Toasty

Toasty joins the ranks of the picture-book world's most endearing characters . . . . Sweet enough to eat!

Toasty, a piece of bread with arms, legs, and a face, so enjoys watching the hounds frolic outside his window that he longs to join their species. Though he can muster an impressive bark, all of his other attempts to turn canine fall far short: he's easily intimidated by a cat, and he turns soggy when rolling in a puddle. But Toasty is dogged, even though his plan to hang with the pooches in the park is headed for disaster. And here's where Hwang's story takes an unexpected turn: when Toasty escapes from the hungry dogs by hiding in a picnic sandwich, he meets a young hound enthusiast with allergies for whom, with a couple of barks, Toasty becomes the toast of the dog park. Newcomer Hwang's quirky plot has the meandering joy of a small child's storytelling logic, while acrylic paint, colored-pencil, and digital pictures give the triumphant Toasty a sketchbook immediacy as he engages in doggy doings. Ages 4-6. Agent: Shadra Strickland, Painted Words. (May)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 2--What bliss! Working with what he has or what he is, a piece of toast who wants to be a dog finds a new owner who would be allergic to the real thing. It's all but impossible to explain how Hwang's matter-of-fact telling and simple scenes like watercolor daydreams support Toasty's aspirations, but here it is: "Toasty knew there were some differences. Most dogs have four legs. But Toasty had two legs and two arms. Some dogs sleep in dog houses. But Toasty slept in a toaster." All of this will have children cheering. Of course, this is the way the world works. Of course, when Toasty is chased by real dogs, he hides on a sandwich, where his about-to-be owner finds him. Her allergy-induced sneeze sends the real dogs running, she and Toasty quickly recognize how kindred they are, and there's the happy ending! With deadpan storytelling and a nonexistent moral, somehow it all makes sense. VERDICT Toasty's tale is as uplifting as they come, and if Toasty wants to be a dog, we say to readers, "Stay!"--Kimberly Olson Fakih, School Library Journal

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Readers will root for this doughy hero.

Smart, subtle, yet laugh-out-loud wit that will delight both children and adults, plus abundant cartooning talent, mark this stellar debut from a young author to watch. Hwang even manages nuanced character development — for a piece of toast!—The New York Times Book Review