old Man Crampton despite warnings from everyone in town, and I like the idea of finding inspiration for your creativity in the junkyard. But that marvelous contraption Otis built looks dangerous!

[jenna Hudrlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

a perfect book for me to read - all about junk and "strange people" !