Spy Toys - Tapa dura

"The over-the-top humor and madcap situations will please kids looking for comedy, and the cinematic pacing and episodic structure is tailor-made for kids who prefer to read in bite-size pieces. Frequent black-and-white spot illustrations add even more whimsy to the proceedings." - Booklist

"Powers's action-packed novel starts off at a jog and keeps the pace quick all the way through. . . . An entertaining choice for reluctant readers." - School Library Journal

"The writing is clever and the action-packed pacing makes for swift page turning." - BCCB

"An entertaining riff on the idea that supposed faults can actually be assets, as well as the rewards of finding friends in surprising places." - Publishers Weekly

The world's leading toy manufacturer gives each toy it creates a tiny, computerized brain and a unique personality making for some seriously awesome toys. But sometimes there's a faulty toy . . .

Dan is a "Snugliffic Cuddlestar" bear--he should be perfect for hugging. But because of a malfunctioning chip, Dan is so strong he could crush a car. Thrown into the rejects pile, he meets Arabella, a "Loadsasmiles Sunshine" doll, who has a very short temper. Soon Dan, Arabella, and Flax (a custom-made police robot rabbit) are recruited by the head of the toy world exactly for what makes them unfit. And their first mission is a doozy: to protect a senator's eight-year-old son from being kidnapped.

With black-and-white illustrations throughout, this hilarious book has reluctant reader appeal written all over it.