Toy Tales for Reading {Review and Giveaway of award-winning series by Emily Lim}

Since Angel was two, we have instilled a habit of bedtime reading. For good or for bad, I like to see it as good, she now refuses to go to sleep without having her daily dose of three books. Try to negotiate for anything less on weary nights and you would see a forlorn little girl. Tell her to go and choose three books from her library and her beaming face can light up the darkness.

When it comes to books for a preschooler, I like the ones that come with bright, vibrant illustrations, not overly heavy yet thought-provoking text, and most importantly, books that help to inculcate moral values and build up a child's character.


We were thrilled to receive a set of the award-winning books from the Toy Series written by the talented local author Emily Lim. These stories celebrate the themes of love, friendship, charity and second chances. If you are a Pen Pal Whizz owner, you will be happy to know that these are compatible versions and your child can even tap on the characters to hear their dialogue and play games by answering fun quizzes.

I have to tell you that not just my girl, but even I myself fell in love with these books from the first time we read them. Take a closer look with me into each title and I'll tell you why.

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Bunny Finds The Right Stuff

Bunny Finds The Right Stuff is about a stuffed bunny rabbit who becomes floppy as time passses. When the toymaker goes on a holiday, he takes the chance to stuff himself using wet soil, blueberries and even tries to reach for the clouds. Every time he fails, it is his friends - Dinosaur, Grizzly and Kangaroo who come to his rescue and give him a good scrub.

More than that, these good friends of his realise that it is within them to give to Bunny what he needs and thus they not only help him to restore his shape, they make him understand just how much he is loved.

This is such a sweet and happy tale about friendship and a reminder that we are never alone even during the darkness moments of our lives.

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Just Teddy

Just Teddy is about a teddy bear who feels lonely and tries to fit in with the toys in a toy factory. He makes great efforts to blend into the polar bears, pandas and penguins and in the process, he forgets who he is deep down and loses his identity.

Until one day, he meets a girl who sees him as special and a one-of-a-kind bear that makes him realise that he is not just a teddy. From then on, he no longer feels alone and knows his true worth is enough to make someone love him for who he is.

I like how this story teaches children, and even adults, to be happy for who we are instead of trying to be someone we are not. Yes, contentment in life is something I try to inculcate in my girl since young.

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The Tale of Rusty Horse

The Tale of Rusty Horse is about an old, forgotten horse who longs to be a favourite with the children once again. One day, a fairy grants him his wish and he turns into a real horse who becomes well-liked by everyone. Alas the magic does not last and he becomes himself again and that is when he meets a handicapped child who cannot walk - and becomes his best playmate.

When the fairy returns with a spell to turn him into a real horse forever, Rusty has to choose between being the most handsome horse in the stable or being a rocking horse to his one true friend.

This story teaches us not just to love ourselves and be proud of who we are, it touches on a more important value - to make sacrifices so as to give happiness to others around us. 

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Prince Bear and Pauper Bear

Now for my favourite book - Prince Bear and Pauper Bear talks about the story of two bears. Pauper Bear is a teddy bear who is poorly stitched, has eyes which do not match and is without a mouth - he longs to be loved. Prince Bear is a proud, well-stitched bear with a handsome crown - he loves only himself.

By a twist of fate, Prince Bear ends up with a rich girl who plays with him for a while, then leaves him in a corner and lets him be chewed up by her new puppy. On the other hand, Pauper Bear becomes friends with a boy who does not have much money but he has a heart full of love - he even stitched a happy mouth for Pauper Bear. Fate decides that the two bears' paths cross again one day and Prince Bear asks Pauper Bear to save him from his plight. Will Pauper Bear do it and risk losing his place as the favourite bear and bravest knight?

A touching and inspiring story about friendship and kindness, it teaches us to love, to share, to lend a helping hand, to forgive and to give others a second chance.

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More about the author

Emily Lim is an award-winning children's book author who was inflicted with a rare voice disorder and subsequently found her voice through her books. She draws inspiration from her coping journey and sees her books as small beginnings towards a larger purpose of inspiring both children and adult to find meaning in their lives. More of her story on her blog.

You can also find her books at these retail outlets:

Kinokuniya Bookstores

MPH Bookstore (Raffles City)

Tango Mango (Tanglin Mall)

Big Bookshop (Harbourfront)

OG Albert

Rainbow Shop (Robinson Road)

Attic Pals (Tanglin Mall)

Smart Alley (Centrepoint & Changi Point)

 
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Now, what better way than a giveaway to motivate all my readers to share the joy of reading?

We are now giving away the Toy series with four autographed books (by Emily of course, unless for some reason you want us to sign for you too) to TWO lucky readers. Yes, that means each of the winner gets to keep not one, but two books!! Now, isn't that double the fun and double the joy of reading?

To enter, simply leave a blog comment with your name and email address. To increase your chances of winning, you can carry out the options below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions
1) This giveaway is open to readers residing in Singapore only.
2) The titles will be assigned to the winners randomly, I like surprises in the mail, don't you? You have my word that all four books are absolute delights to read!

Best of luck!

Disclosure: We received a set of Pen Pal Whizz compatible Toy Series titles for review purposes. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.