Haus-hold Picture Book Review: Toby Tootles

More than Just Gas and Giggles

First off, welcome to my inaugural picture book review post! I couldn't pick a better book to kick off my blog!

Shout Out: I think the best way to experience a picture book is hearing it read aloud by the very person who wrote it. Thanks to Storytime Sprint, my kids and I get to experience books this way on a regular basis! As a writer, I appreciate the support Storytime Sprint gives to debut authors. As a mom, I LOVE that my kids get the chance to “meet” an author, hear them read their book, and ask questions!

Recently, we had the pleasure of hearing Stephanie Gibeault read Toby Tootles, and let me tell you, she did not disappoint. The book was funny and sweet in all the right places, and hearing Stephanie read it the way she intended audiences to hear it was such a joy.

I ended up winning a signed copy of the book later on Laura Roettiger’s blog. The generosity in the KidLit community is unparalleled. So now we have a signed copy of this amazing book, which earned a star from the big kid and has been re-read multiple times. Even Mr. Haus chuckled.

Synopsis

Toby’s accidental birthday party toot leaves him feeling super embarrassed! Toby spends a day with Grandma to put the toot behind him, but Grandma’s got gas of her own (3 farts! And she doesn’t even care!), which follows them around everywhere they go.

After dinner at his favorite restaurant, Toby feels his tummy rumble again. He can either allow embarrassment to ruin the evening, or choose to follow Grandma’s lead and give himself a little grace.

My Big Kid’s Honest Review:

What my Kids Loved: I have 2 boys who think farts are hilarious, so they loved this book’s premise before we even opened it up. A favorite line was “the loudest fart ever blasted out of Grandma.” The word “blasted” really made the big kid lose it. The facial expressions of the characters and the onomatopoeia (PHHT!) also kept him invested until the end. Mary Sullivan's illustrations are adorable and fun to examine on multiple reads.

What I Loved: Tucked away neatly behind clouds of gas, fart noises, and a very embarrassed bunny is a beautiful message about giving ourselves, and others, a little grace. No one is immune to embarrassment, and that’s a big lesson for little ones. Gibeault expertly weaves this message in without being preachy.

Final thoughts: This book opened the door to a conversation about surviving embarrassment and being kind to others when they experience embarrassment. A candid author’s note from Gibeault helps plant that seed and bring the emotions and reactions the characters experience in the book into the real world.

You can purchase Toby Tootles from Sleeping Bear Press or from other major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Target- but don't forget to check your local independent bookstore first!