The Toby Man - Softcover

King-Smith, Dick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141302585 ISBN 13: 9780141302584

Publisher: Puffin, 1999

Synopsis

Tod Golightly quickly discovers its no easy task being a highwayman. The he joins up with a donkey, a dog, a magpie and a ferret, and together they pull of a daring robbery. Their unlikely gang becomes the terror of the Great West Road - and the Bow Street Runners are deterimined to catch them.

About this title

About the Author

Dick King-Smith was born and raised in Gloucestershire, England, surrounded by pet animals. After twenty years as a farmer, he turned to teaching and then to writing children's books. Dick wrote mostly about animals: farmyard fantasy, as he likes to call it, often about pigs, his special favorites. He enjoyed writing for children, meeting the children who read his books, and knowing that they get enjoyment from what he does. Among his well-loved books are Babe: The Gallant Pig, which was made into a major motion picture and was nominated for an Academy Award.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-- A choice of occupation is often based on family tradition; so it is with Tod Golightly. Although his father died an untimely death due to his profession as a foodpad (a robber who works on foot) on the toby (thieves' slang for road), Tod is determined to become a toby man (a highwayman who rides a horse and boldly states "Stand and deliver!"). Somehow his youth and wooden knife do not strike fear into even the most vulnerable potential victims--until a donkey named Matilda talks Tod into stealing her from her cruel master. The twosome go on to collect a delightful set of characters to form a team the Bremen Town musicians would envy. Digby the mastif, Evil the ferret, and Loud Mouth the magpie each have a vital role to play as Tod plunges into a life of crime. In the end, a kindly parson takes all five in and saves Tod from prison. Although this may seem a cautionary tale, it is not told with a heavy hand. Young readers are allowed to enjoy both Tod's life as a robber and his repentance. It is clear throughout that the dramatic elements of robbery, rather than the criminal, are what captivate him. Matilda is one sharp old donkey, and her first conversation with Tod shatters any illusion that The Toby Man is a realistic historical novel set in 18th-century England. Indeed, it is Matilda who guides this very pleasing short-chapter book .
-Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Puffin
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0141302585
• ISBN 13: 9780141302584
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112