Too Many Toys

by David Shannon

Book Overview

Caldecott Honor winner and bestselling author-illustrator David Shannon makes readers laugh aloud when young Spencer's mountain of toys becomes overwhelming. A book that will be read again and again.

Spencer has too many toys His father trips over them, his mother falls over them, and the house is overflowing with junk. Now its time to give some of the mountain of goodies away, but Spencer finds it hard. In the end, he fills a box, but decides...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439490294
• ISBN13: 9780439490290
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Blue Sky Press (AZ)
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.9" x 11.2"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

That's Our House

I don't know about you, but David Shannon described our son and his toys almost to a tee. We have a room just for his toys and still, they manage to appear in all different places -- in the house, car, my purse. Children think the book is funny, but adults (myself, my son's pre-school teachers, librarians) love this funny and sympathetic book.

My Son's favorite

This book is my 3 year old son's favorite. He loves staring at all the toys and will even read it to himself sometimes. The illustrations are amazing, and the story teaches a good lesson I don't mind him hearing over and over and over and over again.

Brought me to tears. Amazing book.

I found this book on a store shelf while I was doing my Christmas shopping for my kids. I stood there in the aisle, totally overwhelmed and exhausted. I didn't even want to buy them one more single item and take it home. I was actually wishing I could just skip the Christmas shopping all together. We had passed a "Toys For Tots" barrel a few days earlier and my oldest looked into it covetously and said, "What lucky kids." I whipped around and got down on his level fast enough to make his head spin, "Those kids are NOT lucky!" I realized right then that we needed to learn a thing or two at our house. Imagine my emotions when I happened upon this literary treasure. As I turned page after page, my eyes welled up and I knew I had to have a copy. It seriously made me cry. I have stepped on jacks and Legos. I have tripped on race tracks while trying to carry a load of laundry down the hall. So, given that I feel like David Shannon came to my house and peeked in my windows, not to mention, has been reading my mind, here's what happened: This morning (Sunday the 21st) There was a note from Santa and this book. What a surprise! Santa came by several days early to our place! He left this book and three empty boxes (one for each child) and in his note, Santa gave clear instructions that the boxes were to be filled with "fun stuff." He added that that Mama and Daddy would help the kids find a worthy donation location. (oh boy, would we!) I woke up this morning to giggles and grins as the oldest read this hilarious book aloud to the other two. They LOVED it! I had no trouble getting them to fill up those boxes Santa brought by, and Dad hauled it all to the homeless shelter this afternoon. A glorious Christmas book, and a perfect lesson in charity and generosity. I know the book is meant to be an exaggeration, but...aaack!! My house is really like that!! The humor of the story, just helps to make the lesson stick. My favorite part is the sad warbling egg shaped pirate. So true!! Santa is so wise, and so is David Shannon.

Too many toys....exactly why you should buy this!

Don't we all just have too many toys! That is exactly why we should buy more books and in particular this one this Holiday Season. The book is clever, fun & the most important thing: my kids love it. I think it is something all kids will be able to relate too :) Mommy's High Heel Shoes

Too Many Toys

David Shannon is amazing! I am a Librarian for an elementary school and his books are always among the favorites, and "Too Many Toys" is no different. He has a great way of relating to children. All children relate to this story because we all tend to hang on to things that don't even work just for the sentimentality of it. The art work is delightful (as always), and the combination of the story and the pictures just works so wonderfully. I really cannot think of any of his books that I would not fully recommend!