Christian Trimmer is a children's book editor and writer. He is the author of Simon's New Bed, Mimi and Shu in I'll Race You!, Teddy's Favorite Toy, and Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his partner. Learn more about him, his books, and lots of other things at ChristianTrimmer.com.
Madeline Valentine grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and received a BFA from Pratt Institute in 2007. She has illustrated five children's books, including Teddy's Favorite Toy by Christian Trimmer. She is also the author-illustrator of George in the Dark and The Bad Birthday Idea. She currently lives in Queens. Visit her online at MadelineValentine.com.
* "Teddy's favorite toy is Bren-Da, Warrior Queen of Pacifica.
She's a pink-skinned Barbie-style doll, and Teddy's play with her
ranges from action-hero combat sequences ("She has the sickest
fighting skills") to extravagant fashion looks worthy of Project
Runway or RuPaul's Drag Race.... After Bren-Da's leg falls off,
Teddy's mother mistakenly throws her away.... Teddy's mother takes
his anguish seriously. Valentine's gouache and pencil drawings
blend action and comedy as Teddy's mother chases the truck with
daring moves worthy of Bren-Da herself. "Yas, queen!" Teddy shouts
in exultation. Trimmer's smart, closely observed portrait
celebrates a boy and a mother whose relationship grows out of
mutual respect. Although it's left unsaid, Teddy's play resists
gender stereotyping in that he's allowed the freedom to play with
whatever toys he likes in whatever way strikes his fancy--and the
result is an imaginative free-for-all."-- "Publishers Weekly,
December 2017, *STARRED REVIEW*"
"Knuffle Bunny is reimagined with dialogue and a dash of suspense.
. . . Trimmer's simple story of a universal experience will
captivate young readers and have them rooting for Teddy's reunion
with Bren-Da. Teddy's problem-solving abilities also serve as a
useful model. Valentine's illustrations bring the story to life
with creative depictions of orange-haired, pink-skinned Bren-Da's
style and humorous portrayals of Teddy's and his mother's actions.
. . . The story gently pushes gender norms by showing a doll as
Teddy's favorite toy and Teddy's mom as nothing short of a
superheroine as she tries to get Bren-Da back. A heartwarming story
that uses an everyday occurrence to push the envelope on many
fronts."--Kirkus Reviews "11/15/17"
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