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Character Spotlight: Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic
By Kayla Aldrich, Read to Them Staff
Welcome back, all! Thank you for joining us as we launch the read of Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins. This delightful book explores an age-old question: what do our toys do when we’re not around? Toys Go Out is brimming with unforgettable characters, three of which we’ll be meeting today. We’ve made you wait long enough, but no longer— here are…
Lumphy
Lumphy is a brown buffalo with a pink nose and square teeth. He doesn’t like the unexpected, especially if it’s an unplanned trip in the backpack. Of all the toys, Lumphy is the most anxious: when they’re inside the backpack, he fears they’ll be taken to the vet, the zoo, or even the dump. He can get grumpy when his sleep is interrupted, but always he’ll wake up and be a comfort to his friends when they’re in need.
StingRay
StingRay is, of course, a blue stingray. She sleeps in a high bed with fluffy pillows, along with the Little Girl— this is where StingRay feels the safest in the world. StingRay is also very smart. She has gone on many trips with the Little Girl to school, so she’s knowledgeable in a number of subjects: the most important subject being how to help a friend. While her approach may not be perfect, it’s well-meaning and done with the kindest intent.
Plastic
Plastic is a red and white rubber ball. When she gets anxious, it’s not uncommon for Plastic to hum to calm herself down. Happiness, for Plastic, is the feeling of being bouncy, which is likely to happen if she’s able to take a nap on a car ride. Plastic has a journey of self-discovery as she encounters the idea that to be plastic is to be artificial. In reality, though, Plastic is one of the most genuine characters in Toys. It just takes the right person to point this out!
We can’t wait for you to get to better know this trio and their wonderfully distinct personalities. Join us, here, next Monday for another round of character spotlights with TukTuk, Sheep, and Frank the Washing Machine. For Wednesday, be on the look out for an interview with the creator of Toys, Emily Jenkins! We can’t wait for you to read it!
Happy reading!