Commander Toad and the Voyage Home

Commander Toad #7

by Jane Yolen

"A funny space adventure that spoofs  Star Wars  while providing an easy-to-read story." — Booklist

After many long days in the dark of space, the crew of the Star Warts is thinking longingly of home. But when Mr. Hop sets a course for HOME, the spaceship zeroes in on an uncharted planet. The intrepid crew sets out to explore, and Commander Toad stumbles into an extraordinary discovery -- one that gives a new meaning to home. Join these much-loved characters in a toadally new adventure, full of groan-worthy puns and visual jokes.


Fans of  DK LEGO Star Wars,  Tom Angleberger's  Origami Yoda,  and silliness will toad-ally love Commander Toad!

Genres: Childrens, Science Fiction, Kids, Fantasy, Picture Books

64 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 1998

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book finds Commander Toad and the crew of the Star Warts winding down their mission to explore the galaxy. After several years in space, they can now head home for some much needed rest. So, Commander Toad puts the command into the computer. Only, when they arrive, they don’t recognize the planet at all. What has happened?

This is the final picture book about these characters, but all the charm is still here. There are plenty of laughs and puns. The storyline is good and gets resolved in a way the intended audience will understand. Parents might have to help young reader with a few words, but it is a good challenge when the time comes to expand young readers’ vocabulary. The illustrations perfectly capture the story while also sliding in a few extra jokes.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Joyce Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm usually a big fan of puns, but a lot of the humor in this book fell a little flat for me. Like many kids' books, there are two levels of story here--the level of the child and the level of adults reading to the child. But as a book for 7-10 age group, I think some of the humor may get lost on kids reading this book on their own. Good problem-solving story in a fun setting, though--enjoyable.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, their ship is called the Star Warts, there’s a character named Jake Skyjumper, and its mission is “to find new worlds, explore old galaxies, to bring a little bit of Earth out to the alien stars”. So you know I was gonna like this. But I wonder how much of it will go over the heads of the intended early reader audience. Pretty fun, though.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Commander Toad books have been some of my kids' favorites since they were about six years old. We read these over and over (and over) for several years! Love them! They tickle our funny bone(s).

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kind of sad that the last book is my least favorite. It's fine, but it just lacks the zing of some of the others.

[WinterBat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice end to the series that actually shows Commander Toad as brave and bright instead of just a lucky, lovable goof

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine traveling home only to find an unknown planet. Commander Toad and his faithful crew of brave amphibians are ready to end their mission on the space ship, Star Warts. After setting the route for HOME, no one can figure out why the ship is brought to a strange planet covered by water. When a small patch of land is found, the crew is surprised by an amazing discovery. This book is a quirky spoof of a typical sci fi space crew that includes numerous puns and references that are sure to cause a chuckle or at least an eye roll. The story is fast paced and enhanced by rhythm and rhyme that complements the crew’s antics. The vocabulary should accommodate young readers transitioning to longer books. However some references may be unfamiliar to children. The story is still enjoyable with its silly narrative and brightly imaginative illustrations.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commander Toad and the Voyage Home is the seventh and final book in the Commander Toad series by Jane Yolen. This time the series is parodying the "Lost Planet of the Gods" episode from the original Battlestar Galactica.

Commander Toad and his crew want to go home for some well needed shore leave. Unfortunately when they ask the computer to take them "home" they don't specify earth. The ship's autopilot takes them somewhere very different indeed.

The series ends with the crew of the Star Warts rediscovering their heritage and making some amazing amphibipological discoveries in the process. Of course, Commander Toad in his usual boneheaded fashion has to leave his own mark on the Home.

Of the seven books, Commander Toad and the Voyage Home is my favorite.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

CIP: Commander Toad leads the lean green space machine "Star Warts" to find new worlds, but runs into trouble when he sets the course for home.

Review: This chapter book has some repetitive language to help beginning readers, but also has quite a few made-up words that will sound like real words (ie "toad-al" for total) that adults and more advanced readers will grasp but will likely only confuse those just starting to get a grasp on this whole reading thing. The story-line is clever and enjoyable, as are the illustrations.

BookList says: "delightful story that never loses sight of developing readers"
Putnam Berkeley says: "full of groan-worthy puns and visual jokes" (the publisher)

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Star Warts,” the name of Commander Toad’s ship, illustrates how there is an underlying silly tone to the story. The writing is in a poetry-like format where every line is left aligned, although the lines do not rhyme. Every page has at least a half page action packed illustration. This is a great book for developing readers who will be drawn in by the quirky toads’ adventures in space.

Starred review in Booklist, no other reviews found

Note: I give this a 3.5

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This will be a short review. So, after I read this to the kids, I said, "so what did you guys think of that Commander Toad book?" My nephew said, "Well I didn't get it." I said, "You know what, Dude? Neither did I." My niece said, "Well, I liked it." And, in this way was Commander Toad, brave and bright, bright and brave saved from a one star rating.

[Alysha DeShaé · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a silly, nonsensical book that combines toads, Star Trek, Star Wars, and bad (lame) rhymes to make a truly funny read. I can imagine that this would be a great book to read aloud to young children or have slightly older children read aloud to you.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent artwork! Witty writing. A fun series.