Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mr Barsin is an unusual man, he owns a toy emporium which to all intents and purposes looks like every other toy shop, but he wears a tuxedo, which is unusual, but he also doesn’t call his toy shop a toy shop and it seems to have popped out of nowhere, so when the youngsters who go to see what this new shop is all about, they are very surprised, especially when they see the murals painted on the outside and the multi-seasonal greenhouse within

Jack is a young boy who’s birthday is just around the corner, so when his parents and grandma take him on a special birthday cruise, he is super excited, especially when he sees a mermaid playing in the bay and waving to him, but he can’t wave back because his parents have hold of his hands Later on at his grandma’s house, they are about to tuck into their usual topsy turvy birthday tea when they see an advert for a new toy store and immediately go to get Jack a present. As soon a Jack and his family enter the store, they see aisles of toys, but Jack spots something else in the corner of his eye, so he goes running to investigate and his family follow him, even though they have no idea what he has seen and this is where he spots the mermaids and cannot wait to see if his mermaid is there.

Audrey is a young woman on a mission, she has learned to play alone and let her imagination run free, so when she explores the forbidden areas where she lives, she finds treasures and these lead her to start training to slay dragons. She has read all the old tales of brave knights, evil dragons and the heroic rewards they gain from slaying them, so when she sees the advert for a new toy shop, she is determined to find a dragon to slay inside. However, it seems that the path to the dragons lair isn’t as easy as she thinks and she comes upon other travellers getting in her way, or so she thinks until her dream comes true and she finds her dragon.

Lilly is a young girl who has had to move away from everywhere and everyone she knows with her father, but there are two special sylphs whom she is especially sad to have left behind, so when her father tells her he might have found someone who can help her to get them back, she is over the moon. When they duo visit Mr Barsins’ she is determined to find her friends and she has some magical help, but something is wrong and it seems that even though she wants to find her friends, Mr Barsin is determined that she doesn’t and that does not sit well with her and she has to find another way to find them.

Nick is a spoiled young boy whose naughty ways are frustrating his mum, but she can’t do much about it when he blames someone else, a bad gnome apart from play along and hope that it will help Nick learn to be good, however, this backfires when she agrees to buy a toy for the bad gnome and so goes to Mr Barsins’. The trip has somewhat of an unexpected outcome when Nick mother finds that instead of a new toy, he has found himself an even naughtier gnome and he refuses to leave without him.

These four youngsters went in to this toy emporium with one goal, but left with another in this magical tale where nothing is quite as it seems and mysteries lie in every forest and flower within this emporium of wonders, but are the gifts they leave with what they were wanting, or have these children put themselves into danger by seeking this place out? This is an engaging and fun twist on a magical toy shop which all ages can enjoy, even though some things may need explaining to younger audiences, it is a great way to learn.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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