"Toby was in for a big surprise. One morning after breakfast she asked Toby if he would like to learn how to play the piano."
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Learning Adventures of Toby Brown by Annabelle Love-Whitinger Trafford Publishing
book review by Michael Radon
Toby Brown is a sensitive young child who, like many children, is curious about learning more about the world around him and cares deeply about animals in trouble. This collection of seven short stories follows the titular Toby as he follows his father to work in the city, visits his grandparents on the farm to learn more about animals and the piano, learns about veterinarians, goes to the zoo with his mother, and experiences the dramatic climate change of seasons. In each story, Toby learns more about the world first-hand as he embarks on the sort of every day adventures that any child can have with friends and family. As he learns more, he grows in confidence and shares his lessons with friends like Sarah and Sandy.
Many of the pages are accompanied by illustrations in colored pencil that bring parts of these stories to life with colorful animals or the children as they learn along with the children to whom the book is directed. The stories are full more of wonder than excitement, with a gentle loving tone throughout. Conflict is not a driving narrative element in Toby Brown's life, meaning that children can simply delight in these stories without feeling troubled or worried about what might happen or if all of the characters are going to be okay, save a few abandoned or hurt animals that receive prompt care and love. The amount of heart and unconditional love that is expressed by the characters on these pages is excellent for easing the worried mind of a child by having calm, relaxing stories read to them.