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Toy Academy #2
Ready for Action (Toy Academy #2)
The second hilarious and heartwarming illustrated chapter book from the writer of the blockbuster film Minions ! Grumbolt is majoring in action!He's finally getting to follow his dreams at Toy Academy, from learning daring maneuvers, to getting paired up with a sidekick! Grumbolt can't wait to find out who his sidekick is... until it turns out that he's the sidekick. And to school bully Rex Everything, no less. This duo will never work.But when a toy named Tempest Boomcloud kidnaps a classmate and steals Rex's van, it looks like Grumbolt and Rex will have to work together to stop Tempest's evildoing and figure out why she's terrorizing them. Can they stop fighting long enough to brave dangerous lairs, vanquish terrifying teddy bears, and stop Tempest?This laugh-out-loud chapter book by Brian Lynch, the writer of Minions and a writer of The Secret Life of Pets , and illustrated by Edwardian Taylor, is stuffed full of action and fun.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published January 29, 2019
6 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Brian Lynch
232 books73 followersBrian Michael Lynch is an American film and comic book writer.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 13, 2019
There’s a really special magic to what Brian Lynch does here. It’s a simple concept; toys who must learn their purpose, and immediately accessible and understandable to kids. At first blush, it may seem *too simple* to adults, but that’s where the skill and insight Lynch brings to work come in.
He takes this idea and seemingly “simple” arcs— finding one’s purpose when feeling different, working with seeming rivals and finding common ground— and weaves a truly **inventive**, clever and well constructed story that always follows its own universe’s set of rules.
As an adult, reading these books to my nephew, I was struck by the ability Lynch has to write on several levels at once, serving multiple “masters” simultaneously. It is accessible and understandable to the grade schoolers it is written for, but it is also **plotted** intricately and intelligently at a level beyond the “grade reading level” of the book... but not beyond the comprehension of the young reader. it Both books now feel emotionally satisfying and *complete* as stories, because of this plotting. The “gears” of the arcs he weaves all interlock, with each character and toy type introducing their own wrinkles and twists to the narrative, while building it.
In short, the “simple” prose belies a smart and complex emotional journey that is well thought out and *feels* solid and earned by the end.
AND all this while being inventively laugh-out-loud funny, in the manner that Warner Brothers cartoons used to be— where adults and children both laught, but the adults see more of what made the jokes so clever.
In short, this book and its previous installment, are treasures. They’re clearly written with heart, they’re funny, and there’s an honest sense of decency that shines through at every moment.
He takes this idea and seemingly “simple” arcs— finding one’s purpose when feeling different, working with seeming rivals and finding common ground— and weaves a truly **inventive**, clever and well constructed story that always follows its own universe’s set of rules.
As an adult, reading these books to my nephew, I was struck by the ability Lynch has to write on several levels at once, serving multiple “masters” simultaneously. It is accessible and understandable to the grade schoolers it is written for, but it is also **plotted** intricately and intelligently at a level beyond the “grade reading level” of the book... but not beyond the comprehension of the young reader. it Both books now feel emotionally satisfying and *complete* as stories, because of this plotting. The “gears” of the arcs he weaves all interlock, with each character and toy type introducing their own wrinkles and twists to the narrative, while building it.
In short, the “simple” prose belies a smart and complex emotional journey that is well thought out and *feels* solid and earned by the end.
AND all this while being inventively laugh-out-loud funny, in the manner that Warner Brothers cartoons used to be— where adults and children both laught, but the adults see more of what made the jokes so clever.
In short, this book and its previous installment, are treasures. They’re clearly written with heart, they’re funny, and there’s an honest sense of decency that shines through at every moment.
January 23, 2019
{My thoughts} – Grumbolt is back with an all new adventure. In this adventure he gets to major in action at the Toy Academy. This is a really big deal because he is a stuffed critter, and they aren’t usually considered action figures. However, since he was able to help save the Academy in the last book, he was given the opportunity to switch majors.
In this adventure he teams up with his friend Micro and a few others and the help to try and save Toy Academy once again. However, Micro gets paired with a sidekick and Grumbolt becomes someone else’s sidekick. This isn’t exactly what he’d thought switching majors was suppose to mean for him. He does do his best to handle it the best he can and he tries to look at things in a positive light. However, that isn’t always easy for him when he feels he isn’t adequate enough to be an action hero, let alone a sidekick.
I really like how this book helps to show children that even if they don’t think they are good enough at one thing or another. That it’s okay as long as they try their best and they don’t give up. I like that it shows children that you can make some new friends in the most unlikely places as well.
I found this book to be a quick and fun read. I think that any child could fall in love with the character of Grumbolt, because he is just a lovable character in my opinion. If you have a child that enjoys movies like the Toy Story Series, I am sure they will fall fastly in love with this book series.
In this adventure he teams up with his friend Micro and a few others and the help to try and save Toy Academy once again. However, Micro gets paired with a sidekick and Grumbolt becomes someone else’s sidekick. This isn’t exactly what he’d thought switching majors was suppose to mean for him. He does do his best to handle it the best he can and he tries to look at things in a positive light. However, that isn’t always easy for him when he feels he isn’t adequate enough to be an action hero, let alone a sidekick.
I really like how this book helps to show children that even if they don’t think they are good enough at one thing or another. That it’s okay as long as they try their best and they don’t give up. I like that it shows children that you can make some new friends in the most unlikely places as well.
I found this book to be a quick and fun read. I think that any child could fall in love with the character of Grumbolt, because he is just a lovable character in my opinion. If you have a child that enjoys movies like the Toy Story Series, I am sure they will fall fastly in love with this book series.
August 13, 2019
Another addition in the Toy Academy series, Ready for Action is funny, witty and perfect for adventure-driven readers who are looking to experiment with a novel instead of their go-to graphic novel. Black and white illustrations accompany each page, chapters are short and the story is just silly-enough to keep readers giggling as they find out what will happen next. Grumbolt, a short cuddly bear, has been given admittance to Toy Academy to train to protect fellow toys from villains and enemies to Toy World. Grumbolt, along with good friend Micro and least-favorite person Rex Everything, compete through a variety of challenges to prove their metal to Professor Goldhawk. On one particular training day, students get to find out who will be their sidekick. Grumbolt’s joy soon evaporates when he discovers that Goldhawk gave him the role of sidekick to Rex Everything. Rex is mean and self-centered and rather than work together to be a great team, Rex lets Grumbolt know in no uncertain terms that he is inferior and useless. Grumbolt is disheartened but when Toy Academy is attacked by Tempest Boomcloud, a discontinued toy, Grumbolt actually does quite a bit to save the day, earning Rex’s respect and friendship. A light-hearted, quick read, students who enjoy the Toy Story franchise will love this look into the secret world of toys.
Grades 3-6.
Grades 3-6.
February 12, 2019
Good gosh! This was one of the worst books I’ve had to endure for a while. My five year old son gives this a full five stars by the way. I gave it two stars for his sake. This book is clearly meant to be a self reader for an emergent reader. It is a terrible read aloud with popsicle stick characters. I’m used to much more interesting read aloud a for him of things like poppy by avi or the book maya the bee. This again would be fine as a self reader but I do not recommend as a read aloud.
April 19, 2021
Gumbolt is the first stuffed animal to major in action at the toy academy, but he is selected to be a sidekick during a training exercise. Meanwhile, a discarded and overlooked action figure is exacting her revenge against those who has forgotten her. Gumbolt and his classmates team-up to thwart her plans, after being told to stand down, and not leave the campus grounds. Action awaits, and new found friendships are forged as well.
February 9, 2019
"No one has their stuffing together!" Love this beginning chapter book series. Great illustrations.
May 20, 2019
Writing isnt complex compared to classics we’ve been reading, so I don’t care for reading this out loud.
I do love grumbolt though! He’s a great character
I do love grumbolt though! He’s a great character
June 25, 2019
Pretty good read liked the new characters for book #2 especially key bee.
September 13, 2019
Cartoonish. Action. Cute- “Tempest Boomcloud is going to unleash the Teddy Bears.”
December 17, 2020
Read aloud
December 7, 2021
I love it
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews