Toad Away

by Morris Gleitzman

Overview

Limpy the toad has a vision. A world where cane toads and humans play mudslides together and help each other with the shopping. But how does a young cane toad discover the ancient secret of living in peace with humans?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781740932127
Publisher:	Bolinda Publishing
Publication date:	03/28/2004
Edition description:	Unabridged
Product dimensions:	4.86(w) x 6.96(h) x 0.82(d)
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

About the Author

Morris Gleitzman has been a frozen-chicken thawer, sugar-mill rolling-stock unhooker, fashion-industry trainee, department-store Santa, TV producer, newspaper columnist, screenwriter, and finally, a children's book author. He lives in Australia.

Editorial Reviews

The amphibious cast of Toad Rage ("saucy fun from start to finish," according to PW) returns for a third installment, Toad Away by Morris Gleitzman. Testing his Aunty Pru's theory that "friendship is possible between all species," Limpy heads to the Amazon to discover how cane toads might live peacefully with humans. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Gr 3-6-Limpy, the pacifist cane toad, continues his noble quest to make friends with humans in this third entry in the zany Australian series. He is convinced that making peace is the way to stop humankind from flattening his relatives on the highway. His cousin Goliath, a perfect caricature of a gruff, dimwitted platoon sergeant, prefers to wage war. Hearing that their Amazonian relatives have discovered the secret to a peaceful coexistence between human and toad, Limpy, his sister, and Goliath hitch a ride on some migratory birds and rush to uncover the mystery. Finding the Amazon to be a murderous war zone with hostility among all of its animal inhabitants, the toads think their mission is hopeless-until they find that all humans are not bent on destroying them, and one in particular-an ancient wise man-reveals the sought-after secret. Ecological and peace-loving messages are nicely woven into the text, and all the toads have appealingly distinct personalities. A loving sibling relationship adds a gentle touch. The plot moves quickly, and there is enough kooky humor to hold children's interest. Although the book stands on its own, readers may seek out the earlier adventures. Animal fantasy fans will be delighted with this unusual perspective on the world and will be gobsmacked when they learn the secret to peaceful coexistence. A helpful glossary of tricky Australian lingo is included.-Quinby Frank, formerly at Green Hedges School, Vienna, VA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

In his third outing (Toad Rage, 2004; Toad Heaven, 2005), Limpy the cane-toad peacenik travels all the way to the Amazon in search of an end to the bitter "war" humans seem determined to fight against all his ugly kind. Deciding that the secret to peace, if there is one, must be with his remotest ancestors, Limpy (along with his militant, dimwitted cousin Goliath and brilliant little sister Charm) leaves behind his carefully-tended stacks of dried out, road-killed "rellies" for distant South America. But rather than landing in the expected haven, he finds the jungle teeming with "thousands of creatures trying to hurt and maim and kill each other and eat one another's brains." As it happens, there actually is a solution to war there, too. Suffice it to say that Goliath's seemingly suicidal urge to attack humanity by scratching the finish on its cars and peeing in its drinks actually turns out to have some merit. There's a pacifist message somewhere beneath all the casual killing, poo jokes and warty angst in this slash-and-burn satire; maybe some readers will be able to see it. The appended glossary of Aussie slang is anything but superfluous. (Fantasy. 11-13)

Kirkus Reviews

Limpy the cane toad continues his persistent efforts to teach humans not to hate his species. Limpy keeps dead “rellies” (relatives) stacked up in his room, much to the chagrin of his mother, who would prefer a clean room. Embarking on a heroic expedition, Limpy hops (pun intended) planes from his home in Australia to the Amazon, in search of the ancient secret of keeping the peace with humans. Remarkable encounters delight the listener--especially with the carrier pigeons, who reluctantly carry amphibian passengers but refuse to tolerate their complaints. Author Morris Gleitzman is a talented reader who has a twinkle in his voice. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

DEC 04/JAN 05 - AudioFile