Teddy's Favorite Toy
Brown-skinned Teddy has many cool toys, but his favorite is “Bren-Da, Warrior Queen of Pacifica,” who looks like an off-brand Barbie. With her impeccable manners, “sickest fighting skills,” and ability to rock a vast range of outfits (including a sandwich bag still containing pretzels), Bren-Da stars as the lead in Teddy’s imaginative play, until the day her leg snaps off. Teddy tries to fix her— unsuccessfully—before he heads off to school, leaving Bren-Da bundled in a wad of tape on his bed. His well-intentioned mother chooses that day to tidy Teddy’s room, and tosses the maimed doll out with the trash. When a panicked Teddy reports that his prize toy is missing, his mom springs into an impressive action mode that mirrors how Teddy plays with Brend-Da, saving both the doll and the day. This celebration of unstructured play affirms Teddy’s cherished toy choice while never directly commenting on its break with traditional gender expectations. ©2019 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Madeline Valentine
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 3-7
Age Range:
Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Humor
Imagination/Imaginary Play
Lost and Found
Mothers
Diversity subject:
Brown Skin Unspecified
Gender Nonconformity
Publishers:
Atheneum, Simon & Schuster
Publish Year: 2018
Pages: 40
ISBN: 9781481480796
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Trimmer