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Traction Man Is Here.

Article Excerpt
Traction Man Is Here: written and illustrated by Mini Grey, published by Alfred A. Knopf

Santa brings a boy his wished-for new action figure complete with "dazzle-painted battle pants" and warfare shirt with "Zap!" "Bam!" and "Pow!" written all over it. Traction Man immediately sets to work ridding the household and garden of such diabolical threats as Evil Pillows and Wicked Professor Spade. His heroic demeanor is tragically spoiled, though, when Granny offers up a beautiful hand-knitted romper suit for him to wear. Grey's illustrations depict a cozy, cluttered English household with details that solidly ground the story in reality. Traction Man's adventures take place in that same reality but with the imaginary details only a child at play can provide. Wildly funny and entirely true to the way children use whatever comes to hand, Traction Man ends with the action figure resting peacefully with his faithful pet Scrubbing Brush at his side. But wait ... don't those scissors look rather menacing?

IT'S WONDERFUL TO be in Boston to accept this award. Thank you to the Horn Book and the Boston Globe, and to the judging panel and to my fabulous publishing teams at Knopf in the U.S. and Random House in the U.K., and to all the dedicated fans of picture books in homes and schools and libraries.

I'm honored that Traction Man Is Here!, a book which takes place on a gray, drizzly British Christmas day, has been...

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