Traction Man Is Here (Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Awards)) Review

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Traction Man Is Here (Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Awards)) ReviewIt's funny, but I think we can say that the picture-book-superhero-genre is still in its infancy. There's, "Kapow", of course and "The Adventures of Sparrowboy", but these are stories of ordinary kids being super. Far more difficult, in a way, is a story about an action figure. Now there is no lack of stories where toys take on a life of their own when their owners aren't around. With, "Traction Man Is Here", however, author Mini Grey turns this conceit on its head. The hero of this book may be an action figure like Buzz Lightyear (though he's an entirely different type of toy) but any adventures you read about in this book are from the head of the boy moving Traction Man about. You may not see the kids' hands and Traction Man may appear to move on his own accord, but there is little doubt who the real brains behind the operation is. It makes, oddly enough, for thrilling reading.
A boy writes a note to Santa requesting another Traction Man since his old one was involved in what is simply referred to as, "the Terrible Parachute Accident". Santa may not be aware of the boy's request, but his parents are certainly on the ball because Christmas Day brings a brand new bright and shiny Traction Man (complete with Dazzle-Painted Battler Pants). Thus begin our hero's adventures. Each time he appears, his new outfit is lovingly described (as in the sentence, "Traction Man is crawling through the overgrown shrubbery near the Pond, wearing Jungle Pants, Camouflage Vest and Sweaty Bandanna"). This is all well and good up until the moment the family goes to knit-crazy Granny's. Traction Man receives an all-in-one knitted green romper suit and matches bonnet. It's adorable and completely inappropriate for his line of work. Fortunately, Traction Man's quick thinking sidekick Scrubbing Brush finds a way to solve the romper problem and save some spoons in need.
Right from the start I recognized that Grey was doing something that few authors remember from their childhood. When I was a kid, any and every inanimate object was fair game for my imaginings. Likewise in this book, Traction Man battles pillows and sponges and befriends a friendly brush as well. As an author, Grey has a real feel for what it's like to be a kid playing with a favorite toy. The book looks like a comic book at all the right points and really does become quite exciting, almost in spite of its low-rent sets.
Grey's attention to detail is also stunning. The night the boy gets the present containing Traction Man on his bed you can see an exciting adult foot who's sock has (oh joy) unraveled at the heel. I OWN socks just like that! This probably explains why Granny's so gung ho about knitting more for the family. Toys that do battle or are saved by Traction Man in the course of the tale are visible on the boy's floor right at the book's start. I also loved that his older sister is continually carrying around her own Christmas present: a copy of Practical Woodworking. You hardly ever see her when her nose isn't pressed to the pages. I like to think that some of the boy's wooden toys came from her hands. Words spoken by real people always appear as italicized printed texts. Plus, the interiors and exteriors of homes aren't only authentic but detailed intricately. It doesn't hurt either that Traction Man's a bit of a hunk. I don't usually go for those muscly guys, but there's something appealing in this fella's face. Just a thought.
And though this comment is a bit out of place, I'd just like to point out that when Cupcake is being held prisoner by the evil Dr. Sock (yes, it pretty much consists of an actual sock wrapped around a cupcake) he whispers what I consider to be the funniest line in the book: "You will be my wife".
"Traction Man Is Here" has already won (as of the writing of this review) the 2005 Boston Globe Book Award and it promises to win many more as the months and years go by. This is apparently Ms. Grey's second picture book so far. The world would be a poorer place if it were to be the last. Appropriate for guys and gals alike.Traction Man Is Here (Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Awards)) Overview

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