Stuffed

September 23, 2019
Fourth grade has ended, and ahead lies a summer of reading, swimming, and—most importantly for Clark, who lives in mortal fear of monsters—short nights. Though he knows he’s a tad old for his stuffed animal collection, he also believes in its protective force. When a monster begins seeping life from his dad, who turns “pale and lifeless and confused,” Clark tries to use his stuffy army to protect him. But Clark’s mother, worried about his stuffies “obsession,” packs him off to a week of camp to improve his “social skills.” Even worse, she forbids him from taking any stuffies along, though his grandmother, who is battling cancer, saves the day by creating a powerful stuffy, Foon, which she insists accompany him. Clark’s camp friends educate him about monsters, but it’s ultimately Foon who takes on the deadly monster that is feeding on Clark’s father. Braswell (Disney’s Twisted Tales series) uses Clark’s and Foon’s first-person narratives—interspersed with stuffy patterns throughout—to convey Clark’s fears and his family dynamic, his struggle to make friends, and the power of love over fear. Ages 8–12. Agent: Ginger Clark, Curtis Brown.

November 1, 2019

Gr 4-6-Monsters are real, and the only way to protect yourself at night is with an army of stuffed animals surrounding you in your bed. Ten-year-old Clark is well aware of what is at stake every time he goes to bed, and has amassed his own legion of stuffed animals to keep himself protected. Unfortunately, his preoccupation with stuffed animals seems childish to those around him, has left him the victim of bullies, and has his mother trying to find him more suitable hobbies. When his mother finally has enough of the stuffed animals and banishes them from Clark's bedroom while he is away at Camp I Can, it is up to Foon, the last remaining stuffed animal, to fight the evil monster King Derker and save the family. Told from the alternating points of view of Clark and Foon, this is a story of overcoming obstacles and embracing your true self to save those you love. Also included are instructions for making stuffed animal zipper dangles and dolls so that readers can protect themselves from the monsters, too. VERDICT An additional purchase; this will appeal to readers who like light scares and a bit of magic.-Jayna Ramsey, Douglas County Libraries in Parker, CO

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2019
There's more than meets the eye to the cuddly stuffy nestled upon your bed. Young Clark has always had an army of stuffed animals in his room. The fluffy creatures are his favorite toys, and Clark arranges them in a special formation every night before bed. Some of Clark's classmates have begun to pick on him because of this, and his mother has begun to hint that maybe he's too old for them. But Clark's gut tells him that his stuffed friends are very important, and it soon turns out that Clark is right. A menacing monster in the form of an oily shadow stalks the night, and stuffed animals loved by children are what keep the monster at bay. When Clark's mom banishes stuffed animals from the house, all that stands between the monster and Clark's family is a Grandma-made sock animal, Foon. The author twists plenty of originality from the old kid-afraid-of-the-dark chestnut, and the tension between Clark and his mom is well drawn. Clark (presumably white, like his family) has a soft, indoor-kid vibe to him that is refreshing in a middle-grade landscape teeming with kids who overflow with attitude. Chapters written from Foon's perspective bring a healthy dose of weirdness to the book, neatly developing a character that has been alive just a few hours but is determined to do what needs to be done. A warm and engaging tale. (Fiction. 8-12)

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