This was quite a cute story, and sure to be a favorite for fans of
"No, David!" and "Alice the Fairy"!
Spencer has way too many toys. His Dad is stepping on lego blocks
and jacks, while is Mom is tripping over train tracks! His Mom
finally gets fed up and tells Spencer that some of his toys have
got to go. Spencer protests and the bartering begins! Mom
eventually pulls out the "These all go in the box, or no TV for a
week" and Spencer gives in and boxes up his 'least' favorite toys.
Mom is tired and goes for a rest. When she returns to load the
boxed up toys into the car, she finds the toys all over the floor
and Spencer playing in the box. In the end, Spencer decides that
the box is better than the rest of his toys.
I really liked this story. Although I was initially worried that
the parent-child squabble would disentigrate into the kind of
blackmail we saw in Munsch's "Down the Drain", I was pleasantly
surprised! The squabble is still there, but it is much more
realistic, and they're is still respect given to Spencer's mom, and
she doesn't seem to harsh. Overall a far better choice for younger
children than the latest Munsch.