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Toys #Companion Picture Book
Toys Meet Snow: Being the Wintertime Adventures of a Curious Stuffed Buffalo, a Sensitive Plush Stingray, and a Book-loving Rubber Ball
Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic--the toys from the beloved chapter books Toys Go Out, Toy Dance Party, and Toys Come Home--are back in a glorious full-color picture book, perfect for gift-giving this holiday season. Acclaimed author Emily Jenkins and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Paul Zelinsky have created a book destined to become a classic.
Children who have loved listening to the Toys trilogy, as well as those meeting the toys for the very first time, will be thrilled to see Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic venture outdoors to play in the snow. Together the toys build a snowman, make snow angels, and, when day is done, head back inside their cozy house and wait for the return of the Little Girl.
Children who have loved listening to the Toys trilogy, as well as those meeting the toys for the very first time, will be thrilled to see Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic venture outdoors to play in the snow. Together the toys build a snowman, make snow angels, and, when day is done, head back inside their cozy house and wait for the return of the Little Girl.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2015
12 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Emily Jenkins
65 books166 followersEmily Jenkins is the author of many books for children, including the recent picture books Tiger and Badger, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay, and Princessland, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. Her chapter books include the Toys series, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky; she is co-author of the Upside-down Magic series. Emily Jenkins lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
December 19, 2015
This is an amazing book in which three toys that are friends with each other go out and experience snow for the first time.
Lumphy is a stuffed buffalo. StingRay is a plush stingray. Plastic is a rubber ball. She can't help it that her name doesn't match her body.
When the toys see that it is snowing, they are excited.
"Why does it decide to snow?" asks Lumphy.
"Because the clouds are sad and happy at the same time," says StingRay. She is more poetic than factual.
"No, it's what rain becomes when the temperature is freezing," says Plastic. "I read about it in a book."
When StingRay describes the clouds being happy and sad at the same time, we see the clouds are smiling and yet crying tears of snow.
The toys decide to go outside to play.
Lumphy wears a mitten hat, StingRay seals herself in a plastic bag because she is dry-clean only, and asks her friends to punch her some air holes.
"I don't need anything!" shouts Plastic. She just goes natural.
Plastic is a little nudist, apparently. LOL
After a lot of trouble, they get the front door open and venture outside.
They sit and look at the pine tree in the front yard.
"Is that a different tree?" asks Lumphy. "It looks like a different tree than before the snow came."
"It's turned into a candy tree," says StingRay. "It tastes like peppermint."
"No, it's the same tree," says Plastic. "I recognize the branches."
When StingRay describes the tree as a candy tree, we see it all swirling pink and red and white with candy canes.
"What do you think snow is, exactly?" asks Lumphy.
"It's a blanket of peace over the world," says StingRay.
"No, it's frozen water," says Plastic. "I read it in a book."
When StingRay describes the snow as a blanket, we see it as a blanket covering up houses and trees.
"I mean, what is a snowFLAKE?" asks Lumphy.
"A snowflake is a tiny ballerina," says StingRay. "If you look closely, you can see it dance."
"No, it's just really tiny frozen water," says Plastic. "I read that, too."
When StingRay is describing the tiny ballerinas, we can see that, indeed, the snowflakes are formed by tiny, icy ballerinas.
Then the friends build snowmen and make snow angels. It's funny, because they aren't shaped like humans and their snow angels come out looking very strange.
After doing a lot of other fun winter stuff, the sun sets.
"What is a sunset?" asks Lumphy.
"It's strawberry syrup pouring over the world to make it sweet before nightfall," explains StingRay.
Plastic doesn't say anything. She is thinking.
We see the red sun pouring its strawberry syrup all over the wintery landscape.
Plastic actually lets herself imagine that she is the strawberry syrup sun, instead of being her logical self for once.
The toys go back into the house for the night.
This is fun, all the toys have clear personalities and it's fun to see each play with and deal with the snow. The illustrations are gorgeous. This is a winner and a good addition to any child's library, and a perfect winter read.
Lumphy is a stuffed buffalo. StingRay is a plush stingray. Plastic is a rubber ball. She can't help it that her name doesn't match her body.
When the toys see that it is snowing, they are excited.
"Why does it decide to snow?" asks Lumphy.
"Because the clouds are sad and happy at the same time," says StingRay. She is more poetic than factual.
"No, it's what rain becomes when the temperature is freezing," says Plastic. "I read about it in a book."
When StingRay describes the clouds being happy and sad at the same time, we see the clouds are smiling and yet crying tears of snow.
The toys decide to go outside to play.
Lumphy wears a mitten hat, StingRay seals herself in a plastic bag because she is dry-clean only, and asks her friends to punch her some air holes.
"I don't need anything!" shouts Plastic. She just goes natural.
Plastic is a little nudist, apparently. LOL
After a lot of trouble, they get the front door open and venture outside.
They sit and look at the pine tree in the front yard.
"Is that a different tree?" asks Lumphy. "It looks like a different tree than before the snow came."
"It's turned into a candy tree," says StingRay. "It tastes like peppermint."
"No, it's the same tree," says Plastic. "I recognize the branches."
When StingRay describes the tree as a candy tree, we see it all swirling pink and red and white with candy canes.
"What do you think snow is, exactly?" asks Lumphy.
"It's a blanket of peace over the world," says StingRay.
"No, it's frozen water," says Plastic. "I read it in a book."
When StingRay describes the snow as a blanket, we see it as a blanket covering up houses and trees.
"I mean, what is a snowFLAKE?" asks Lumphy.
"A snowflake is a tiny ballerina," says StingRay. "If you look closely, you can see it dance."
"No, it's just really tiny frozen water," says Plastic. "I read that, too."
When StingRay is describing the tiny ballerinas, we can see that, indeed, the snowflakes are formed by tiny, icy ballerinas.
Then the friends build snowmen and make snow angels. It's funny, because they aren't shaped like humans and their snow angels come out looking very strange.
After doing a lot of other fun winter stuff, the sun sets.
"What is a sunset?" asks Lumphy.
"It's strawberry syrup pouring over the world to make it sweet before nightfall," explains StingRay.
Plastic doesn't say anything. She is thinking.
We see the red sun pouring its strawberry syrup all over the wintery landscape.
Plastic actually lets herself imagine that she is the strawberry syrup sun, instead of being her logical self for once.
The toys go back into the house for the night.
This is fun, all the toys have clear personalities and it's fun to see each play with and deal with the snow. The illustrations are gorgeous. This is a winner and a good addition to any child's library, and a perfect winter read.
June 10, 2018
As someone who has always considered winter and its white expanses of snow as my personal favourite of the four seasons, I was already (and even prior to reading) rather certain that I would likely rather massively enjoy and therefore more than just appreciate Emily Jenkins' (author) and Paul O. Zelinsky's (illustrator) Toys Meet Snow. And truly, I have in no way been disappointed as Toys Meet Snow presents a sweet and utterly, completely delightful marriage of text and images. And indeed I especially cherish Paul O. Zelinsky's pictorial offerings of Lumphy's, StingRay's and Plastic's winter and snowtime joys and delights (snow angels, building a snowman, going sledding), and just so much both love and value Emily Jenkins' textual back and forth questions and answers, with even academic and bookish Plastic becoming ever increasingly poetic and esoteric by the end of the toys' snow day (presenting and featuring both verbally, narratively and visually that reality and poetry exist together and are also not mutually exclusive). Highly recommended for both reading aloud and autonomous perusal by recently independent readers, but really and truly Toys Meet Snow is an enjoyable and gratifying winter romp and sojourn for ANYONE who appreciates and finds pleasure in winter as a season, both children and adults, as Emily Jenkins' narrative and Paul O. Zelinsky's accompanying illustrations tenderly, exuberantly and evocatively provide a celebration of the season (and that snow and ice are not mere weather phenomena but lyrical poetry to be sweetly and caressingly cherished and glorified).
January 7, 2022
squee!
***
I dearly love this series. Jenkins' picture books spark joy in me.
***
06 January 2022
Perfect pairing with Little Fox in the Snow for mood and tone.
Library copy
***
I dearly love this series. Jenkins' picture books spark joy in me.
***
06 January 2022
Perfect pairing with Little Fox in the Snow for mood and tone.
Library copy
October 29, 2015
Beautiful! This fabulous picture book works perfectly well as a stand alone; no need to have read the Toys trilogy. I love the distinct characters and roles. Lumpy the stuffed buffalo asks reasonable questions. StingRay the plush ocean animal (in a plastic bag to protect the fabric!) gives poetic answers. And Plastic, the rubber ball, provides exacting and scientific explanations. A great winter read aloud choice. While this is sure to be a Christmas gift hit, this is strictly a winter and snow themed book. Recommended for kindergarten through 2nd grade, though older students will also likely enjoy this sweet story.
February 1, 2026
Reread for Children's Books group, Dec. 2016: I do like it even more after a reread, and after Jenny pointed out the pattern of Q, A1, A2. The book design supports that, which is special. And look at the snow angels the characters make!
............
(Rounded up from 3.5 stars.) Cute, and I love how even the book-learned pragmatic Plastic is inspired to poetry by the end of the day. A little bit 'instant classic' and of course it's ridiculous to claim that a sled would be forgotten at the *top* of a hill, but otherwise a nice book.
I have enjoyed the first two books of the series of chapter books, but I don't remember them well, nor have I sought to read the third. But if you love this, I do recommend them.
Reread Jan. 2026 - liked it even better.
............
(Rounded up from 3.5 stars.) Cute, and I love how even the book-learned pragmatic Plastic is inspired to poetry by the end of the day. A little bit 'instant classic' and of course it's ridiculous to claim that a sled would be forgotten at the *top* of a hill, but otherwise a nice book.
I have enjoyed the first two books of the series of chapter books, but I don't remember them well, nor have I sought to read the third. But if you love this, I do recommend them.
Reread Jan. 2026 - liked it even better.
December 20, 2016
I absolutely loved it! I haven't read the other toy books (but now I want to!) and I still felt that I had a sense of the characters right away. They felt so *real* :-) I thought the diverse personalities were charming and realistic (sometimes it seems characters are made just to be foils of one another and it makes the story feel so empty as a whole). I thought their little adventures were so adorable and fun. Loved the humorous little touches (Sting-Ray is dry clean only!) Especially loved the magic of the sunset and how it made Plastic look at the world just a little bit differently than before. A beautiful story and the illustrations are just perfect, too. Loved the magical snow-world and Lumphy and Sting-Ray just look so easy to cuddle!
June 4, 2021
Funny, warm and filled with snow!
November 23, 2015
TOYS MEET SNOW is a magical story with lovely illustrations, and charming characters. This is a book that has a timeless feel to it, and one we absolutely loved reading. This is a picture book even the youngest of beginning readers will love. The adorable illustrations draw readers in, the characters are ones you wish you had in your playroom, and the dialogue is easy to understand and follow along with. Lumpy, StingRay and Plastic are characters readers, parents and educators are sure to fall in love with, if they haven't already.
Whether you're a long time fan of the 'Toys Go Out' chapter books or are new to the characters, TOYS MEET SNOW is picture book fans of all ages will enjoy.
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2015/1...
Whether you're a long time fan of the 'Toys Go Out' chapter books or are new to the characters, TOYS MEET SNOW is picture book fans of all ages will enjoy.
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2015/1...
July 9, 2016
This was such a sweet and entertaining story about 3 toys who decide to go out and explore the snow on a winter's day. I loved the character traits of each toy: Lumphy the stuffed buffalo always asks questions, StingRay the plush stingray is a poetic dreamer, and Plastic the rubber ball is pragmatic and factual. The illustrations add their own humorous interpretations of each toy's differences, and their adventures are wonderful. Eventually, Plastic sees the world a little more poetically. Loved it!
December 11, 2016
I loved Zelinsky's illustrations! They not only depicted the text but went beyond it: The double-page spread where 5 panels show Buffalo trying to open the door, and the text merely states "And so, with no small amount of effort..." Terrific! I, too, loved the juxtaposition of Stingray's poetic view of things, and Plastic's scientific view. And the final painting is so sweet, where Buffalo is drawing pictures of their adventures that day.
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November 22, 2015
When I first heard of this, and saw the cover, I couldn’t imagine how such a combination of toys and going out into the snow would be entertaining, but it is so much more than that. It is a small moment in time of an adventure with these three toys, poetic, funny, and sweet. In the midst of their snow-play, the day slowly disappears, and they call the sunset, a ‘strawberry syrup sun’. The illustrations glow with happy action, full-page pictures that add the action to the spare text.
September 17, 2015
The character I love from The Toys Go Out make their picture book debut. The beautiful language from the poetic stingray, and blunt dialogue from Plastic, the ball are a wonderful contrast. Gorgeous illustrations by Zelinsky.
December 13, 2018
I found this book utterly adorable. The illustrations are highly appealing. It definitely gets into the mind of a child. It's very imaginative. What I really loved about it was the vocabulary. One character was very curious, asking about the snow and where it comes from. The other two characters would answer the questions, but very differently. One would answer them in an imaginative poetic way, while the other would answer in a logical, scientific manner. I thought this was a great way of showing how different people look at the world. I highly recommend this book.
January 6, 2018
This was a fun story of toys wanting to experience winter! Little kids are going to enjoy it! All the "Toy" stories by Emily Jenkins are fun!
January 19, 2017
This picture book features the same lovable characters from the series, but is in a much shorter format that makes it more accessible for younger children. The narrative is simple and the digitally-rendered illustrations are cartoonish and quite humorous.
Still, I'm just not that enamored with this series. The characters are cute, but I have no special attachment to them. I planned to read more of the books in this series, but not likely any time soon.
This book was selected as one of the books for the December 2016- Toy Stories discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
Still, I'm just not that enamored with this series. The characters are cute, but I have no special attachment to them. I planned to read more of the books in this series, but not likely any time soon.
This book was selected as one of the books for the December 2016- Toy Stories discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
February 18, 2016
OMG if I could give this ten stars, I would!
Back in college, our mascot was the Bison. So senior year, my then-boyfriend-now-husband bought a stuffed bison, whom we named Bailey and who has been a dear companion ever since. Soon after, I bought a stuffed elephant I named Edie, and when I was I grad school taking a web design class, Bailey and Edie starred in their own website chronicling their adventures. My mother at the time said we should turn it into a children's book! Apparently we should have!
Thus when I discovered this tale, it was too much! Lumphy's looks exactly like our stuffed bison! I must admit that when reading it aloud, my husband changed Lumphy's name to Bailey :-)
But besides all that, this was an adorable tale of three best friends discovering snow for the first time: one who asks questions about everything, one who always answers poetically (but not truthfully), and the third who is book-smart and is always correcting the second one :-). I think children can all relate to one of them and will always know other friends just the same!
Plus, the illustrations were gorgeous and filled with fun details! Like when Plastic gets buried in the snow, or the hilarious trio of "snow angels", or how they're drawing a picture of the day's adventures in the last panel :-)
Back in college, our mascot was the Bison. So senior year, my then-boyfriend-now-husband bought a stuffed bison, whom we named Bailey and who has been a dear companion ever since. Soon after, I bought a stuffed elephant I named Edie, and when I was I grad school taking a web design class, Bailey and Edie starred in their own website chronicling their adventures. My mother at the time said we should turn it into a children's book! Apparently we should have!
Thus when I discovered this tale, it was too much! Lumphy's looks exactly like our stuffed bison! I must admit that when reading it aloud, my husband changed Lumphy's name to Bailey :-)
But besides all that, this was an adorable tale of three best friends discovering snow for the first time: one who asks questions about everything, one who always answers poetically (but not truthfully), and the third who is book-smart and is always correcting the second one :-). I think children can all relate to one of them and will always know other friends just the same!
Plus, the illustrations were gorgeous and filled with fun details! Like when Plastic gets buried in the snow, or the hilarious trio of "snow angels", or how they're drawing a picture of the day's adventures in the last panel :-)
September 12, 2015
Almost irresistible, this tale of how three toys find their way out into the snow is charming and poignant in many respects. The three toys--a stuffed buffalo called Lumphy, a plush stingray named StingRay, and a rubber ball, called, oddly Plastic--are charming because of how distinct their personalities are. Because the little girl who plays with them is gone on vacation, they head out into the snow and have a marvelous day building a snowman, making snow angels, and enjoying their freedom. StingRay's poetic ponderings about the natural world are offset by the practical minded comments of Plastic who seems to rely on books for information whereas StingRay is more imaginative. Two examples of StingRay's way of seeing the world are lovely: Snow is "a blanket of peace over the world" (unpaged) and the sunset is "strawberry syrup pouring over the world to make it sweet before nightfall" (unpaged). Ah, yes! This sweet and gentle adventure as the three friends explore the white world right outside their front door brings to mind many a childhood adventure in the front and back yards of young readers and their parents. The digital illustrations are handsome and appealing and will make many new fans for the other books featuring these distinctly different toys.
January 25, 2015
The premise of the Toy books by Jenkins and Zelinsky sound a bit... odd. Three friends - a stuffed buffalo, a plush stingray, and a rubber ball - embarking on adventures. But odd is often charming, a premise which is definitely true with these books. In this newest picture book offering, the three friends set out for the snowy outdoors while the Little Girl is away on winter vacation. Lumphy the Buffalo has many questions about snow; his curiosity drives the story. StingRay has many beautiful and poetic answers to his questions, while Plastic the bookish rubber ball offers more scientific and practical answers. Jenkins' characterization and Zelinsky's gorgeous representations of these friends and their adventures make it impossible not to fall for these quirky characters and their cold weather story. Recommended!
January 26, 2015
TOYS MEET SNOW is wonderful. In addition to the lovely illustrations the book is very lyrical. Each of the characters has its role. Lumphy, the stuffed buffalo, asks all the questions, Stingray, a plush stingray, has a beautifully poetic way of describing things, and Plastic, the red rubber ball, has all the practical answers, she's read books. Don't miss out on this adorable friendship adventure story.
November 20, 2015
While their Little Girl is away on a vacation, three special toys venture outside to experience (and enjoy!) snow for the very first time. Toys Meet Snow is a sweet picture book that stars the charming cast from the author's beloved chapter books (Toys Go Out, Toy Dance Party, and Toys Come Home). Each toy has a distinctive and delightful personality; combined with expressive illustrations, this is the perfect read for wintry afternoons.
February 2, 2016
Toys go out to explore the snow, while their owner is away on winter vacation. Poetical sting ray and factual ball answer Lumphy's questions. 10/17/15
This went over really well in Story Time (Mostly toddler) The combination of toys and snow after our blizzard seemed to keep everyone's attention.
This went over really well in Story Time (Mostly toddler) The combination of toys and snow after our blizzard seemed to keep everyone's attention.
October 18, 2015
Such a delightful picture book! Loved the illustrations and the story. I especially love Sting Ray's whimsical poetic way of sewing the world. And pragmatic Plastic ball crackdown me up. These three toys are sweet friends and they make a charming story.
November 30, 2016
Three friends venture out one day to discover just what snow is. One is curious, one is metaphorical, and one is practical. (I love the parts of the pictures that show Stingray's explanations of the world).
December 3, 2015
Fabulously beautiful illustrations, characters wonderfully developed in such a few number of words. I love StingRay!
November 17, 2017
THEY'RE BACK!!!! AND COULDN'T BE ANY MORE FABULOUS!!!!....MUST READ!
September 29, 2015
This one is going to make a great Decemberish read aloud.
July 14, 2016
I loved it and can see it being used prior to having kids write their own metaphors in poetry units. I also love love love the illustrations.
October 24, 2015
Cute- but what are we going to do when we finish the last chapter book in the series??!?
January 2, 2016
I've read the chapter book Toys Go Out and this picture book would be a great companion to the chapter books! Such a sweet book!
November 7, 2015
I love stingray's poetic voice.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews