Some Assembly Required

October 30, 2017
Children’s book newcomer Lynch, whose screenwriting credits include Minions and The Secret Life of Pets, debuts with the joke-dense story of Grumbolt, a malformed stuffed animal who heads to the eponymous academy to learn how to play. Joining him are OmniBus Squared, an arthritic Transformers-esque school bus robot, and Micro Gigantic, an enthusiastic action figure sealed in a plastic wrapper to maximize her value as a collectible. Taylor’s 1980s-retro images (not all seen by PW) are ideal for a story that lovingly pokes fun at that era’s toys (“Any child who got a Castle Fort Lair for their birthday didn’t ask for any other gifts for the next three holidays”), and Grumbolt and crew’s clashes with the forces of the Evil Toy Academy will have readers looking forward to future books. Ages 7–10. Author’s agent: Erin Malone, William Morris Endeavor. Illustrator’s agency: Bright Group.

October 1, 2017

Gr 1-3-Grumbolt, a stuffed toy shoddily constructed from an advanced sewing pattern, first came to consciousness in the garbage can. He liked it there (if he got hungry, there was half a waffle) until he saw the angry letter addressed to "U CAN SEW" from his eight-year-old creator: "he is simply unplayable. His arms are two different lengths, his head is too big for his body." So begins the epic adventure of a rejected homemade toy trying to find his true place in the world. A few chance encounters land him a seat at Toy World's Toy Academy, "Commander Hedgehog's Institute for Novelty Academia," where he dreams of a future with a kid but cannot find his strengths as a toy. While he looks like a "plush" rather than an action figure, collectible, or educational toy, he struggles in his Tea Parties 101 class and Introduction to Dress Up. Meanwhile, when Commander Hedgehog's arm goes missing and fingers start pointing at nearby Evil Toy Academy, the action accelerates along with Grumbolt's troubles. The simple plot is made more interesting with the amusing and clever details about the toys and Toy World itself. The freshman dorms are "actually Princess Dream Mansions that Margie, the most successful doll ever, had graciously donated." Grumbolt's roommate is a neat and tidy paper doll, and his friend Micro is an action figure who wears a bag over her head and dreams of being a collectible. High-energy illustrations on every page help to keep less confident readers engaged while amplifying the silliness of the story. VERDICT This light cross between a talking toy and doll fantasy and a boarding school story contains a fast-paced adventure (and a few winks about modern toy marketing) for readers, particularly those who enjoy the energy and humor of its author, who wrote the screenplay for Minions and was a writer for The Secret Life of Pets.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2017
"[I]t's hard to be yourself when you don't know what you are." Grumbolt wakes up in a trash can next to a used doll pattern from the U Can Sew company and a complaint letter from an 8-year-old who'd tried to use the pattern and failed. She'd created something with arms of two different lengths, two different ears, and a silly expression. Grumbolt feels sorry for that doll until he realizes he is it! He sets out to find a child to play with. After a run-in with a live cat, he meets OmniBus Squared, who's recruiting for Cmdr. Hedgehog's Toy Academy. Grumbolt wants to learn to be a better toy, so he convinces OmniBus to take him. Grumbolt's declared a plush (rather than collectible, action, or educational) and enrolls in Tea Parties 101 and Introduction to Dress-up. He's a failure, but he keeps trying. Then Cmdr. Hedgehog's arm is stolen; surely the culprit is from the Evil Toy Academy. Can Grumbolt help find it and succeed in school? Film and comic-book writer Lynch's prose debut is entertaining enough (Taylor's Saturday-morning-cartoon illustrations help) but no great innovation. This chapter book is best read together because, like the author's movies (The Secret Life of Pets and Minions), it's sprinkled with fairly sophisticated jokes for caregivers to enjoy as well as slapstick goofiness for the kids. A familiar-feeling series kickoff. (Fantasy. 6-8)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

awesomessb - How do toys do their job? They go to toy academy of course! Grumbolt is a toy who has been thrown out, but gets a second chance when he learns about the toy academy. Nobody really knows what he is. He meets Ominibus Squared, who takes Grumbolt to Toy World. Here he plans to graduate Toy Academy, no matter how hard it is! The academy decides to classify him as a plush. However, the academy is harder than he thinks. Word gets out that Commander Hedgehog's arm is missing! Grumbolt is also expelled. The suspicion is placed on the Evil Toy Academy for the theft. Who is the thief, and what will happen to Grumbolt? Read the book to find out! I feel that this was an interesting idea. I enjoyed it, but some elements of the plot felt a little basic. There was still a good story line. This may be because it is a good read for 3rd-4th graders.

December 15, 2017
Grades 2-4 With mismatched ears and arms, not even Grumbolt knows what sort of toy he's supposed to be, save for a sewing-project failure destined for the garbage. Yet this unglamorous entry into the world marks the start of a rapid-fire adventure. After climbing out of the trash can, Grumbolt comes face-to-face with OmniBus, an angry-looking robot recruiting new students for Toy Academy. OmniBus transforms into a school bus and grudgingly takes the odd stuffed animal aboard before swinging by the mall to collect Micro, a superhero figurine on clearance. The trio then arrives at Toy Academy, where Commander Hedgehog is beginning classes to help misfit toys become treasured ones. However, a traitor from Evil Toy Academy is in their midst and looking to overthrow the commanderand it's up to Grumbolt and Micro to save the day. Lynch's action-packed narrative is accompanied by Taylor's equally energetic grayscale illustrations, lending it graphic-novel appeal. Suspense regularly gives way to almost-slapstick humor, ensuring this fun-filled adventure will grab readers who love their action toys and video games.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)