Commander Toad and the Intergalactic Spy

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Summary: Spy, Spy, Who's Got the Spy?
Review: Commander Toad, the fearless leader of the space ship STAR WARTS, gets a new assignment. His cousin Tip Toad is Secret Agent 007½. The STAR WARTS crew is supposed to fly to the planet Eden and rescue Tip. Secret Agent 007½ is also in deadly danger. If the other intergalactic spies on the planet find out who he really is, bad things could happen to Tip Toad. To make matters worse, Tip is a master of disguise and has to remain in disguise when Commander Toad and his crew try to pick him up. Commander Toad learns that Tip Toad is wearing a monster disguise, but so is every other alien on the planet! How will Commander Toad find and rescue his cousin?

Jane Yolen is an award-winning children's book author as well as a writer of adult science fiction and fantasy. She's earned the Caldecott-given for the most distinguished picture book, the Nebula-given to the most distinguished writing in the field of science fiction and fantasy, the Golden Kite-given by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the World Fantasy Award. She's written seven Commander Toad Adventures, including COMMANDER TOAD AND THE LONG VOYAGE HOME, COMMANDER TOAD AND THE PLANET OF THE GRAPES, COMMANDER TOAD AND THE SPACE PIRATES, and COMMANDER TOAD AND THE BIG BLACK HOLE. With dozens of books written in many genres, Jane Yolen is a great author to introduce to young readers.

COMMANDER TOAD AND THE INTERGALACTIC SPY is great fun to read to a young reader with a well-developed imagination. The wordplay sounds great to the ear, and the various puzzles, mysteries and problems the author summons in just a few short words pulls those young listeners in. Even reading the book as an adult is good entertainment, though better if shared with a child. The illustrations by Bruce Degen complement the story, showing the various antics and fun emotions of Commander Toad, Mr. Hop, Lieutenant Lily, Jake Skyjumper, and Doc Peepers.

The Commander Toad series, all seven books, is recommended for imaginative young readers who have already been exposed to STAR WARS, STAR TREK, and various other science fiction based television shows and movies. Jane Yolen is one of the most entertaining authors for young minds out there.

Rating:
Summary: Superb space adventure for kids
Review: My two sons, ages 4 and 8, absolutely LOVE the Commander Toad series. Our library has six of them, all of which we have read. They beg me to read one a night. _Intergalactic Spy_ is fun to read and fun to listen to.

The crew must travel to the planet of Eden, which is full of flowers, in order to pick up Commander Toad's cousin, the "Master of Disguise." But in order to safely bring him onboard their spaceship, they must first figure out *which* monster he is.

Several silly puns and a humorous plot. Borrows some terminology from Star Wars and Star Trek. Highly recommended! We have been disappointed by only one of these books, the rest are fantastic! Your 8+ year old may be able to read them without help.