Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

So You Want To Be A Toy Designer by Linda Soules introduces young readers to toy creation, showing how toys evolve from simple ideas into finished products children can hold, explore, and enjoy. The book explains how toy design involves an understanding of how children think, learn, solve problems, and express creativity through play. Through colorful illustrations, the book traces the stages of toy development, including sketching ideas, building prototypes, testing for safety, observing children at play, and refining concepts based on what works in real life. Soules highlights how toy designers carefully study childhood behavior, paying close attention to how children interact with objects, invent stories, and use their imagination during unstructured play. Readers are introduced to the collaborative nature of the profession, as engineers, artists, sculptors, safety experts, and researchers work together to create toys that are durable, safe, and engaging.

Linda Soules combines clear explanations with examples that make toy design exciting without oversimplification. The pacing flows smoothly from one stage of the design process to the next, helping readers see how ideas evolve through sketching, testing, collaboration, and revision. The book makes strong use of direct address, descriptive imagery, and real-world examples to keep the material energetic. Colorful illustrations help readers visualize studios, prototypes, workshops, and the joyful interactions children have with toys. Readers who enjoy art, engineering, invention, storytelling, or hands-on creativity will appreciate the detailed look at how toys are imagined and developed. So You Want To Be A Toy Designer focuses on play as an important part of childhood learning and emotional growth, rather than simply entertainment. Soules blends warmth, creativity, and encouragement while teaching young readers about artistic and imaginative work.