*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Blurb: Do your kids have too many toys and won’t clean their rooms?
The Underground Toy Society helps lost, lonely, and forgotten toys find new homes while inspiring kids to keep their rooms clean!
What happens to toys when children don’t play with them? Where do toys go when their children grow up? What happens when there are too many toys in one house?
Find out when Samantha goes on an exciting underground adventure as she tries to find her best friend after they were separated.
This is a very short and simple book, aimed at helping young children to understand the value and effects of having a small number of well-loved toys, instead of bucketloads of toys that end up underappreciated and neglected.
I love the whole concept of an Underground Toy Society that redistributes toys where they are needed and will be loved, and it is a particularly nice touch that the book is illustrated with child-drawn images – super cute and really made me smile.
The choice of words and writing style are simple and clear, so the book could be read by young readers independently, although it is possibly a little too moralistic for very young children (Babybows is 5 and struggled to maintain attention throughout). We found it perfectly pitched for Minishine (8) who loves playing with dolls, enjoys stories with clear morals, and is a slightly struggling reader.
As an adult, I felt that the story would benefit from a little more detail on the plot and characters. At times it felt more like an outline or summary of events rather than a fully-realised story to me. This didn’t affect the children’s enjoyment though, as they ‘fleshed out’ the details in their own imaginations!
I feel this is a useful addition to any child’s library, with its important message about children only being able to play with a limited number of toys at a time, and lesser-used toys being redistributed to children who have few or none. This is a value we hold strongly in the Shine household, and we have regular toy purges of anything that the small Shines have outgrown or simply don’t use much.
This is a unique and charming little book, with a thoughtful message that would resonate with most children and parents. And if it prompts your children to have a clear-out and clean-up, that’s a great bonus!
Many years ago, two little girls, Jessica and Jennifer, loved their toys very much. Jessica’s favourite doll was Samantha because she had a pretty blue outfit. Jennifer’s favourite doll was Stacey because she had a pretty purple outfit. The girls did not have many toys, so every single toy received a lot of attention from the girls.
– Jessica D. Adams, The Underground Toy Society
Find more from Jessica D. Adams and The Underground Toy Society at her website, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Goodreads.
The Underground Toy Society is available on Amazon now!
Bookshine And Readbows 
Thank you so much! Glad to hear you and your kids liked the story!
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