An illustrated gem of a book. Oddkins are special stuffed animals come to life bringing goodness & light to children's lives. Their toy maker unfortunately dies & it's their job to make the journey to the new toy makers shop. Along the way they are pursued by an evil gang of toys that want to rip the stuffing out of them so they can take over and spread darkness & torment children. The battle between good & evil ensues. Great illustrations and story ( )

Worth 200 on biblion

Oddkins are toys made with just a little bit of magic who one day will be "put on display in a toy shop and sold as a gift for a very special child who'll desperately need a secret friend." A new magic toymaker must be chosen when the current one falls ill or gets too old to carry on, but in this case, the toymaker dies unexpectedly without having passed the torch, so it's up to his toys to travel on their own across town and find her themselves. Unfortunately, there is a basement full of evil toys who will be able to take over if they can prevent the Oddkins from fulfilling this mission.

I love Dean Koontz and had such a good time reading this book! It's like horror-lite for the younger crowd - scary enough to give them chills, without keeping them up all night. The book also had some really cool illustrations to help you picture both groups of toys, which I loved.

In summary, I highly recommend this book to any budding horror lovers out there.

5/5 stars.

I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. ( )

The print edition is illustrated. Truly a fable for all ages, filled with action, adventure, humor, and good vs. evil.

Toymaker Isaac Bodkins created the Oddkins, a group of living toys, for very special children who face difficulties in life and need true friends. There's Amos, the brave stuffed bear; Skippy, the rabbit who dreams of being a superstar; Butterscotch, the gentle, floppy-eared pup; Burl the elephant; the wise and scholarly Gibbons; and Patch the cat. The Oddkins are given to children to inspire, support, and love them, especially during times of adversity. Only now, the toys themselves are the ones who need help. Before he dies, Mr. Bodkins delivers a dire warning to Amos the bear: Watch out for an evil toymaker and his dangerous creations! Locked up in the dark sub-basement, another group of toys is climbing out of boxes and crates and coming to life as well. These bad toys - like Rex and Lizzie, the puppets with no strings; Gear, the vicious robot; and Stinger, the horrid buzzing bumblebee with his knife-sharp stinger - were made to hurt children, not help them.

Leering, laughing, and deadly, they are let loose into the world by a terrifying force. Frightening as it may be, the Oddkins must go on a journey to find Colleen Shannon, Mr. Bodkins's chosen successor as a life-giving toymaker and the only person who can save them. The stormy night is perilous and the Oddkins face a danger that threatens not only their magic...but the magic in all of us. ( )

I think if I'd read this when I was younger I would have LOVED it, but as an adult I still really enjoyed it. The toys are fantastic, there's danger that feels immediate and real, and also adventure. It reminded me of [b:Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH|9822|Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH|Robert C. O'Brien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351191064s/9822.jpg|839692] in some ways, which is a big compliment! ( )