Traction Man Is Here!

Traction Man

by Mini Grey

Traction Man—wearing combat boots, battle pants, and his warfare shirt—comes in a box, but very quickly finds the way into the imagination of his lucky boy owner. This superhero searches for the Lost Wreck of the Sieve as the boy makes a game of doing the dishes, and later in the bathtub, he conquers the Mysterious Toes that are stealing his pet, the brave little Scrubbing Brush. These are just a few of the action-packed adventures played out by the boy and his new toy that may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but can vanquish all manner of villains lurking around the house. Mini Grey’s story in words and pictures is an irresistible invitation to the private world of a child’s play.

Praise for The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-Be :

“A rib-tickling U.S. debut for Grey, with plenty of sight gags to complement the chatty narrative.”— Kirkus Reviews

“ The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-Be delivers an entertaining spin and a great deal of visual wit.”— The Horn Book

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Adventure, Humor, Superheroes, Fantasy, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 2005

About the author

Mini Grey was given her name after being born in a Mini in a car park in Newport, Wales. She studied for an MA in Sequential Illustration at Brighton under the tutelage of John Vernon Lord. Mini also worked as a primary school teacher in Oxford, where she now lives. Her books includeEgg Drop, The Pea and the Princess (shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), Biscuit Bear(winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Gold Award), Traction Man is Here (winner of the Boston Horn Book Award and shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Bronze Award and winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), and Traction Man meets Turbodog. Mini Grey is one of the Big Picture's ten Best New Illustrators. (source: https://www.penguin.co.uk/puffin/auth...)

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow me to set the scene:

Twenty-eight first graders run in from recess. They're dirty, tired and infected with the wiggles. There's whispering, muttering, sniffling and whining.

Then.

I open this book.

Absolute. Silence.

I only taught summer school for one year but I did read over 70 books to my kids. We were on Superhero Week at school and Traction Man sort of fit the bill. So, I checked it out from my local library.

Nothing - and I repeat - nothing affected my little monsters so wholly as this book. It was like Harry's first day at Hogwarts - pure magic.

The kids who could read, monitored me like the Secret Service. I had to read everything. I had to read all of the main text, then the little text and then the text of the labels and other background ones.

It was a little spooky to see every child so absorbed. BUT, I lived for those silent moments during Reading Time. SO, I decided what the hey - a little magic never hurt anyone.

So, I quickly grabbed the other two Traction Man books and they worked just as well as the first.

Whatever this author is doing - keep it up.

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[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had planned on reviewing a different book today, but, hell, after last night, I think we need all the levity we can get . . .

A little boy gets what he REALLY WANTS for Christmas - a Traction Man Generic Action Figure! Boo-ya! (Warning: Contains small parts and loud shirt. Do not microwave.) Traction Man immediately leaps into action battling some Evil Pillows. Hooray! The Farm Animals are saved!

Then it's on to a very Special Mission - searching for the Lost Wreck of the Sieve.


It's here he meets his swell sidekick, Scrubbing Brush.


NOW, can Traction Man survive his most dangerous challenge yet - having to model Grandma's hand-knitted green romper suit and matching bonnet?


Erp!


I'm pretty sure Buzz Lightyear never had to put up with crap like this!

Oops! Never mind.

I assume you've all met Mrs. Nesbitt?

I loved every square inch of this book. The story is PURE, ACTION-DRIVEN FUN, and the illustrations are so packed with details they beg to be poured over. It is true, as one reviewer complained, that the story is very "boy-centric." Female characters don't get to do much, though I noticed on the car trip to Granny's house, the boy's older sister is reading a pretty hefty-looking copy of Practical Woodworking, so you go saw, girl! There are at least two more Traction Man adventures. I'm banking that he'll eventually meet a Female Generic Action Figure wearing an even louder shirt (Do not microwave.) And, there will be an exciting action-off, the likes of which have never been seen.

But I think we all know it will be Scrubbing Brush who REALLY saves the day!

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Mini Grey's Traction Man is Here would generally not be the kind of book I would personally all that much choose for pleasure reading (and truth be told, I am actually only perusing Traction Man is Here because we are reading Boston Globe-Horn Book Award books in the Children's Literature Group's Picture Book Club and the book was awarded one of the 2005 awards), I have indeed been very much delightfully charmed by Traction Man is Here (mostly because of the imaginative role playing and how the humour of Traction Man repeatedly "saving" both toys and common household tools such as a submerged in dishwater sieve has not only left me smiling and chuckling with glee but has also nostalgically caused me to remember how as children, how as nine and ten year olds, my best friend and I would play and act out rather similar such scenarios with our Barbies, how we ALWAYS had Barbie saving either some of my Playmobil figures or my Ken doll, whom we usually ended up displaying and presenting as an utterly silly and childish male damsel in distress, to the horror of both my parents and my little brother, who became even more livid when Angela and I also had our Barbies sometimes kidnap and then later protect his treasured G.I. Joe action figures). Definitely a fun story, with great entertainment value and often very much hilarious illustrations, I am most definitely happily surprised at how much I have enjoyed Traction Man is Here (but I do have to wonder a bit whether many adults do like me love Traction Man is Here mostly and primarily because of the fond memories of childhood imaginative playtime that both Mini Grey's narrative and her accompanying pictures have or at least can have the tendency to sweetly and nostalgically engender).

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

What fun! Fans of "Toy Story" will love "Traction Man Is Here!" as it follows the adventures of Traction Man throughout his adventures (led by the imagination of a little boy). I love how the imagination makes everyday "chores" (such as doing the dishes or taking a bath) fabulous opportunities for Traction Man to save the day! :-) I do wish that Grey had used more creative names for some of the everyday objects Traction Man encounters (I think most kids are more creative than her names indicate) but overall this is a joyous ode to the bond between child and toy--and a celebration of imagination.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

15 May 2021

Part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.

I am currently 62 books behind if I had started January 1st, which I didn't. I'm only 96 behind for my regular reading challenge, which is doubled for the year. Will I make it? Will I get close? The suspense is killing me.

Out of curiosity I checked my reading stats. Of books I've entered in GoodReads, 429 is the most for a single year. In the years before GoodReading I used several different methods and databases, so I don't expect I'll ever get all of them in.

Because every time you read a book it is different: Since the previous time I read this I read Dazzle Ships: World War I and the Art of Confusion. So, for the first time I get the "dazzle-painted battle pants" joke.


***

2011 August 04

Still brilliant, still amusing. the Offspring are still amused by the knitted romper from Granny.

***

2009 March 19

I've been wanting to reread this ever since the sequel was released. It's a wonderful story about a child's imagination, and the pictures are a hoot. I love Scrubbing Brush, particularly.

On a sidenote, I'm always amused when I discover that I tend to read the same authors at the same time of year. Sure, it makes sense reading A Christmas Carol in December, but why would Grey recur in March?

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am going to be a killjoy about this one, which my kids love. I'm disappearing it the next time I do a book purge.

I like the premise, which is all about an action figure and a little boy's imagination. You never see the kid but it is pretty impossible to imagine that the child in question is not a boy. I have a girl child who would love a Traction Man of her own, but there is just no way to insert her into this narrative. That's fine -- there is nothing wrong with books about boys. I just don't think they need to be quite as girl-hating as this one is.

My killjoy objections have to do with two throwaway scenes here. The first is a scene where a bad guy (the characters are all toys or household objects) kidnaps a feminine character to make her his "wife," which is really not a funny joke in any context, and pretty messed-up to include in a story for kids. The other is a scene where the hero rescues a bunch of naked Barbie dolls from a pit, and they breathlessly ask, "How can we ever repay you?" It's one of those cultural tropes that, if you think about it, just doesn't belong in a kids' book.

Those damsels in distress, plus the unseen Grandma who knits Traction Man's embarrassing jungle suit, are the only female representations. Which, as I said, is fine; books about boys are great. But this book hates girls and it doesn't need space on our bookshelves.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delight!!! It reminded me of a Toy Story beginning (which I consider quite high praise!), where the toys are being played with by Andy. Yet a very different style here, because here everything Traction Man does is through the play.

What I love is the kid's imagination and how fantastic and fun the adventures are that he creates for Traction Man! Turning everyday chores into something exciting becomes a breeze when Traction Man is around!

And just when things didn't seem like they could get any funnier, Grandma *knits* Traction Man a green suit! With matching hat! Hm... very nice of her, but I wonder how long Traction Man will have to wear it?

This book is a delight in both text and illustrations, and is sure to be enjoyed by young and adults alike! I wanted to pour over all the detailed illustrations even now, and I'm sure I would have had it out for hours when I was little, looking at every inch of the pictures.

Definitely a recommended title!!!

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely brilliant. A small boy receives Traction Man, an action figure, for Christmas. From then, Traction Man and his faithful sidekick Scrubbing Brush have amazing adventures together, defeating the Evil Pillows, rescuing the Dollies and Spoons.

This is a fabulous book to inspire creative play in a Reception class, and oral story telling and writing in Y1 or 2, especially if the class topic is Toys and Games. The comic style layout is very attractive to read, and detailed illustrations mean that it would be fantastic to share using a visualiser on an interactive whiteboard. Highly recommended!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this immensely entertaining picture-book from English children's author and artist Mini Grey, a young boy receives a new Traction Man hero-figure for Christmas, and proceeds to put him through his paces, in a variety of imaginary play scenarios. From scuba diving in the sink to crawling through the "jungle" near the pond, Traction Man is always triumphant, and always suitably dressed for the job! Then he is confronted with the green knitted romper suit that Granny has made for him. Can a super-hero be a super-hero, in such a get-up? Fortunately for Traction Man, his reliable sidekick, Scrubbing Brush, comes to the rescue...

Chosen as one of our December selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is toys, Traction Man Is Here! is a hilarious tale of a boy and his toy, and the adventures they have together. Although the boy is often out of the picture, it is clear that it is he, and not Traction Man, who is directing the action, making the resolution of the green romper suit issue all the more humorous. With bright, appealing artwork, and an engaging story that emphasizes the boy's imagination - I particularly liked the Poisonous Dishcloth monster, and the Scrubbing Brush dog - this is a book that young kids with a sense of humor, and a fondness for imaginative play will appreciate!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't we have a boys' book that doesn't hate girls? Naked Barbies and a cupcake need to be rescued, and Grandma's knitted creations are not appreciated (but the fake thank yous keep her knitting year after year). Too bad, because it is a cute ode to the imagination and not overly violent or filled with villains.

[Qt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun and imaginative! Love the detailed pictures and Traction Man is a great hero :-)

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny story about an action figure, a super hero.

Packed in his box and lying wrapped at the bottom of the bed waiting to be opened, is a Christmas present. Inside Traction Man, dressed in his combat gear, is ready to save the planet, starting with his quest against the ‘Evil Pillows’ to save some farm animals. Then at breakfast, he guards the toast, which is lying helplessly on a plate. But wait, what is next? He has volunteered for a Special Mission, so donning his ‘Sub Aqua Suit, Fluorescent Flippers and Infra-Red Mask’ he braves the foamy waters of the sink in search of the ‘Lost Wreck of the Sieve’; unfortunately the poisonous Dishcloth attacks him but Traction Man is saved by the Scrubbing Brush, who then becomes his pet.

The story continues with a wealth of rescues: in the garden, the bathroom and on the journey to Granny’s House. Here Traction Man is surprised by his present from Granny, an all-in-one knitted green romper suit and matching bonnet. However Traction Man looks less than happy and appears somewhat unsure of his jungle outfit, but it doesn’t stop his from rescuing the Cupcake from Doctor Sock and the Spoons who have crashed down from the VERY high Kitchen Cliff. With the help of Scrubbing Brush, he unravels the wool from his suit; Scrubbing Brush ties up the Spoons then Traction Man hoists them all to safety. Left with only the remains of his suit (a pair of knitted trunks and his bonnet) Traction Man relaxes, proudly wearing a hula hoop medal presented by the Spoons.

Modesty prevails and Traction Man responds, ’It’s all in a day’s work’.

This is a great action story with colourful pictures and plenty of imaginative ideas together with descriptive writing. It is ideal for EYFS and KS1 and could be used for Literacy, PSHE, Art, D&T and Geography. I have seen it used for Year 1 Drama and it definitely allowed the children to create many ideas and action poses, together with feelings vocabulary and expression, through to creating a human interactive garden. Thoroughly enjoyable!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traction Man Is Here by Mini Grey is the first in this series. Traction Man, wearing combat boots, battle pants, & his warfare shirt, comes in a box, but very quickly finds the way into the imagination and child's play of his lucky boy owner.

This superhero searches for the Lost Wreck of the Sieve as the boy makes a game of doing the dishes, & later in the bathtub, he conquers the Mysterious Toes that are stealing his pet, the brave little Scrubbing Brush. At Granny's, Traction Man receives a jungle green knitted outfit for Christmas that amuses evil Dr. Sock. Will Traction Man be able to rescue his self worth, self esteem, and reputation?

This is a great book for reluctant readers & for kids who enjoy making up stories when they play. The mix of play fantasy & everyday interactions with parents & relatives is quite entertaining. The gift from Granny is a challenge that Traction Man can & will overcome!

The comic book look, with occasionaly word bubbles as in graphic novels, should really attract kids. I really enjoy the detailed illustrations by Mini Grey showing many household and outside views (I especially enjoyed the clutter around the back of the boy's bed.) Among my favorite illustrations are the letter on the title page, the Traction Man box, Traction Man diving in the sink, Traction Man saving the dollies, Traction Man fighting the Mysterious Toes, Traction Man in his new outfit, Traction Man rescuing the young spoons, and Traction Man and Scrubbing Brush relaxing.

The imagination & creativity of Traction Man will provide possibilities for expanding the story with activities. The action and dialog will attract readers. I recommend this humorous book for school and public library collections.

For ages 3 to 8, boys, imagination, adventures, super heroes, action figures, fantasy, toys, and fans of Mini Grey.

[Megan Chard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traction Man is an amazing super hero who guards toast, saves animals from evil pillows, flies in a rocket shoe, and has a pet scrubbing brush who is ready for anything...or is he?

Mini Grey has writen an exciting book which is perfect for Key Stage One and Year 3 students recommended to get boys insterested in reading and writing. The character is a young boys Christmas present who saves a number of characters from tricky situations. The illustrations are very creative which children and adults enjoy looking at in more detail.

I have been using this in my year 2 placement class where the children have acted the story out, created toy adverts, photographed scenes they made with props, and wrote their own playscript. Boys and girls enjoyed reading this book and would read it to each other during guided reading sessions. A book that gets children excited is well worth keeping hold of.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book the first time I read it, years ago, and I have re-read it several times, and I still love it. It is simply a fun and hilarious story of a young boy, and the adventures he creates for his male action doll. The boy is in the scene only a few times; mostly the reader sees the action from Traction Man's point of view. For a doll, he certainly has a lot of great facial expressions, especially when he has to put on his green knitted romper suit and bonnet from Grandma. How he manages to get rid of the suit is even funnier. The illustrations are great, and do a wonderful job of depicting the adventures and silliness. Some of the illustrations are full-page and some are in panels. The text is typed onto what look like papers cut or torn from a graph notebook.

[Jasmine Longworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to a class during my time in a school. The class found the book really funny so it was lovely to read to them. I thought the illustrations in the book were really good and the book had some great ideas.

[Nickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The children in year one loved the simplicity of this story and the literacy lessons around it allowed them to focus on speech bubbles which aided their final piece which was creating their own comic strip.

[Hannah Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traction Man is Here
There is so much potential with this book. It is a fun and interactive story and creates lots of opportunity to talk about the story from different characters’ viewpoints, developing language and an awareness of character development.
English
- Writing from another characters’ viewpoint
- Writing from the perspective of Traction Man
- Traction Man diary
- What would happen if? Rewriting a bit of the story
- Writing Traction’s man next adventures. Making a class book of Traction Man’s adventures as a long term goal/ outcome
- Book talk
- How do you think Traction Man is feeling? And how can we tell

Maths
- Prices of different toys

Science and DT
- Making parachutes out of different materials and working out the best design, then dropping traction man from a height and see what the best design is
History
- Tenuous link to heroes of history as Traction Man is a type of hero. Debating and discussing what makes a hero in history
Art
- Giving inanimate objects characteristics

[Nicola Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic engaging and imaginative book which I loved reading. I found myself getting lost in the creative imagination of a young boy an the way in which he catapults Traction man to life. The story begins with a young boy writing a letter to Santa asking for Traction Man and consequently receiving the action figure and his catchy slogan 'Have no Fear! Traction Man is here!'. The story follows that Traction Man and his faithful Scrubbing Brush sidekick have amazing experiences together and seek out adventure every minute of the day. These adventures follow Traction Man and his Scrubbing Brush sidekick battle against oncoming Broom of Doom and the vicious Sponge from the Bottom of the Sink to defeating the Evil Pillows and rescuing the Dollies and Spoons.

I loved this book due to the sense of excitement and invigoration which I experienced as I was taken through the adventures of Traction Man and his trusty sidekick. I would recommend this book for Year 1 or Year 2 as I think this age group would particularly enjoy the exciting and playful feel of the book. I think that this book would be an excellent tool to use in order to aid the opening of a child's imagination to the topics of Drama, Art and Literacy in particular. It would be a useful tool in order to encourage and provide examples of how to carry out creative writing and inspire children to design their own creations both visually through artistic sketches or through scripted or written story-writing. I also think that it could be a great tool to use as a group in terms of Drama, in that you could have the class create their own imaginative version of the story and get them to act out this version as a group. You could even get them to sketch their imagined scenes and add them to a scrapbook which could become their own unique version of the adventure book.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wasn't sure what to expect from this story. I'd never heard of it before, but it was featured as one of the selections for the Toys themed reads for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

I was really pleasantly surprised. The story was hilarious and so were the illustrations. The little boy's imagination is so fun to see as his toys come alive for him and have exciting adventures. The humiliation of a hand-knit green romper suit (with matching hat) is perfectly executed and I can imagine that more than one child can empathize with poor Traction Man. Overall, this was a very entertaining story and while it likely will appeal most to young boys, our girls and I really enjoyed it too. I'm so glad that we discovered this little gem!

I see that there are three books featuring Traction Man, so we will certainly have to look for the other two at our local library.

This book was also selected as one of the books for the September 2018 - Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Picture Book Winners 2000-2009 discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Sarap · Rating 5 out of 5]

I encountered this book during SEB and was very excited by it! The illustrations are amazing and really allow the imagination o run wild! Follow 'Traction Man's' adventure as he goes on numerous missions and adventures to rescue different things/people starting off with fighting the evil cusions and saving the farm yard animals, to rescuing the dolls from being buried alive!

This book was used for yr 1 class and can be used in many different ways linking with drama, literacy, design and technology. After reading this book children can create their own super hero (with costume and all!) and go on a real rescue mission coming across oceans, mountains, bears in the deep dark forest and lying up to tackle the fierce dragon in the sky! Go all out with this book and let children's imagination run with the wind!

Highly recommend this for EYFS and KS1, and hopefully will get for my own book collection

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story about an action figure who is a gift for a young boy. Once Traction Man is out of the box he is full of surprises! He goes on many missions throughout the house; in the kitchen sink with evil dish cloth, in the bath tub with the wriggly toes and in the bedroom with the evil pillow. This story book is full of action packed adventure and a great book to bring into many lessons.

KS1 love this book. This was the topic book for my year 1 class and we incorporated it into lots of different lessons. We created our own evil characters and described them in literacy, we created our own new scene/ mission of the living room in design technology, we did some drama work and script writing based on our new mission and also used Traction Man and his belongings when learning about bar charts and also with money within numeracy. Children always picked this book up during reading time and loved reading it over and over. It was definitely a winner!

[(NS) Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traction Man, who wears combat boots, battle pants, and his warfare shirt, comes in a box like many action figures. However, he is found and owned by a very imaginative little boy. The superhero goes on many action filled adventures, like leaping buildings, that his owner sets his mind out for. This book is a wonderful way to experience the way an imaginative child carries out play.

I thought this book was truly funny and a wonderful way for children to make connections to their personal imagination and play. I would definitely recommend this book to young boys who are not typically engaged in traditional picture books. While reading this book I felt like a kid again, so I can’t even imagine how hooked a young child would be. I enjoyed how the illustrations were innovative and fast moving creating a very interactive story.

[Alma Begum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is action packed, full of mini adventures in familiar settings (garden, sink, and bedroom). Traction Man is an action figure doll, who dresses in different outfits for different adventures and saves the day! He has a pet dog called Scrubbing Brush, who is his ‘side kick’ they help each other, fighting ‘evil- the baddies’.
This story will engage both girls and boys and allows your imagination to run wild as the description and ideas are funny, creative and adventurous. The story is repetitive and the pictures are very detailed so all children can have access to it; even if their reading skills are not advanced. By the end of the story you will want to read more and don’t worry you can as there are sequels to the story ‘Traction Man and Turbo Dog’.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It is about an action figure named Traction Man who has a trusty sidekick called Scrubbing Bush and together they defeat the Evil Pillows, Professor Spade and save the spoons.
I feel this book would be great to use within a Reception or KS1 class as it excites their imagination and allows them to relate to the story.
This book can be used to promote play and would relate nicely to a toys and games topic, as well as inspire writing activities.
I have personally used this book within the classroom and would recommend it to those with young children. A great read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy gets a new Traction Man for Christmas. This story traces Traction Man's adventures through breakfast, in the backyard, and at Granny's house. Granny knits an unfortunate green romper suit for Traction Man but he uses the horrid outfit to save the spoons from the evil broom.

Students will active imaginations and a love of their super hero toys will love this book. I especially like that Traction Man is clearly a toy and yet the story features his adventures, not simply the imaginative playings of a child. Recommended for students in grades 1 and 2.

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What in the world did I just read. Traction Man is a strange book. Little boys and their dads will probably be the most amused by this and honestly even then this book would probably be funnier to dads.

I will try this book with kid at a later date as she's on vacation with her grandparents. It's definitely a strange book, very masculine to the point of being a bit sexist and stereotypical.

I wavered between 3 and 4 stars. I do appreciate funny and there needs to be a place in kid's literature for the uber masculine male, BUT... I dunno, I'll have to kid test it.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy gets a Traction Man action figure for Christmas and the second he is opened, the adventure begins. Traction Man battles evil pillows, escapes a poisonous dishcloth, acquires a sidekick, and survives the embarrassment of Granny's Christmas gift. Grey captures the special bond that children have with their toys in this fun, adventurous story.

The bright, comic-like illustrations bring the young boy's imagination to life.

[Dest · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the Bush School library the head librarian sewed a green jumpsuit for a Ken doll so they'd have their own Traction Man. They even painted a face on a little brush so he could have his sidekick.

[Anne Maddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traction man with his outfits to match every adventure is the much-wanted Christmas gift of a young boy. With the help of the boy’s imagination, Traction Man immediately sets about many dangerous missions – guarding toast, searching lost wrecks, battling mysterious toes, and many more. Things start to unravel for Traction Man when he is presented with a Christmas gift from the boy’s knitting-mad Granny.
The format of this book is an almost comic strip style with speech bubbles and text boxes which look like they have been stuck on the page. This adds to the adventure and delight of this delightful book, which can be used as a platform for many literacy tasks in the key stage one age group.
It is also a book that many adults should enjoy reading to children as it is reminiscent of their own childhood, remembering where many a good adventure was thought of featuring Barbie and Action Man, particularly when Traction Man delivers the line “Think nothing of it ladies” after rescuing three dolls from the Wicked Professor Spade.