Delightful (The Toy Hospital - Elaine Mills)

Member Name: Krystal

Product:	The Toy Hospital - Elaine Mills
Date:	26/04/01 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely children's story

Disadvantages: n/a

I came across this book quite by accident, I had ordered a set of 10 assorted children's books from the wonderful Book People (see op!) and "The Toy Hospital" by Elaine Mills was among them.

It's the story of a china doll called Marianne who lives in a tree house with a toy squirrel. The pair of them are best friends and have a lovely time playing together. The only trouble is that Squirrel likes to show off, jumping around and leaping from the furniture.

"We're not allowed to do that, are we mummy?" said my 4 year old son.

"Certainly not".

"But Squirrel does it".

"And Squirrel's silly isn't he?" said my 3 year old daughter.

Indeed he is. In his quest for the limelight, Squirrel starts to show off again and runs along the washing line and up on to the roof. Despite warnings from Marianne that he will fall, he bounces up and down on the television aerial until the inevitable happens. He falls and lands in a cabbage patch, and hurts his leg.

Squirrel is taken to the Hospital for Sick Toys. I wouldn't mind going there myself, there are no queues and he is seen by a doctor straight away! The doctor discovers that Squirrel has lost a lot of stuffing from his leg.

"Will I ever be able to jump again?" asks Squirrel. That sentence never fails to amuse me as it reminds me of the old joke about the patient who hurts his hand.

"Will I ever be able to play the piano again?"

"Of course you will".

"Good, because I couldn't before!"

But I digress. Squirrel has his leg packed with stuffing, and needs fifteen (yes, fifteen!) stitches. The nurse then wraps a bandage round his leg and gives him a pair of crutches. In no time at all Squirrel is showing off again, seeing how fast he can go along the hospital corridors.

Back home at the tree house, Squirrel
is unable to climb the stairs so Marianne puts up a tent in the garden and they both live there for a while until Squirrel's leg gets stronger. There's a sweet picture here of Squirrel sitting on a potty!

One day Squirrel tells Marianne that his leg feels better, so off they go to see the doctor. The bandage comes off, and Squirrel shows the doctor how well he can walk. The doctor is very pleased with him and the friends make their way home.

Marianne has a surprise present for Squirrel, on the condition that there will be no more jumping. Squirrel is so excited that he agrees straight away, but once they are back at home all his good intentions are forgotten.

Up on the washing line he goes, pretending to be an acrobat. And of course you can guess what happens next - he falls. But luckily for Squirrel, his present from Marianne is waiting down below; it's a lovely bouncy TRAMPOLINE!

This is a really lovely children's book, I enjoy reading it to my two very much. Even though we've read it many times and they know what's coming next, they sit there spellbound. And I don't think you can get a higher recommendation than approval from a young audience. It's books like these that will introduce children to a world of reading. A simple, but effective story.

The illustrations are beautiful, drawn by the author in pastel shades and set in a bygone era judging by the clothes the characters are wearing.

I hadn't heard of Elaine Mills before reading "The Toy Hospital", but if this book is an indication of her abilities I shall certainly be keeping a lookout for further titles. Very highly recommended.

Summary: