This book was such a good book. I read it and enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend it to anyone.

Very sweet and obviously cute--just look at how adorable Toaff is! But falls a little flat. Younger readers who enjoy an animal story will still gobble this up.

I loved this story of a curious, young squirrel making his way in the world alone over the first year of his life. It was well written and Toaff is such a loveable character who has a new question for each new thing that he learns.

Toaff's Way is a children's chapter book told from the point of view of a young squirrel. Toaff begins the story living inside a dead tree before it is knocked over in a storm. Toaff must then navigate the world on his own, choosing where to shelter and how to stockpile food for the inevitable winter. His situation and the cast of characters around him are always shifting.

The names chosen for the characters are worth a mention in this book. All the squirrels have names that end in 'f' -- Toaff, Criff, Nilf, Soaff, Mroof, Tzaaf, Pneef, and so on, and admittedly this made distinguishing among side characters more difficult than it needed to be. The cats are named Snake and Fox, which also seems to be asking for confusion.

The descriptions for houses, barns, even roads ran the gamut of either effectively showing how Toaff ordered his world or seeming forced and stilted. In fact, I still couldn't figure out who one of the predators towards the end was meant to be, even after the descriptions.

However, even with those criticisms, there were descriptions in the book I appreciated. As an example of how Toaff compartmentalizes his world, he shares, "Predator was a word with long dark wings and sharp talons, while prey was a quick little word, helpless as a mouse." And while Toaff tends to be simple in his desires (shelter, food, companionship), there is heartfelt longing expressed in the words, "He never had belonged here and he had always known it. He had just hoped he did, and wanted to."

The origin stories different animals share brought me amusement as they argued who was in charge; perhaps the sheep caused the lake to be formed, then "caught" a farmer driving by one night, convincing him to stay and serve them. Or maybe the dogs are running the show.

This book was an uneven read for me. I suspect younger readers would be less critical and be quicker to embrace the story (even as I genuinely enjoy children's books, I recognize I can be harder to please). Experiencing the book through a squirrel's perspective would lead to interesting reflections and conversations among readers, and I can imagine excellent writing prompts that could come out of a reading of this book as students can create a short story from the perspective of another animal: How would your goldfish view daily events? What goes through your dog's mind when he's watching out the window?

(I received a free digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

Toaff's Way is a sweet coming of age story about a small squirrel named Toaff who has some big questions along with some bigger ideas. Cynthia Voigt writes with rich prose that bring Toaff, his family and his adventures to vivid life.

Readers of the upper elementary will enjoy reading this story independently. However, younger elementary children will quickly identify with Toaff and become caught up in his story if read aloud to them. I can vouch for this since my grandchildren who have finished kindergarten and first grade enjoyed the story as we read it together.

Toaff is a youn grey squirrel. He is very curious about his world. He lives with his family in a pine tree. He wakes up one morning to discover himself alone. Where is everyone? When he goes outside, he realizes that the tree has fallen over. Since Toaff doesn’t know where they have gone, he fixes the family’s home as best he can. He decides to find a new home. He meets and makes new friends but also escapes his enemies.

The novel is a delightful animal story of a squirrel’s life in his first year of life. The author has successfully shown Toaff’s life through his eyes. Indirectly, the story introduces the idea of prejudice and how it affects one’s life. It also shows friendship in spite of initial prejudice.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. It has been some time since I have read an anthropomorphized animal story, so it took some adjustment. I wonder what it will be like for readers to adjust to the invented vocabulary and names, but it could be good practice for using context clues. I sensed the underlying messages about different groups getting along. There is a bit of humor thrown in, especially when the animals argue over what is in charge, and the description of sheep building a lake and stopping humans in the road is unique. I felt the ending was a bit abrupt.

A delightful story of an independent gray squirrel who enjoys exploring his world and testing his limits, until disaster befalls his family den and he awakens after a bad winter storm to find all of his family is missing. He comes upon his older brother who always try’s to tell him what to do but decides to go on his own. Will Toaff find a home and a place to truly belong? #TOAFF’S way #Netgalley
This review is for the ARC.

BookFilter Review: You never know what to expect from author Cynthia Voigt. But you know it will be entertaining. In the past five years, she has delivered the "Mister Max" trilogy (which I loved), a fable-like story called "Teddy & Co" (think "Winnie the Pooh," perhaps), a book for adults called "By Any Name" (which I missed but will track down) and now "Toaff's Story." So for younger readers she delivered a globe-trotting trilogy, light fantasy, and now a simple tale rooted in nature. Toaff is a squirrel and in two pages we know this eager young creature quite well. He thinks it and then he does it! The thought "What if I..." is followed immediately by a leap from one branch to another or venturing somewhere new (and scary) and so on. Voigt enters the world of these grey squirrels quite easily, thanks to a focused look at their world (a den on a farm and near a road) and an expansive view of human -- or should I say squirrel? -- nature. Toaff doesn't like the know-it-all attitude of his friend Braff (who would?). But all squirrels like stories and this is a charming one. A storm separates Toaff from his family and friends and he misses them but squirrels don't mind being alone, so much, maybe? He's soon exploring far and wide, befriending other grey squirrels who call themselves the Lucky Ones (they have access to a bird feeder), red squirrels who menace Toaff whenever he comes near, making peace with the dogs, discovering the garden and even venturing as far as the other side of the house. (He might as well be Marco Polo heading east into the unknown.) The novel begins and ends in winter, with the changing of the seasons as dramatic as any other event on offer. From the mice who believe dogs run everything to the group of squirrels who insist the real leaders are the sheep on the farm, Voigt has some gentle fun with their perception of the world. By and large, however, surviving and setting aside stores for winter is serious business and treated as such. All in all, another treat. What will Voigt deliver next? -- Michael Giltz

Structured seasonally, Toaff's Way is a cute little story about a squirrel and the struggles and victories he encounters.A really great book for tween with adorable illustrations.

This sweet story about Toaff, the little squirrel searching for his place in the world, captured my heart. Black and white illustrations add to the charm of this latest for young readers by Newbery Medal-winner Cynthia Voigt. 5/5

Grateful to NetGalley and Random House Children's - Knopf Books for an advance copy. Opinions are mine.

#Toaff'sWay #NetGalley

Cute! If you like squirrels this the book for you. The drawings are cute and the story is interesting. I recommend it for young chapter book readers. It doesn't have very many pictures, but the chapters are short.

At first I thought this was just going to be a cute tween novel, but it turned out that it was full of philosophy.

I love the way that the author mirrored people's struggles and triumphs in this little squirrel. It was an interesting story on the surface, but for those who are deeper thinkers, it lends to some serious thought.

A very good read for those 8 years and older.

This novel for young readers is a darling coming of age story of Toaff, the adorable munchkin little Gray squirrel. He lives with his mom and two other siblings in a tree when he emerges from their nest-hole to go outside for the very first time. It is winter and he does not know yet about weather and seasons; nor does he know he can jump from tree branch to tree branch. His brother Braff is a little know it all and tells him all about the world out there. Toaff believes him until he finds out for himself that Braff may not have it all right!

The Gray squirrels live by the driveway of a family home and farm. On the other side of the driveway are the Churrchurrs in the adjacent woods. Another type of squirrel described in the story. Both kinds hate each other…or do they?

Toaff learns so much on his first outings. He learns his leaps, he learns how to forage for food and he learns about the humans that live in their house with their two dogs. He watches them often and finds their way of communication interesting. Especially when the mother sings to her baby. But there are strange sounds coming from machines that the man is using to tend to his land. And one day…out of the blue, Toaff finds himself tumbling in his own home as his tree falls over after a bad storm. As he has to search for a new suitable home, he learns that the farmer has a machine that cuts the tree into log pieces for firewood.

This is where Toaff’s adventure really starts. He has to find a new area to live and sometimes it gets dangerous for a little squirrel out there. Will he live in the cherry tree near the human house? Or with mice…oh those stinking mice under the human house? Should he dare to venture across the driveway or behind the house where the Red squirrels live?

As Toaff goes to explore and the seasons change, he makes friends and foes. He encounters birds of prey and foxes, he escapes danger, rescues others in need and endures times of hunger. At last he has made so many experiences, that he can stand up to his brother Braff with the truth about so many misconceptions he had told him about the world around them. And this gives Toaff peace. He makes his home and the farmer actually puts out a feeder right besides his new home.



***



This is a story to enjoy by a proficient reader in the upper elementary age. There are words used that are a bit uncommon that a child has to be able to recognize and in turn interpret like: whuffled, nest-barn, nest-house, Chuckchuks, as well as the languages used by other critters and animals in the story.

I found this book super adorable and it had a few sweet illustrations in it. There also is a lot of information about the natural world hidden in the story. So as Toaff learns about his surroundings as a little one, the reader learns alongside him about nuts, seeds, fruits, trees, animal bahaviors, animal shelters and maintenance, birds of prey and carnivores and the food & life cycles.

Toaff’s Way is a gentle read for the nature enthusiast and would make a wonderful gift to give a young reader to enjoy.



I received a digital copy of Toaff’s Way from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!

Toaff is an adventurous and curious squirrel who gets separated from his family after a storm. The year following his loss he takes a journey in which he strives to figure out the world and his place in it. He learns about survival, acceptance, and friendship. Imagining the world from the perspective of a squirrel, this is a sweet and entertaining tale. Toaff will win over readers' hearts.

The life and escapades of a young squirrel who ends up on his own before he's quite ready.

This didn't quite feel like the typical action chapter book a child might reach for. However, for a nature/animal lover it would be perfect. It focuses on a squirrel's life, discoveries and new friends.

Thanks for letting me review it. #netgalley #Toaff'sWay

Wasn't sure what to expect of this story, but I've enjoyed Cynthia Voight's works, The book sucked me in pretty quickly! I have good relationships with the squirrels who frequent my yard, and with squirrels in general, so this wasn't too difficult to get drawn into... A young and inquisitive squirrel sets out on his won and due to circumstances beyond his control, gets shoved into the wider world very quickly. Have to admit, the snowstorm nearly stopped my heart in panic. I hate when the young squirrels in my neighborhood begin to explore on their own. Our name for them is "suicide squirrels" as so many get run over,,, tragic. Anyway, of point, Toaff is a little cutie whose story children (and maybe some adult squirrel lovers!) will enjoy reading about. Bravo, Cynthia for another well written tale!

It was cute. I'll buy it for my grandkids. My granddaughter loves squirrels. Thank you for letting me review this one.

This was an entertaining read about the life of a little squirell. I didn’t think there would be enough of a story line to fill a chapter book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Kids who like stories about nature or animals would enjoy it. It’s a step up from beginning chapter books, so not for a beginning reader.

#netgalley