Commander Toad in Space

Commander Toad #1

by Jane Yolen, Bruce Degen (Illustrator)

Young fans of Star Trek and silliness will toad-ally love Commander Toad!

Brave Commander Toad and the crew of the spaceship Star Warts have a mission: they must go where no spaceship has gone before and bring a little bit of earth out to the alien stars. But when they try to land their sky skimmer on the planet made of water, a terrible sound rises from the waves. Deep Wader is not pleased at being disturbed. "This planet belongs to me," he roars. It looks as though the crew of the Star Warts might become the monster's lunch.

Genres: Childrens, Science Fiction, Picture Books, Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Aliens

64 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1980

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Commander Toad is a spoof on Star Wars and Star Trek. Their space ship is Star Warts. There is Luke Skyjumper and the ship is shaped like a swimming frog. It is all cute and I appreciate the references. They go down to the surface of a new water planet like in Star Trek. Their vehicle is not the best vessel I have seen.

The story was cute and silly. It is a young reader. My niece read it and said it was ok. She gave it 3 stars but didn’t really recommend it. It’s by Jane Yolen, who I love so I wanted to read it. I was surprised it is from 1980, and it really is. That’s a long career.

[Lara's · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis : Brave Commmander Toad and his crew are out on another grand adventure aboard their spaceship "Star Warts".
Review : O.K. so the Star Wars and Star Trek puns paired with the graphite drawings are a little bit dated for those of us old enough to remember. However, it's a great adventure that brave Commander Toad sets out upon. With his clever crew of smarty pants Mr. Hop, female tech-support Lt. Lily, little go-getter Jake Skyjumper (yes, I know) their mission is to basically explore what's out there in the great beyond. Faced with multiple challenges and roadblocks the crew work together using their varied strengths and knowledge as a team to get out of some very tight situations. The text is clear and well presented for early readers with a great monster (Deep Wader) to add excitement and danger to the task.
Critical Reviews : One anonymous reader noted, "I read this book series when I was just learning how to read. Much like the Muppets' 'Pigs in Space' only it leans towards Star Trek. Jane Yolen knows how to tell a story- and this is a great book for young readers".

[Libby Ames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great series in the easy reader category, Commander Toad is full of puns and space movie parodies. In their ship the Star Warts, Commander Toad and his crew cruise through the universe bringing a little bit of Earth to other planets. The vocabulary as well as the humor is perfectly matched for six to seven year olds. As a result Anna (6) and Michael (32 going on 7) are highly entertained. Peter (2 1/2) likes the space ships and aliens.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the easy reading chapter book series about Commander Toad and his crew of the spaceship Star Warts. Loosely inspired on the Star Trek adventures, this engaging story describes what happened when the crew landed on a water planet and encountered the dangerous Deep Wader. This will appeal to young readers who enjoy science fiction, space monsters, and clever wordplay.

"'I always carry candles,'
says Commander Toad,
'in case of birthdays
and other emergencies.'"

"'You cannot be brave
in someone's stomach,'
says Mr. Hop.
'You cannot be brave
unless you are first
very much afraid,'
says Commander Toad."

[CLM · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this for my nephews, but they and I were not impressed. The plot was a sort of Star Wars/Star Trek spoof and the characters not memorable.

[David Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and my daughter loved this book. So much. I miss reading it aloud.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely qualifies as SF, even though the science is ridiculous. Anyone who loved ST:TOS would get a kick out of this gentle spoof, avl to borrow free on openlibrary.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Yolen is a master at wordplay. I’m not sure the intended audience will understand all the word play but the adults helping them read the book certainly will enjoy it. Commander Toad in Space is an early reader book. It is not written in chapters but it is long enough to be a first chapter book.
Bruce Degen’s illustrations complement the text well and help make the story even more interesting.
Commander Toad in Space could easily fit in the early reader section of a k-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for early elementary children. The book could also be used as a reading group book selection.
I received a complimentary copy of Commander Toad in Space. This is my honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Commander Toad drives the action, with the other characters being sidelined and under-developed. Jake Skyjumper could easily be removed with no real effect on the story and seems to be present only to reference Star Wars. Similarly, Mr. Hop and Lieutenant Lily offer minimal assistance to Commander Toad as they attempt to escape Deep Wader, while mimicking characters from Star Trek.

As a Break-of-Day-Book from Coward-McCann (others include the Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat), Commander Toad is intended for beginning readers in primary grades but is not written using a controlled vocabulary. Most of the language is simple, if somewhat choppy, and typeface and book design are appropriate for an easy reader. However, some vocabulary (“fiddle-faddle and folderol”) may require adult explanation. The complex sentence structure may also be more appropriate for older readers or cooperative reading between adults and children.

Most of Bruce Degen’s illustrations complement the text appropriately, providing clues to the reader to decipher the more complex language. Pictures alternate between black and white sketches and four color drawings in crayon. However, the color scheme is harsh and uninviting and some pictures are included merely to occupy white space without offering any real supplement for the text. Commander Toad and his crew also remain largely expressionless and dull throughout the illustrations, failing to endear them to the reader.

Overall, not the usual caliber of Yolen's work. You can easily skip this and other works in the series.

[Abbie Shawano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book had a great appeal to young readers, particularly targets at boys. Although girls would also enjoy this book, I think the cover would draw in more boys than girls. Growing up, I remember loving the Frog and Toad series so I was excited to read this. Jane Yolen could never fail her audiences; I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to young transitioning readers.
In independent reading, I would expect or ask students what kind of figurative language they found within the book. For example; similes, metaphors, describing words, and so on. This book had many descriptions and similes/metaphors to describe what the characters were doing, where they were, and what things looked like. I would also have the students explain to me what genre the book is. They would hopefully say nonfiction, scientific fiction and explain why.
Although this book has larger words and pictures, there are some words that students may not be familiar with. It is an easy book to read, with hints of appropriately difficult vocabulary. I also think that the descriptive sentences would be good for young, developing readers to adapt to. This book is a qualitative story, putting rich elements into a shorter book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally checked out Commander Toad in space for my niece. I was wanting an early reader sci-fi book for her, and this fit the bill. My niece liked the book, but I was absolutely stunned by my nephew's reaction to it!

He is four, so I really thought that this book would be too long for him, but that boy was over the moon about Commander Toad in Space! He said, "That was a good adventure," and he was immediately asking me to read the book again. He even loved a couple of pages right out of the book (oops). I mean, Commander Toad was right up there with Spider-Man and Iron Man for him, and nobody gets close to those guys! He reminded me three times tonight to make sure to check out Commander Toad and the Space Pirates for our next story time. I think we have a winner!

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commander Toad and the crew of the Star Warts are ready to explore a new planet made entirely of water. After landing on their inflatable lily pad, they discover they are not alone. Is this planet friendly?

This is a fun adventure that introduces us to Toad and his crew. The story is fasted pace, the easy reader vocabulary is perfect, and the pictures are fun. There are some nice puns, and adults will get a kick out of the science fiction spoofs.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story the crew go to a watery planet to explore. In true amphibian fashion the crew deploys inflatable lily pads to land on.

What the crew doesn't know is that danger lurks under the surface. Fearing that they will either be stranded or killed, Commander Toad must think of a way to rescue himself and his crew. What he does is rather clever.

While Commander Toad in Space doesn't have as many puns and jokes as the other book in the series but the book makes up for it in terms of good science fiction.

[Melanie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever want to go into space like the characters from Star Trek or be like apart or Star War? Well in Commander Toad in Space is the captain of a ship called Star Warts.He goes where no spaceship has gone before. He also has a fine crew to accompany him on his voyage in space. This book was a Garden State Children’s Book Award winner and a Junior Literary Guild Book. It is also on the Reading Rainbow selection and one of the series that won the Golden Duck Awards, as best children’s Science Fiction Recommended Books.

[Alex Brack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that got me interested in reading when I was in elementary school and I have been trying to find it for years. I worked in a Elementary school for the past 5 years and always, every year, would ask our librarian about this book and if she was going to get it. For me it really opened up my interest in all things space and adventure, but had the hilarity of the Commander and his animal crew. I will have this in my classroom.

[Friend of Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually like Jane Yolen, but I found this book rather boring and difficult to believe. Logan loved it though. He's excited about space and rockets these days, making the transition from trains, and this book was just the ticket. He didn't get any of the references to Star Wars, having never seen it, but enjoyed the story anyway. We've put a couple more of this series on hold at the library.

[Felicity The Magnificent · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, the characters were Commander Toad, Mr. Hop, Lieutenant Lily and Jake Skyjumper. They discovered a planet where nobody has been before, but someone lived there. It was a monster. And the monster was trying to eat them, but they went away before the monster ate them. I liked this book because it was a space book. - by Felicity

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A goofy early reader full of puns and science fiction fantasy. Entertaining, but will drive kids with a scientific bent crazy. (You can't get a rubber raft to float you up to a spaceship by holding a candle near the air intake valve.)

[Sarosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

the commander toad series is my favorite thing to read

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a really good book. J.C.

[Aadel Bussinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book that plays off of Star Wars and Star Trek - but with toads. My 8 year old daughter enjoyed reading it herself and my 3 year old son asks us to read it at bedtime.

[Imperfectlyrua Castle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text of this series is a little lackluster but my 6 year old doesn't seem to notice and I love how the characters and stories parody the original Star Wars and trek stuff.

[Michelle Hernly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since my 7 year old is a huge fan of Star Wars parodies in all forms, he really loved this book and is looking forward to reading the rest of the series together.

[Sam Wojtaszek · Rating 5 out of 5]

You read this out loud to me, your dad, and Grandma Wojtaszek.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it wasn't the one I remembered but the art was still fun.

[Kaija Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really funny. I read it in school, and I liked it.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in this beginning reader series. Very fun take-off on Star Wars.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Commander Toad and his crew travel to go where no spaceship has gone before. Aboard the Star Warts they battle a formidable enemy Deep Wader. Will they come out triumphant?

This is a funny cross between Star Wars and Star Trek in frog form. Complete with the shooting of space guns and a huge foe, this is a humorous space adventure and battle.

[Paige Perrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a great story for a young reader who loves star wars. The story has plenty of star wars puns and references, and would probably be pretty funny to a young reader. Furthermore, the text is big and easy to read.

[Valeria Vlasova · Rating 5 out of 5]

It interesting children book about commander Toad and crew. They are were in the space and looking for a new planet. They find one planet but on this planet was monster which would like to eat them. But they are was saved and again looking for a new planet in the space on their ship.