On his box, Traction Man is described as a “generic action figure with dazzle-painted battle pants.” A square-jawed hero up for any challenge, Traction Man guards the toast at breakfast, volunteers for special duty in a sink full of dirty dishes (where he acquires a brave sidekick, Scrubbing Brush), and crawls through the rugged backyard terrain to rescue a trio of unfortunate dolls. Mini Grey’s story is firmly rooted in a young boy’s imaginative play, in which he recasts a wealth of everyday objects and incidences as the props for his beloved new toy’s adventures. Traction Man’s toughest challenge yet comes when Grandma makes him an “all-in-one knitted green romper suit and matching bonnet!” How will his ego ever survive? Clad in the knitted green nightmare, the usually confident superhero looks woefully worried. Traction Man’s story winds down to a perfect conclusion, but many readers will want to go right back to the beginning to look again. There is so much to discover, from the small moments of humor to the way Traction Man’s adventures are distinguished from what is happening in the boy’s real-world life both through the way the use of different fonts and in the style of the illustrations. (Ages 5–9)

On Christmas, a little boy receives an action figure called Traction Man. Almost immediately Traction Man finds himself at the center of adven ture and danger. With his adopted sidekick, a brave little scrubbing brush, Traction Man faces evil in all its many forms—pillows that hold farm animals captive, a poisonous dishcloth, a wicked spade that buries dollies. There seems to be no obstacle Traction Man cannot overcome—until he encounters Granny’s gift—a knitted, green romper suit. This imaginative battle between good and evil will resonate with children who have created adventures for their own action figures. 2006 USBBY-CBC Outstanding International Books List. mm

Originally published by Jonathan Cape Great Britain, in 2005.

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