Book Review: The Boy and The Toy by Sonya Hartnett

The Boy and the Toy is Sonya Hartnett’s first picture book. Hartnett has written a several novels including Butterfly which has just been shortlisted for the 2010 Miles Franklin Award.

Hartnett partners with first time illustrator Lucia Masciullo, who creates the most exquisite pictures to compliment the beautiful story being told in The Boy and The Toy. On each page the children could sense the characters emotions through the depth and detail of the illustrations by Masciullo.

In the book, a father invents the world’s best toy to keep his son company while he goes away. In the beginning the boy too thinks that the toy is wonderful, but as the story goes on, the boy starts to change his mind. The story explores the friendship between the two of them in a way that children can easily relate to – through their play.

The children also enjoyed the cleverness of the boy who found a solution to his problem on his own. I liked how the story did not ram a message, but in the gentleness of the telling, allowed the children to interpret for themselves what it is to be a good friend.

We read this book every night for a week at the request of my preschooler and I was happy to indulge him as I was just as taken with the book as he was! The Boy and The Toy was my first time reading anything written by Hartnett, but have now added my name to the queue for the reservations of Butterfly at my local library!

The Details

Format: Hardback , 36 pages
RRP: $24.95
ISBN-13: 9780670073627
Imprint: Viking
Publisher: Penguin Aus.
Origin: Australia
Category: Picture Books

Planning With Kids received a copy of The Toy and The Boy courtesy of Penguin Australia.